View Full Version : Welcome to the SOBO forum
RITBlake
02-14-2006, 17:04
This is a designated area specifically related to thru-hiking the entire trail southbound. Discuss the unique and interesting aspects of a sobo thru hike here.
Alright, my plans were to hike nobo in march '07' however, my plans fell through due to an extra semester at school. Personally, I do not care which way I go and I am aware of the different weather/insect conditions when you start here in maine and go south. I know there are a lot less people too. I would like to know more specific details about southbounding it though, like what are my chances of eventually hooking up w/ a partner? Would I get a little too lonely? any feedback would be cool. thanks
blindeye
03-07-2006, 21:03
well ryan207 i am planning a 2007 sobo leaving on july 4 i am a little older than you but i am sure we will meet on the trail maybe hike together. pm me if you want to talk a little more
how early in the season will the ferry across the kennebec river be running anyone know?
how early in the season will the ferry across the kennebec river be running anyone know?
From the ferryman's website:
The Kennebec Ferry 2006 will operate daily from:
May 19 through July 14
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
July 15 through September 30
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
October 1 through October 9
10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
nice, thats what I was hoping. thank you
Amigi'sLastStand
06-05-2006, 05:26
I leave on 6/11 from NJ doing a F/F. I'm gonna winter down south, then do the nobo deal from NJ to Kat next year. While I have never thru hiked this trail, soboing always appealed to me. Less ppl to me is a bonus. Not that I dont want to find a good hiking partner(s), it seems to me on WB that soboers are a little more dedicated to their experience than the hordes of noboers who are done by Blood Mountain or Neels gap. I also have walked south for some reason most of my life, so it seems natural to me.
The spacing of the shelters also seems to work better most of the way, imho.
shouseGA-ME'01
06-13-2006, 21:00
I am driving from Atlantic City, NJ to Monson, with an overnight stop in Warwick, RI to pick up a friend on the 22nd to 23rd. We will shuttle to Abol Bridge then hike Katahdin, then head south. I know it is short notice, but I can give rides if necessary. BTW, I am only hiking the 100 miles with my friend, who is going all the way. I should be returning south around July 1st, but plans may change. Email me if you are interested.
-Greg Smith
shouse (GA-ME '01)
SL_amani
10-09-2006, 23:08
Ryan, I am facing the same situation you are: school until June, then off to the trail. Maybe we'll run into each other and hike that 100 mile stretch together. Doing that part alone kind of scares me.
See ya on the trail! Starting July 1st.
Old Hillwalker
03-13-2007, 15:01
Heading south from "K" as soon as school is out for summer. Humming "school's out for summer" ala Alice Cooper. Probably around June 15th I hope. Damb, now that's all that will be in my mind now for days.....
warraghiyagey
03-13-2007, 16:22
Alright, my plans were to hike nobo in march '07' however, my plans fell through due to an extra semester at school. Personally, I do not care which way I go and I am aware of the different weather/insect conditions when you start here in maine and go south. I know there are a lot less people too. I would like to know more specific details about southbounding it though, like what are my chances of eventually hooking up w/ a partner? Would I get a little too lonely? any feedback would be cool. thanks
Hey Ryan, I believe we've spoken before. If you leave anywhere between June 1 and July 15 you will have your choice of hiking partners. When you meet along the trail you already have more in common than people you meet from day to day.
Loneliness isn't an issue. You're on a narrow path where you can't avoid the other hikers and each day brings you to rest around others. You might actually find yourself wishing for more solitude.
But no matter what your experience becomes, go light through the 100 miles, even if you add weight to your pack later, it's a beautiful stretch unless you overestimated your ability to hike with a heavy pack. There's really no place to make a switch before Monson.
Peace:) :)
DawnTreader
03-13-2007, 17:24
Hey Ryan, I believe we've spoken before. If you leave anywhere between June 1 and July 15 you will have your choice of hiking partners. When you meet along the trail you already have more in common than people you meet from day to day.
Loneliness isn't an issue. You're on a narrow path where you can't avoid the other hikers and each day brings you to rest around others. You might actually find yourself wishing for more solitude.
But no matter what your experience becomes, go light through the 100 miles, even if you add weight to your pack later, it's a beautiful stretch unless you overestimated your ability to hike with a heavy pack. There's really no place to make a switch before Monson.
Peace:) :)
What would you know about hiking through the willderness with a heavy pack?? Yours couldn't have weighed more than 20 lbs!!! or was that your camera that weighed 20 lbs.. I forget... Any changes to the pack this year Warrgy?????
mweinstone
03-13-2007, 18:28
hillwalker your too old to walk! now get back to your 4 billion acres of trees. damm im jelous. can i snort the dust on your boots ol buddy?it should be my turn!im gonna send fudge when i know where you b .
Old Hillwalker
03-13-2007, 18:46
HI ol buddy, When I get to my house I'm going to (my friends actually) are going to hold a big BBQ for me and any other SOBOs I pick up along the way. Then set out again for da south. Should happen about 40 days from June 15, 2008. Of course you are invited. On another note, I spent about 4 hours on sunday repainting the blazes on the trail section you all helped me with during Trashgiving. People were complaining that there were not enough. Geeez
warraghiyagey
03-13-2007, 20:03
What would you know about hiking through the willderness with a heavy pack?? Yours couldn't have weighed more than 20 lbs!!! or was that your camera that weighed 20 lbs.. I forget... Any changes to the pack this year Warrgy?????
