Starting Where i left off oR starting sountbouth

[bishopj]

Hi everone just wonder if i start in damascus va on June 3 will have enough time to reach baxter before it close or should istart a south hike. i got off the trail two years ago in damascus va.
Thank

[pdcolelli42]

I don't think you'd have any trouble getting there by Oct 15th I think it is right? That's over 5 months. I suppose it depends on your pace and zeroes and what not though.

[Don H]

You could do the entire trail in 5 months. The problem you might have is heat and lack of water. As you know being from MD, that we had little snow over the winter so I'm thinking water sources will dry up early in MD and PA. Also PA in July or August can get pretty hot. I did Lehigh Gap to Wind Gap, 20 miles, in 100 degrees last year. That wasn't much fun!

[Blissful]

You'll be tight. Esp if there are early snows (usually its best to finish by Oct 1)

Go southbound from Katahdin and end in Damascus.

[ScottP]

I'd nobo if I were you--try to avoid the worst of the bugs

But as blissful said it's best to finish by late September. You need to do about 101 miles a week or more to finish some time in September. If you like hiking lots you'll finish way before then. If you're more of a meditate on mountaintop, read books at shelters, and explore town kinda guy then you may need to think about SOBO.

Or you could always start NOBO and flip sept 1st if needed. Best of both worlds--avoid the bugs and avoid a time crunch.