Hi all - I've been trying to make up my mind and am hoping for some experienced input on the pros and cons of starting in Maine vs. in Georgia if I'm able to get on the trail about May 27. First, let me clarify my intention is not to complete the whole trail this season - I simply have 3 months off of work, and am looking to see how much I can bite off. I certainly won't be racing, but am hiking alone and imagine I can maintain a fairly decent pace. What are the key considerations in terms of where I'd start and where I'd end up, in each scenario?
At the moment, my main concern about starting in Georgia at this time is heat & humidity, especially since I'd expect to end up around Virginia at the height of summer heat. The southern end of things is more unfamiliar to me - are the elevations consistently high enough to avoid truly oppressive temperatures, or is it already too late in the season to avoid the heat?
On the Maine end, my main concern would be bugs. Black flies, mosquitoes. That's actually pretty much it... I'm a New Englander used to hiking year-round in all kinds of weather, so a little cold weather in Maine/NH is the least of my concerns, but I haven't hiked in northern Maine specifically during Black Fly season. Is it as unbearable as people sometimes say, or do you pretty much get used to it after a while? When are the bugs worst?
Are there other considerations for each that I'm missing? Any advice appreciated. Thanks very much!