View Full Version : A different midpoint of the trail.
Okay, Not quite a midpoint, but for thru-hikers, at what point did you intercept the most thru-hikers going the other way?
Like, For NoBos, where did you run into the most SoBos, and Vice-President-Versa? And When?
Looking for specifics. I might section hike the areas noted during said times to meet the most thru-hikers.
Mid August in Vermont is when I see the most NOBO/SOBO mix.
Contrary to what I've read, the two groups really do get along with each other quite well !!!!!
For what it's worth: there are far fewer sobos than nobos, so the sobo "wave" is a lot more dispersed than the nobo wave. I would guess most of the encounters of which you speak occur in the northernmost 1/4 of the AT.
For me, I started seeing very early sobo's in mid VA, but the bulk started around Harpers Ferry, increased until probably CT/MA, and tapered off around VT/NH.
The Solemates
12-04-2008, 14:12
I can count the total number of SOBOs we saw on our thru-hike on my hands.
I can count the total number of SOBOs we saw on our thru-hike on my hands.
Really? In 1998 I saw a lot more than I expected... dozens, easily.
For real data that will help you:
See this, from the ATC:
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.851143/
And this, from Whiteblaze (excellent article!):
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=170578#post170578
Excerpt from above link:
Here's the distribution of hikers grouped by the month they left Springer and the month they reached Katahdin:
1 hiker in this study left Springer in January
25 in February
102 in March (59%)
42 in April
3 in May
4 arrived at Katahdin in June
25 in July
44 in August
77 in September
23 in October
Terrapin is right; August & Sept in the northern 1/4 trail will be best, though your chances of seeing more than a dozen or so SOBO's are not good, given their sparse #'s and wide dispersion of departure pattern.
Blissful
12-04-2008, 15:06
I saw sprinklings of SOBOs in August but the most in one day was in VT after Hanover, NH around August 10-11.
For real data that will help you:
See this, from the ATC:
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.851143/
to be fair, there were 120 sobos who got to harpers ferry which is more than the halfway point, apparently something beyond that crushes their spirit.
I saw sprinklings of SOBOs in August but the most in one day was in VT after Hanover, NH around August 10-11.
In my section hikes over the last 10 years or so, the largest concentration of thru-hikers I met were in Vermont, in mid-August. In 2007 I started in eastern PA in early August, and met exactly two SOBOs in the next 600 miles south. Met two or three straggling NOBOs in PA in the first week, then no more.
to be fair, there were 120 sobos who got to harpers ferry which is more than the halfway point, apparently something beyond that crushes their spirit.those are this years numbers from people who have sat down and filed. Its still pretty early for sobos. There are some sobos who are trying to get a big group together to have a mass finish on the 15th of December.
Really? In 1998 I saw a lot more than I expected... dozens, easily.
The most thru-hikers I saw at once was in Maine. 13 SoBos in a shelter...
Because I started realtively early and finished early (Aug) at what was then a fast pace (5 mos), I saw more SoBos overall than NoBos....
Also in 1998.. Damn; time flies.
Also in 1998.. Damn; time flies.
Tell me about it... and I can still almost remember it like it was yesterday.
Tell me about it... and I can still almost remember it like it was yesterday.
I am not exaggerating when I say the AT was a watershed moment in my life. For better or worse, my life was altered forever when I took that first step from Springer. Other longs hikes, my move to Colorado, still trying to balance wanderlust and a need for community, etc.
And, as you said, it all seems like yesterday....
Mostly in VT or NH but I saw my 1st near Ceoah Bald.
I am not exaggerating when I say the AT was a watershed moment in my life. For better or worse, my life was altered forever when I took that first step from Springer. Other longs hikes, my move to Colorado, still trying to balance wanderlust and a need for community, etc.
And, as you said, it all seems like yesterday....
I agree completely. My life would be totally different, and most likely a lot less good, had I not done the AT. It only changed me for the better.
The Solemates
12-04-2008, 18:07
Really? In 1998 I saw a lot more than I expected... dozens, easily.
we left 1 feb
The Solemates
12-04-2008, 18:08
i can also count the number of nobos we saw on our thru-hike on one hand.
twoshoes06
12-05-2008, 11:55
Just before the 100 mile wilderness (after it for SOBOs) was where I saw and passed the most SOBOs.. I finished in late July. I saw my first SOBO in the Presidentials.
TrippinBTM
12-07-2008, 21:44
saw my first sobo in NJ, but most were from MA to VT, though VT was confusing with all the Long Trail hikers... I did see two sobo's (together) in Maine, too, and I didn't finish till September 21, so that shows how late they were starting.
Serial 07
12-07-2008, 21:50
i definitely saw and hung out with more SOBOs in daulton, MA than anywhere...i was there around mid to late august...
twoshoes06
12-07-2008, 23:38
As a NOBO, I finished early (July 27th) so I saw the most SOBOs right before the 100 mile wilderness as they were coming out of it. I would recommend waiting a little later (like mid August) in VT. That would be the best time to see both.
When I thru-hiked I fliped from Duncannon. I summitted Katahdin on July 23 and started south. I met my first NOBO in the 100 mile wilderness. These hikers left springer in Feb.
I started to meet the folks that I had hiked NOBO with between Gorham and Hanover.
I probably met and hiked with only about a dozen true SOBO hikers.
crazy diamond
12-08-2008, 10:46
I started on Jan 12. I saw about 40 SOBO between Caratunk and Katahdin. This was in June.