Finally finished AT sectioning

[eabyrd1506]

I'd say a section can be any part you want it to be from a generic sense. I hiked from Pearisburg to Rockfish Gap one year so that was my section of the trail that I completed. There are officially defined 'sections' in the guide books but I doubt too many people just make their yearly (or what ever interval) hike based on those exact sections. I never really paid attention to the official sections.

That's what I was hoping to hear. Perfect. My initial plans are to refine my skills by completing PA in 17 and then branch out from there.

[rafe]

Congratulations. I'm just starting my learning and training hope to do the Trail once I retire.
Silly question but what makes a "Section". I plan on doing all of PA next year. Is that a section, part of 1 section, parts of 2??

Ed

A section is however short or long you choose. We simply use "section hiker" to distinguish ourselves from those who do the trail all in one big go, ie. thru-hikers. I did it over 17+ years in sections ranging from 13 miles to just under 700 miles. (From 1 day to about 60 days.)

I missed a few miles here and there (maybe 1 or 2% of the total) but there are sections I've done multiple times.

There are people who simply head out every year and hike some hunk of the trail for some hunk of time, without much of an overall plan for completion. They just like being on the trail for long-ish hikes.

[Seatbelt]

Congratulations on your hikes! I am doing the same thing in small increments but started later in life. I started in GA 2010 and am up to VA now. I'm considering jumping up to Maine to hike the tougher sections while I am still "young" and then finishing the rest later. Would this be advisable from your perspective? Seatbelt

[jbwood5]

Congratulations on your hikes! I am doing the same thing in small increments but started later in life. I started in GA 2010 and am up to VA now. I'm considering jumping up to Maine to hike the tougher sections while I am still "young" and then finishing the rest later. Would this be advisable from your perspective? Seatbelt

If your plan is to tackle Katahdin, start at Monson or even further south so that you meet the requirement for a long distance section hiker. I believe you have to have started 100 miles south of Baxter to eligible to stay at the Birches thru hiker site. Otherwise it is very difficult to get any place to camp within the Park unless you have made reservations way in advance. Even the Birches can fill up. I stayed at the expensive Abol Bridge campground so that I could get into the Park early to try and try to guarantee a spot at the Birches. Also, you get to borrow a day pack at the ranger station and you can leave your full backpack at the ranger station. That helps a lot on the climb.

Another advantage to starting a hundred miles or further south is that you will gain some conditioning before tackling Mt Katahdin. A few of the climbs going up that mountain are pretty strenuous for us older folks. You probably saw the video posted here a few days ago.

It may not be a bad idea to knock out some of the tougher sections while you can. I think it is a personal choice. I always had in my own mine to maintain a continuous South to North trek and not switch it around. That is just me though. :)

[illabelle]

Congratulations on your hikes! I am doing the same thing in small increments but started later in life. I started in GA 2010 and am up to VA now. I'm considering jumping up to Maine to hike the tougher sections while I am still "young" and then finishing the rest later. Would this be advisable from your perspective? Seatbelt

That's exactly our plan. Did the Whites in July. Doing K+HMW starting this weekend. We also started in 2010, hope to finish in 2020. Saving the Mahoosucs for last, though. Don't want to hike our last mile at some nameless gravel road in Virginia. We'll have an epic finish!

[Seatbelt]

If your plan is to tackle Katahdin, start at Monson or even further south so that you meet the requirement for a long distance section hiker. I believe you have to have started 100 miles south of Baxter to eligible to stay at the Birches thru hiker site. Otherwise it is very difficult to get any place to camp within the Park unless you have made reservations way in advance. Even the Birches can fill up. I stayed at the expensive Abol Bridge campground so that I could get into the Park early to try and try to guarantee a spot at the Birches. Also, you get to borrow a day pack at the ranger station and you can leave your full backpack at the ranger station. That helps a lot on the climb.

Another advantage to starting a hundred miles or further south is that you will gain some conditioning before tackling Mt Katahdin. A few of the climbs going up that mountain are pretty strenuous for us older folks. You probably saw the video posted here a few days ago.

It may not be a bad idea to knock out some of the tougher sections while you can. I think it is a personal choice. I always had in my own mine to maintain a continuous South to North trek and not switch it around. That is just me though. :)

Thanks for the insight! I always thought I would just continue nobo like I have been, but after watching the video, I'm no so sure I want to try that at 70. LOL

[Seatbelt]

That's exactly our plan. Did the Whites in July. Doing K+HMW starting this weekend. We also started in 2010, hope to finish in 2020. Saving the Mahoosucs for last, though. Don't want to hike our last mile at some nameless gravel road in Virginia. We'll have an epic finish!

Sounds like a great idea! Good Luck!

[becfoot]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!