View Full Version : What is Your Favorite 100 Mile Section of the AT?
spfleisig
06-17-2017, 15:09
If you could only do one 100 mile section of the AT, what would it be and why?
If you could only do one 100 mile section of the AT, what would it be and why?
very important question- do i have to do it all at once? i have never done the whites in one shot and dont think i'd want to.
spfleisig
06-17-2017, 16:25
Yes in one multi-day outing.
Yes in one multi-day outing.
i'll go with the smokies plus a little extra on both sides
James GAME2009
06-17-2017, 19:33
The first 100 miles of Vermont. It "feels" like hiking should feel. To me it is the perfect mix of terrain, and is beautiful.
The first 100 miles of Vermont. It "feels" like hiking should feel. To me it is the perfect mix of terrain, and is beautiful.
i considered putting forth that as my choice as well, but i was thinking starting from the border up to bennington or so is kind of drab and then once you get down killington, drab again.
looking at it now though, bennington to killington (rt4) is actually 90 miles (i thought it was maybe more like 70)... hmm i could be convinced to go with bennington to 10 miles past killington.
Slo-go'en
06-17-2017, 21:16
It depends on the time of year. Hot springs to Erwin in the spring. Anywhere in New England in the fall, narrowed down to how much effort you want to put into it. Summer time? I avoid doing any serious hiking during the heat of the summer.
FrogLevel
06-17-2017, 21:38
Erwin to Damascus in mid to late April. Not sure of the miles, but its close.
spfleisig
06-18-2017, 06:47
I'm planning a section hike in September.
I'm planning a section hike in September.
yeah, do bennington to killington.
100 mile Wilderness, again.
the 100 mile wilderness in Maine. No other section of the AT can touch it for its beauty and wildness!
BuckeyeBill
06-18-2017, 11:50
The last 100 miles, of any trail I am hiking. It means I am nearly finished and I can check another trail off my bucket list. The things in between the start and finish are just icing on the cake.
Erwin to Damascus in mid to late April. Not sure of the miles, but its close.
I just did this section in mid-May this year. It's ~128 miles and I thought it was great. It was my first multi-day section, though, so don't have much to compare it to.
illabelle
06-19-2017, 09:11
This question is too hard. I like the Roan Mtn area, and the Smokies, and the HMW. But Vermont was nice too, and Georgia, and Maryland, and Connecticut, and ...
Is there a 100-mile section that I wouldn't enjoy doing again? Maybe Pennsylvania, maybe northern Virginia.
the 100 mile wilderness in Maine. No other section of the AT can touch it for its beauty and wildness!
Well, almost any place in Maine... but the HMW felt a lot less wild the second time through.
For toughness and jaw-dropping beauty, the Mahoosucs or Baldpate are hard to beat. (Or the Grafton Loop Trail.)
Rain Man
06-19-2017, 09:29
I love you guys!!! My flights are booked to do Vermont next month and northern half of Maine in September! That'll finish all of the AT for me (except for 19.9 miles into Harpers Ferry in October). :)
The first 100 miles of Vermont. It "feels" like hiking should feel. To me it is the perfect mix of terrain, and is beautiful.
the 100 mile wilderness in Maine. No other section of the AT can touch it for its beauty and wildness!
For me it is the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine. Besides the 100MW, i have only done MA and bits of Vermont so my experience is limited. The beauty is incredible. Even though there were a lot more people on the trail than I expected, the surrounding area is very remote and you get a feeling of being in the middle of now where. There is also a good range of terrain and water is everywhere! The are also many stealth spots to camp. All that combined makes the 100MW my favorite 100 mile section on the AT so far.
evyck da fleet
06-19-2017, 11:36
1a Whites
1b last 100 miles Nobo
honorable mentions:
albert mtn to NOC about 50 miles
albert mtn to Hot Springs not quite 200 miles
LittleRock
06-20-2017, 10:00
Another vote for Hot Springs to Erwin, in the spring or fall.
spfleisig
06-20-2017, 11:33
What mile mark is Hot Springs? Where is it?
Dan Roper
06-20-2017, 11:41
Hot Springs is in western North Carolina, about midway between Great Smokey Mountains National Park and Erwin.
I'm curious as to why several have nominated that particular stretch, for it doesn't include Max Patch (just to the south) or the Roan Highlands (just to the north). It does include Big Bald (not as impressive as Max Patch, IMO) and the Firescald Balds (tough, memorable terrain).
LittleRock
06-20-2017, 12:45
What mile mark is Hot Springs? Where is it?
I'm curious as to why several have nominated that particular stretch, for it doesn't include Max Patch (just to the south) or the Roan Highlands (just to the north). It does include Big Bald (not as impressive as Max Patch, IMO) and the Firescald Balds (tough, memorable terrain).
Hot Springs is roughly in the middle of the NC/TN border section, at MM 273. There to Erwin is actually only about 70 miles. Adding 30 miles on the south end would put you at the north end of the Smokies. Adding 50 miles on the north end would get you through Roan Highlands. Either of those options would be a wonderful addition.
I've only hiked the AT from Springer up to the southern end of the Shenandoahs, but this section and Grayson Highlands (which is much shorter) are my favorites so far. I hiked the section from north of the Smokies through Roan Highlands in early October. The weather was pleasant, the views were great, and the fall colors were magnificent. I truly enjoyed every minute of it.
I personally liked Big Bald better than Max Patch, but probably because visibility was crap when I went over Max Patch. I had a fairly hard time just finding my way between trail markers.
spfleisig
06-20-2017, 19:44
Is there a place to safely park a car at either end of HS or Erwin?
LittleRock
06-21-2017, 07:41
Yes, Hot Springs and Erwin both have hostels which will allow you to park there, and they also offer shuttles. Check WB hostel listings for details.
The 100 best miles of AT is the 100 miles I can do with the least driving.
The 100 best miles of AT is the 100 miles I can do with the least driving.
Which for me is the last 100 in Pennsylvania ;)
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