Well, yes among other things I learned on the trail, pack weight. But my great friends the Mobsters taught me that and so much more last summer. Which is why I head SOBO again this year so much better off.
By the way Dude, you can't prove my camera weighed 20 pounds. Just because it cost $60 mail from Monson to Portland:rolleyes: :rolleyes: -not really
Peace
warraghiyagey
03-13-2007, 20:16
What would you know about hiking through the willderness with a heavy pack?? Yours couldn't have weighed more than 20 lbs!!! or was that your camera that weighed 20 lbs.. I forget... Any changes to the pack this year Warrgy?????
And to answer your other question about changes to my pack. Yes.
I've decided that zero books instead of three is best. And also, no legal pads this year instead of three? was it (although it was cool to get the one returned to me as the Lehman Register). Also no Carrots. Two bags may have been horribly naive. No apples (well maybe just one;)).
No three man tent. No $160 Vasques that were dying by Monson. Trail Runners this year. No Nikon With 600 zoom film camera.
No cotton. 5 Ts may have been a bit much.
There now it's out there for everyone to see. You can learn a lot on the trail. Very quickly. It seems to have made me appreciate Monson even more. I might just live there one day.:) :) :)
boarstone
05-16-2007, 18:09
This just in: SOBO's TAKE NOTE: I have Bluemist held up in Millinocket awaiting out the pouring rain we are now getting up here. She is due to head out SOBO Mon or Tue. While in the BSP office, she was told of a gent from Norway who had just hiked from Monson NOBO to BSP yesterday. He reported there was a lot of snow on the trail and water up to his waist at river/stream crossings. Now figuring him to be TALL, that's high water! :(
warraghiyagey
05-17-2007, 02:19
This just in: SOBO's TAKE NOTE: I have Bluemist held up in Millinocket awaiting out the pouring rain we are now getting up here. She is due to head out SOBO Mon or Tue. While in the BSP office, she was told of a gent from Norway who had just hiked from Monson NOBO to BSP yesterday. He reported there was a lot of snow on the trail and water up to his waist at river/stream crossings. Now figuring him to be TALL, that's high water! :(
Sounds awesome, can't wait.:)
neighbor dave
05-17-2007, 05:46
:-? it's snowin' on katahdin as i type:-?
cant believe it's already here
Met Hard head today, he says he has just about had enough cold for awhile......I think he is going to hang out in town til Monday....
Southbound2012
04-03-2010, 19:14
From what I've researched on the net, there's not a lot on SOBO thru-hike, although I did hear it is getting more popular. I'm glad to see my cousin and I won't be utterly alone. Very exited, but still have a lot of gear to buy and boxes to fill!
windwalker
04-04-2010, 18:56
what is the earliest I can start SB?
warraghiyagey
04-04-2010, 20:03
what is the earliest I can start SB?
Depends on the year and what you're willing to endure. . . May 15 is about as early as you could hope for I guess but folks have left earlier. . .
You guys are so lucky. I've got another year of school before I can head for the hills.
Just give me my diploma already! I've already got 1/4th of a college degree!
I am as excited as most of you. Starting June 2nd. It seems now that I have less than two months to wait I am counting the days (52)! haha
Only a couple days away now!!
LilRedTX
05-22-2012, 16:52
Best of luck from Central Texas Excell! I'm jealous!
I'm hiking katahdin on the 10th of June and then heading south on the 11th. My name's Greg. I'll probably be going by the trail name "wholeroll". I'm hiking solo so if you need company I'd be happy to have someone to hike with. Happy trails :)
melloco89
05-24-2012, 01:03
im starting june 3rd, no trail name yet, see you guys there
AngryGerman
02-15-2013, 12:20
I am doneski son! Finished on Sat, 9 Feb @ 2pm!19702
Big Iron
08-30-2016, 19:40
Planning my SOBO June 2017. Hope I meet some friends. Cheers!
wornoutboots
01-21-2020, 09:47
Sobo is the best way to go!! I hiked the PCT sobo in 2016 & have hiked over 1300 sobo on the AT. You’ll avoid crowds & party bubbles and find plenty of time for yourself in nature and as much traimly times as you choose. Also towns won’t be pissed when they see you as a sobo after Nobo’s destroy & take advantage of establishments along the way. Enjoy! ~Siesta
Hi. I'm planning to SOBO from end of July. I'm coming from New Zealand and will be 53yrs at the time of hiking. I'm currently hiking on my own. Is there anyone that is considering the SOBO around the same time that would like to buddy up for some parts of the trial.
TJ aka Teej
03-15-2020, 08:14
Hi. I'm planning to SOBO from end of July. I'm coming from New Zealand and will be 53yrs at the time of hiking. I'm currently hiking on my own. Is there anyone that is considering the SOBO around the same time that would like to buddy up for some parts of the trial.
There's many SoBos planning starts around then. Join the 2020 SoBo group.
The 2020 SoBo’s Guide to Baxter and Katahdin (https://baxterinfo.wordpress.com/2017/12/20/the-2018-sobos-guide-to-baxter-and-katahdin/)