Hi,
I have the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks around late July-early August doing a section hike with the hubby and/or another friend who may come along as well. We're looking at either the Whites or some part of Maine. We'll have at least one car so may need local shuttle support.
My question is basically, what section would you recommend for this time frame, and time of year? We're thinking about the Whites, but don't want to rule out some part of Maine (not Katahdin, we've been sectioning the AT for years and will probably save it for last). I've done from Springer to MA, but I want to get the "hardest" or more challenging sections of the AT done before I get much older That's why we're skipping MA and VT for now.
So, never having stepped foot into NH or ME before, but having plenty of other AT miles and backpacking experience behind us, what do you recommend for a nice 2-week hike up there? I understand the whites are very crowded this time of year, because it's the ideal time to hike there. What is a good start point? Can you get through the whites in 2 weeks if your average hiking speed is around 12-15 miles per day in other places? How far ahead should we look at reserving the huts?
If Maine is your preference, what section would you recommend for a good introduction to the north woods? I admit I would like to see a moose very much but I'm not sure when the male moose go looking for romance, so would want to avoid that time of year whenever it is.
Sorry if these questions are too broad and vague, I'm hoping your responses will help me to narrow down my options so I can start asking more targeted questions. Thanks in advance!