View Full Version : PA in late April?
woodsman
02-01-2015, 20:17
Is late April too early to start in PA for a 4 week hike NB?
Not at all but I also BP in the winter. What would make it too early?
Studlintsean
02-01-2015, 22:58
Agree with Malto. I'm only a section hiker but recently did weekend hikes in November and January hiking from Caledonia to Duncannon.
Spirit Walker
02-01-2015, 23:28
Usually nice temps in April, but can be pretty wet. Ticks could be bad toward the end of your hike.
rocketsocks
02-02-2015, 09:18
I like that time of year in PA...just before leaf out, good views, kind temperature, not over crowded...have a great hike.
illabelle
02-02-2015, 10:19
We did the southwestern third of Penn in mid-April two years ago, and plan to do the middle third in mid-April of this year. Temperatures were pleasantly cool, water sources weren't dried up, and the trees were at that special time when they are in several pastel shades of green, pink, yellow, tan, and white. Quite nice!
SteelCut
02-02-2015, 10:21
I'll be hitting PA at about this time during my flip-flop thru hike. I'm glad to hear that this is a nice time of year.
I hiked southern PA in late April last year and ended at Boiling Springs. It rained quite a bit the last day but whether for my 260 mile section was mostly excellent and temps were pleasant.
**weather** stupid iPad autocorrect...
Slo-go'en
02-02-2015, 11:26
It can go either way. Be ready for more then a few chilly, rainy days.
I would consider late April as getting close to the END of the best backpacking season in PA.
mankind117
02-02-2015, 15:41
Is late April too early to start in PA for a 4 week hike NB?
God no, I wouldn't want to start later. Those ridges get hot and dry in the summer. What are you worried about. If there is still snow on them in late april something is wrong with the world.
It would be really freaky to have any April snow on the PA A.T., remember elevations are fairly low here. Bud break is typically Apr 15-20 in SGL 211 (Yellow Springs/Rausch Gap area between Clarks Valley and Swatara Gap). You may find what little mud there is in this part of PA.
handlebar
02-03-2015, 13:45
Great time to hike in PA, though ticks can be active and even in late April you can run into snow as here on the Mid-State Trail a little further west in PA than the AT: http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=375244
colorado_rob
02-03-2015, 14:03
Just asking.... the OP says 4 weeks and PA is what, about 250 miles, so he will be into NJ and maybe NY... do all these favorable comments apply to those states as well? I only ask because I was planning a late-April start in middle of NJ heading NOBO for 4 weeks myself (realizing that somewhere in MA/VT I might run into serious wet snow conditions and have to quit...)
Just asking.... the OP says 4 weeks and PA is what, about 250 miles, so he will be into NJ and maybe NY... do all these favorable comments apply to those states as well? I only ask because I was planning a late-April start in middle of NJ heading NOBO for 4 weeks myself (realizing that somewhere in MA/VT I might run into serious wet snow conditions and have to quit...)
Little to no chance of you running into snow.