Virginia - 1st of July - Good starting point for a 1 month hike?

[Gurooves]

I recently decided that I would go for a 1 month/1 month an 1/2 hike on the A.T. My buddy who did it all told me that virginia could be a nice place to start (Damascus). I was wondering, since I'm leaving alone and in JULY , will I encounter any hikers at this time of year? Thanks!

[fredmugs]

In 1.5 months you could do the entire state.

[bfayer]

Lots of hikers in VA in July. Lots of hikers in VA all the time

So not to worry, you will not be alone. Start down south and hike till you run out of time.

[Southerner]

As far as through-hikers, the vast majority of GAMErs will have passed through Virginia by then. You may encounter a few stragglers, mainly those who left late from Springer and are booking or those who are partying their way north and may not care all that much about reaching Katahdin by the end of the season. As to MEGAs, you would start seeing them in greater numbers the farther north you make it, especially if you are say near the midpoint in southern PA by mid-August. As to day and section hikers, summer is a popular time on the AT in Virginia, so expect to see Scouts, church groups, families, and the like, especially in touristy sections like Shenandoah Nat'l Park, Catawba Mountain, and Grayson Highlands. You may find shelters and popular camping sites full on nice weekends.

The heat can be rather oppressive in Virginia in July, even in the mountains. Last year, temperatures were over the 100-degree mark for several days in early July even in Roanoke. That was a bit unusual, but not unheard of. In a typical year, Virginia's mountains have thunderstorms every few days, but droughts are not uncommon, and springs could run dry in a heat wave. Then again, the same could be said about the trail just about any place south of Green Mountains in July.

If you are in good hiking shape at the onset of your trip, Damascus heading north would probably work. However, if you are not in pretty good hiking shape at the onset, you may want to consider starting at say Harpers Ferry and heading southbound through Virginia. Going northbound, you will be hitting the hardest sections of Virginia pretty soon into your trip.

Hope that helps, and enjoy hiking Virginia! It is one of the most pleasant states on the trail (which is good since it is so daggone long).

[max patch]

Thru hiker bubble will be gone, but as already mentioned, you'll have plenty of company.

Virginia wouldn't be my first choice for a month long hike, but if thats what you want to do there's certainly nothing wrong with it.

[Papa D]

You could hike the whole Long Trail in Vermont. Most people take about a month and the weather would be nearly perfect for this. The LT shares about 105 miles of the AT and then has about 170 miles of its own - - the shelters are just like on the AT (or a little nicer), the hiking is incredible. With all due respect to your friend, hiking around Damascus, VA in July is going to be hot. Go to this website:

www.greenmountainclub.org

[Studlintsean]

I recently decided that I would go for a 1 month/1 month an 1/2 hike on the A.T. My buddy who did it all told me that virginia could be a nice place to start (Damascus). I was wondering, since I'm leaving alone and in JULY , will I encounter any hikers at this time of year? Thanks!

I am planning a 1 week trip heading south from just north of Damascus roughly around that same time so if so we would cross paths. No plans firmed yet though.

[bfayer]

Virginia wouldn't be my first choice for a month long hike, but if thats what you want to do there's certainly nothing wrong with it.

For the month of July, I have to agree and I live in and love hiking in VA. In July I would head up north. By then the worst of the bugs are gone and the weather is a little cooler.

Having said that, it's never a bad time to hike in VA.

[HikerMom58]

For the month of July, I have to agree and I live in and love hiking in VA. In July I would head up north. By then the worst of the bugs are gone and the weather is a little cooler.

Having said that, it's never a bad time to hike in VA.

Great suggestion, bfayer....I agree! Papa D is talkin straight up.. +1

[topshelf]

I love hiking VA in the summer months, you can hike and enjoy some time alone during the day and if you camp at popular spots you always get the chance to meet new people almost daily. If you choose to start in Damascus and head north other hikers might become sparse after VA 16 or Groseclose until about Pearisburg, but most other times you should meet all kinds of different people. especially in Grayson Highlands, Roanoke area and up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and in Shenandoah.

