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sleeman13
01-18-2009, 16:41
I'm planning to leave from Georgia for my thru-hike attempt March 15th. I was wondering what type of conditions I could expect. Temperature? Snow? Night vs Daytime? All input is appreciated.
Thanks.

weary
01-18-2009, 17:12
I'm planning to leave from Georgia for my thru-hike attempt March 15th. I was wondering what type of conditions I could expect. Temperature? Snow? Night vs Daytime? All input is appreciated.
Thanks.
Expect night temperatures that at times drop into the single numbers -- even minus single members. Snow -- some years deep snow.

Daytime temperatures will be mostly above freezing. Sometimes as high as the 60's.

It's a nice time to hike the southern Appalachians. But not a terribly easy time. You need to be prepared for cold nights, chilly days, and occasionally bone-chilling rain, which is more dangerous than snow.

Weary

Kanati
01-18-2009, 18:20
The weather can do most anything in the South in late winter and early spring. Last year I left Springer March 1st and the weather was kinda cold but not too bad, maybe high 20's at night. A few days later is was in the mid teens at night with highs in the 30's during the afternoon. By the third week we were getting sunburn, only to return to cold temps in late March and it stayed cold into mid April. The last snow I was in was on April 12th on the TN/VA line. A rain/wind shell is a must!

Good luck and happy hiking. :sun

Tinker
01-18-2009, 18:42
Snow in the Smokies in early May is not out of the question. When I did Georgia, the first night was right around freezing (March 9, 2006). The next seven days it never got below 40 at night with a high of 78. The last night it was down to around freezing again after a day where the highs were in the upper 40s with a wicked wind chill factor.
That was just Georgia, 9 days worth.

Tennessee Viking
01-18-2009, 19:45
Expect the unexpected in the south. We can still have freezing temps going into spring then warm up then get a spring snow fall like the last couple years.

The basic idea is to keep your winter gear until VA. You might have to keep it even a bit after Mt Rogers.

Bare Bear
01-19-2009, 03:07
Be prepared for anything. I have sent my winter bag home too soon and got it back to carry it to Maine.....many nights I slept on it but it was great to have when I needed it.

Egads
01-19-2009, 07:11
IIRC, last year rain poured, hail fell, the lightning struck, and tornadoes did their worst. In other words, a great time for hiking:rolleyes:

the_black_spot
01-19-2009, 22:43
I'm planning to leave from Georgia for my thru-hike attempt March 15th. I was wondering what type of conditions I could expect. Temperature? Snow? Night vs Daytime? All input is appreciated.
Thanks.
expect a weather buffet, but not in order of your choosing. the good news is you will know how versatile your gear is.

Serial 07
01-19-2009, 22:55
awesome!!! (that's my birthday...)

mid/late march 2008 was cool and 40's, pretty typical i would guess...2007 was hot and 80s, didn't rain for my first 10 days...left 3/17 and 3/21 respectively...

Blissful
01-19-2009, 23:27
Plan for everything. Heat wave. Snow. Single digits. Wind. You name it.
(we had it all)

STEVEM
01-19-2009, 23:53
awesome!!! (that's my birthday...)

mid/late march 2008 was cool and 40's, pretty typical i would guess...2007 was hot and 80s, didn't rain for my first 10 days...left 3/17 and 3/21 respectively...

Hey Serial, my birthday too! Also, a good day to watch for a**holes with big knives:

The Ides of March (Latin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_language): Idus Martiae) is the name of the date 15 March (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_15) in the Roman calendar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_calendar). In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar) was assassinated, in 44 BC, the story of which was famously dramatised in William Shakespeare (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare)'s play Julius Caesar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar_(play)).[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ides_of_March#cite_note-1)