Originally Posted by
john gault
The AT isn't crowded, it's the shelters that are crowded. As others have said, all you need to do is not camp at the shelters. It's amazing how many people are at the shelters, but once you leave it doesn't take long to feel secluded. There will always be sections that are somewhat crowded, but it doesn't take long to get past them, and those sections are not crowded due to other thru-hikers, rather they are crowded due to tourists. Places that come to mind are various lookouts in SNP and clingman's dome, Charles Bunion...and even those areas it's only crowded if you are there "in season".