View Full Version : Where would SOBO's be now?
id like to do some trail magic for them just dont know where they would be Thanks
Could be most anywhere although you're not likely to encounter a through hiker in Maine. Some are already finished.
My best guess is: right now, most likely southern Virginia. But it's hard to say. They're going to be pretty scattered.
There aren't that many SOBOs to begin with. I walked SOBO between 8/11/07 and 9/19/07, between eastern PA and southwestern VA. I only met two SOBOs in that time, both around 9/1, in Shenandoah National Park. My sense was that most SOBOs were well behind us.
To my knowledge, most SOBOs finish in October and November, so southern Virginia sounds pretty accurate. Two years ago I spent a night at Deep Gap (GA) shelter and again met up with two SOBO guys at Tray Mtn. shelter in early October. They were doing pretty big mileage days, 20+ consistently. I'm just not sure what their start date was. But if these guys were still on the trail in early October, I would suspect most are a little further behind than that. I've met others on the trail in GA in November many times.
I would think the probability of encountering SOBO through hikers would be low regardless of the location chosen. It should also be pointed out some choose to hike SOBO because they seek an experience which differs from a typical NOBO hike and what such hikes have become. They may or may not appreciate your efforts.
I would think the probability of encountering SOBO through hikers would be low regardless of the location chosen.
Agreed. That was partly my point, earlier. How many SOBO finishers are there in a year? I'm guessing 50-75. And at this time of year, they're spread out over at least 300-500 miles.
Of those who I hiked with, starting July 1st or so, the fastest ones are in Virginia (Slot Machine and Stretch), while the slower ones are in NJ, I think. Of course, a bunch of us are off the trail (myself, Doc, Grizzly, Popeye, and the Austin Trio) My buddies still out there are D-Wreck, The Vermont Mafia, Jason and Kelly, Patrick, Boot Strap, and Trip. Other than superspeed hiker Jen (who set a new record for an assisted hike), one female has finished that I am aware of: Alpine Strider (the German female who started June 1st) just finished according to her Trail Journal.
Blissful
09-27-2008, 14:35
When we hiked Northern VA and the rollercoaster in late Oct in prep for 2007 - we saw six altogether, all booking it to get to SNP.
LIhikers
09-28-2008, 20:24
My wife said that 2 southbound thru hikers went passed the RPH Cabin, in New York, today.
sasquatch2014
09-28-2008, 22:21
Just wrapped up a week in SNP and there were a few that were exiting the park as I came in but mostly the park was empty. Great experience. I guess there must be more behind somewhere because the numbers at HF when I looked in the book were still really low.
Ron Haven
09-29-2008, 00:57
I have had a dozen or so stop in at Budget Inn in the last couple of weeks.
I have had a dozen or so stop in at Budget Inn in the last couple of weeks.
Wow. They're spread from Franklin to southern NY. A would-be trail angel is going to get lonely.
hammock engineer
09-29-2008, 11:19
There's trail magic for southbounders? All I saw last year was a couple coolers up north last year.
Call the hostels in the area you are looking. They will have the best idea. Last year we were really spread out. It could be a week or 2 inbetween seeing any by the time we got south. For a reference my first day in SNP last year was Oct 31st.
Wow. They're spread from Franklin to southern NY. A would-be trail angel is going to get lonely.
Make that home and at least southern NY.;)
Just got back from 71 mile hike from Sam's Gap to 19E. Ran into quite a few SOBOers south and north of Erwin, TN headed for Springer. That means around Oct 15th, these folks had about 330 miles to go. One guy who was blazing (Mercury) along started the first week in June and said he planned to finish his 320 miles in 2 weeks. He left the shelter about 4:30 pm to do another 10 miles that day. :eek:
Tennessee Viking
10-19-2008, 01:13
Most of them should have past Dennis Cove&Roan within the last week.
there are still a few scraggling thru Damascus......
humunuku
10-20-2008, 12:54
I saw 4 of them in Grayson Highlands yesterday
shadytree
10-20-2008, 13:11
We ran into about 5-6 of them this weekend just south of Penmar.
I smelled one the other day, and I live 60 miles from the trail.
FlyPaper
10-20-2008, 13:48
We ran into a number of them in Shenendoah National Park late last week. I would guess most are further along.