View Full Version : Running Late- where to start
mnunes810
06-03-2009, 20:43
The title says it all. Where can I start the AT 2 weeks from now (that would be June 17) to complete the trail northbound on schedule?
Old Grouse
06-03-2009, 20:45
Do you mean you want to reach the northern terminus before Baxter closes?
mnunes810
06-03-2009, 20:55
yes, Katahdin before I will have to face long term trail closings
b/w central va and harpers fairy depending on your pace.
mnunes810
06-03-2009, 21:10
I plan to move fairly quickly I'm in good shape and I'll be alone with minimal gear and tenting it
ARambler
06-03-2009, 21:20
You are not too late for a south bound hike, I left Baxter on July 1. Assuming you do not want to hike until Thanksgiving, or have to go north, south-central VA is good.
However, if you hike all the way to mid October, you will have a lot of cold weather in the end. If you finish in mid September you will have done a lot less than you could have. Either way, you will be maximizing the hot months in the middle states.
A third option would be to start at the Delaware Water Gap (or some other place with good transportation) finish easily, and then if you like it, flip back and hike south with the south bounders.
Rambler
ARambler
06-03-2009, 21:26
I plan to move fairly quickly I'm in good shape and I'll be alone with minimal gear and tenting it
OK you could finish a sobo by early Nov. pretty easily.
Rambler
Two Tents
06-03-2009, 21:43
My suggestion is go South. I wanted to start in Ga. But now I'm leaving mid June for a thru sobo hike. I hope it works for no matter what you do. Happy Trails!
mnunes810
06-03-2009, 21:46
I see what time of the year do the trails in the N/E region generally begin to close?
Blissful
06-03-2009, 22:01
You could start at Harpers Ferry and be there, though it would close, esp just starting out. And you will encounter some harsh footing.
Then flip and hike south.
Two Tents
06-03-2009, 22:47
When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. Alexander Graham Bell (1847 - 1922)
Feral Bill
06-03-2009, 22:57
I see what time of the year do the trails in the N/E region generally begin to close?
Mostly they don't, excepting Katadin. The Whites, however are beyond normal backpacking in winter. Southern states have hunting in the fall, requiring some caution if you are southbound.
mnunes810
06-04-2009, 00:11
I prefer not to go southbound. I feel quite bound to the south as it is. I want to make my trip to somewhere new. Plus, I want to see it all freely without the fear of being mistaken for something that a hunter thinks might look nice on his wall. I get enough of that around here during hunting season.
The Solemates
06-04-2009, 09:34
I plan to move fairly quickly I'm in good shape and I'll be alone with minimal gear and tenting it
i'd go sobo, but you could start at springer and head northbound. when it comes around to 1 October, assess your situation and decide then. you can easily jump ahead and do katahdin and either then head south or go back to where you left the trail.
knicksin2010
06-08-2009, 21:33
You could start at Springer on June 17 and make Baxter before closing. It all depends on how many miles per day you can/want to do. If you did a SOBO you'd have to deal with a lot of bugs.