Southbound

[HiKen2011]

Wonder why most people who start in ME (southbound) are younger? I've got my own assumptions but what do you think?

[Blissful]

Most who start northbound are younger too...

[kayak karl]

right, all that hike are younger.
What are your assumptions ?

[Mountain Mike]

Finishing school...late start so sobo works beter

[HiKen2011]

Finishing school...late start so sobo works beter

This is one and those BIG mountains and 100 mile wilderness out of the gate. Bad idea for an older (53) guy?

[kayak karl]

i thought the south was harder. maine was not that bad and i'm one of those 50+ guys your referring to.
i think schedule for young people and more solitude for older are reasons S or N

[on_the_GOEZ]

Finishing school...late start so sobo works beter

Precisely my reason, and for many others I met starting around July 1. And for more solitude, as well.

The first 100 miles are not difficult, comparatively. There are numerous harder 100 mile sections..

[Blissful]

The Chairback Range is the most difficult part of the 100 mile wilderness. But then you can rest in Monson. We took a zero.

[quilteresq]

Not sure about age, but I bet they aren't allergic to black fly bites!

[Marta]

As people have said, mostly for scheduling reasons.

Another commonality among the SOBOs around me when I started was that we were mostly southerners--from NC and Geoegia, with a Virginian and some Floridians thrown in.

[max patch]

Being young and inexperienced they don't know any better.

[VTATHiker]

I'm starting in ME for most of the good reasons just cited: scheduling (finishing grad school in June), more solitude (I like my alone time) and I'm certain that I don't know any better...

[Moose2001]

Schedule for me is the reason I start in the South! Finish work in mid-April and have to be back at work Nov 1. Couldn't sit around and wait until Katahdin opens and still make it to Springer by Nov 1.