[RED-DOG]

On all Three of my Thru-hikes it took me exsactly 31 days to do VA, from Damascus to Harpers Ferry thats traveling 20-25 MPD with a few 30s but it all depends on how many miles per day you are willing to hike, so if you are only planning to do half the state i would suggest to start in Pearisburg and go north. most of the NOBOs have gone through VA by then most people you will encounter would be section hikers.

[flemdawg1]

If I could do ANYWHERE on the AT for a month to month-&-a-half it would be Maine and go south.

If I had a choice though I'd do the JMT instead.

[Cookerhiker]

Notwithstanding its more southerly location, the summer heat in Virginia is no worse than the mid-Atlantic (MD-PA-NJ-NY) plus CT because the VA elevations are higher. VA may even be less humid because most of the state is further from the ocean.

However for a hike starting July 1, I'd rather hike ME-NH-VT. You still may have black flies in ME (I experienced one hellish afternoon of them in the Whites in early July) and the mosquitoes will keep you going but you'll also be able to swim in the myriad lakes & ponds. And there's nothing more spectacular in New England than reaching the mountaintops and taking in the views while feeling the breeze.

I know you said AT and I know you said July but FWIW, I agree with Flemdawg: July=JMT! Or the Colorado Trail.

[JansportD2]

Virginia is a great July hike. I started in Harper's Ferry on 7/6 last year and hiked south - ending at Pearisburg on 7/30. I saw a lot of NOBO thruhikers at first (25 on 7/6), but by the end of the month I was going 24 hrs and more seeing no hikers.

The first three days of the hike the temps were in the high 90s in the valleys (100 on the 7th when I stupidly did the Rollercoaster). A cold front blew through and it wasn't too bad after that. It's always nicer on the ridgetops - except for the thunderstorms.

Virginians are almost aggressively friendly. Hitchhiking was never a problem. Resupply towns are spaced pretty ideally - 4 or 5 days apart. The stretch between Daleville and Pearisburg was my favorite.

Last July, water was not a problem north of Pearisburg - although this changes from year to year. Today's storm is sure dumping on the Va mountains.

[HikerMom58]

Today's storm is sure dumping on the Va mountains.[/QUOTE]

You got that right... we got about 4-5 inches in the Roanoke Valley. It's so pretty... the flakes were the biggest that I've seen in a long time!

This past July I saw a poor thru-hiker out trying to find the post office in Daleville. It was sooo hot & it wasn't even noon. I had pity on him & did a U-turn to get to him. He was so thankful to get into an air conditioned car. Sweat was just pouring off on him as he loaded up his drop box items right before he got back on the trail. Luckily we found a spot in the shade , it was HOT!

Having said that, it is about 10 degrees cooler up on the Blue Ridge Parkway than it is in town.

We, Virginians, know how to treat our thru-hikers... we treat um right. Just don't "double cross" one of um....

[fredmugs]

Another WB response of a poster asking a specific question and most of the responders not answering the question and just saying whatever they want. Well done.

[HikerMom58]

Another WB response of a poster asking a specific question and most of the responders not answering the question and just saying whatever they want. Well done.

The OP capitalized JULY.... the OP is talking about VIRGINIA...some of us are sayin it's HOT in VA in JULY. Are we "allowed" to expand our convo at all? Sorry... I don't see ur point. I will add, to the OP, you might not see a lot of hikers in July in VA. The guy I saw in July was saying that there weren't that many on the trail, then. He was part of a very small hiking group. I forgot that the OP had asked that as well.

[Papa D]

don't even know if the OP is still around - Long Trail would be perfect in July - so is all of New England (Maine down to NY) - - nothing wrong with VA but it seems that it would be more ideal in the late Spring or early Fall

[Tuckahoe]

From my point of view, I'm humored. I am not trying to be contrary, but being from Tidewater, Virginia where it really is hot and humid, I have always found the AT to be cool and comfortable. I've always carried some sort of sweater/pull over to keep from being cold.

[HikerMom58]

From my point of view, I'm humored. I am not trying to be contrary, but being from Tidewater, Virginia where it really is hot and humid, I have always found the AT to be cool and comfortable. I've always carried some sort of sweater/pull over to keep from being cold.

Ha Ha!! Yeah, u are sooo right!! I guess it's all relative. I know for a fact that what u r saying is true.

The OP is from Canada. Wonder how VA will feel in comparison.....