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View Full Version : How crazy am I to attempt a NOBO in July?



airduct8088
07-14-2009, 05:32
I don't really care much about horrible weather conditions, or the threat of having to bail out early.

I was just kind of wondering how late is considered "too late" for someone that is in shape, can walk from dusk til dawn, and has an abnormal amount of will?

Bronk
07-14-2009, 06:12
If you left within the next two days you'd have to average 27 miles a day to finish...and that is average. That is with no days off...every time you take a day off your average goes down, so you'd really be talking about 30+ mile days if you took a day off every 10 days. And that's if you came flying out of the gate at that speed without working up to it. If you start slower, you're probably talking in the range of 35+ miles a day.

sticks&stones
07-14-2009, 07:33
I don't really care much about horrible weather conditions, or the threat of having to bail out early.

I was just kind of wondering how late is considered "too late" for someone that is in shape, can walk from dusk til dawn, and has an abnormal amount of will?

dusk til dawn in northern NE in nov, dec, is tight. sun more or less skims across the horizon for a few hours, and then goes down. generally days get short across the whole trail during winter, nothing a good headlamp can't combat, if one doesn't mind night hiking on a regular basis.

i doubt a single day goes by on the AT where a thru hiker isn't out there somewhere.

modiyooch
07-14-2009, 07:34
what's wrong with starting a hike and enjoying the journey? So what if you don't get all the way thru Maine the first outing? I wouldn't focus on 27 miles a day. The summer beauty and fall colors will find you wherever you are on the trail. I don't understand the whole competition thing. Sure, I want to complete the trail; but in it's time.

MOWGLI
07-14-2009, 07:38
I don't really care much about horrible weather conditions, or the threat of having to bail out early.

I was just kind of wondering how late is considered "too late" for someone that is in shape, can walk from dusk til dawn, and has an abnormal amount of will?

What's crazy is to spend your life wanting to hike the AT, and never actually doing it. You're quite sane. Enjoy yourself.

Pedaling Fool
07-14-2009, 07:57
I always hear people say, it's never too late.

sasquatch2014
07-14-2009, 08:08
Late fall and winter are some of my favorite times on the trail. you have it to yourself, the views are better, a good campfire has never felt or looked better than on a cold dark night, no bugs, and you have the knowledge that you are on to a good thing while the rest of the world thinks your nuts.

Plan well have the right gear and know about winter conditions and the extra care needed to avoid cold weather problems and you will have a great time. I am just curious about one thing why NoBo and not a late SoBo trek?

drastic_quench
07-14-2009, 09:13
I don't really care much about horrible weather conditions, or the threat of having to bail out early.

I was just kind of wondering how late is considered "too late" for someone that is in shape, can walk from dusk til dawn, and has an abnormal amount of will?
If you really want to complete it starting now, and aren't afraid of some chills, do a SOBO. That's still feasible.

snowhoe
07-14-2009, 09:15
what's wrong with starting a hike and enjoying the journey? So what if you don't get all the way thru Maine the first outing? I wouldn't focus on 27 miles a day. The summer beauty and fall colors will find you wherever you are on the trail. I don't understand the whole competition thing. Sure, I want to complete the trail; but in it's time.

Thats the ticket right there.

STEVEM
07-14-2009, 09:27
I don't really care much about horrible weather conditions, or the threat of having to bail out early.

I was just kind of wondering how late is considered "too late" for someone that is in shape, can walk from dusk til dawn, and has an abnormal amount of will?

If you build and install ductwork in Texas in July you'll have no problem with the AT.

Cookerhiker
07-14-2009, 10:16
I'll be the 3rd to say it: why not SOBO?

airduct8088
07-14-2009, 17:43
Late fall and winter are some of my favorite times on the trail. you have it to yourself, the views are better, a good campfire has never felt or looked better than on a cold dark night, no bugs, and you have the knowledge that you are on to a good thing while the rest of the world thinks your nuts.

Plan well have the right gear and know about winter conditions and the extra care needed to avoid cold weather problems and you will have a great time. I am just curious about one thing why NoBo and not a late SoBo trek?

First let me say, thank you all for the positive feedback.

The main reason for a NoBo is that the end of this hike coincides with my temporary departure from TX. I have various relationships and connections in the northeast.

Again, thank you all. I really wasn't expecting much activity on this thread.

airduct8088
07-14-2009, 17:44
If you build and install ductwork in Texas in July you'll have no problem with the AT.

Hahaha.. thanks

airduct8088
07-14-2009, 17:48
I'll be the 3rd to say it: why not SOBO?

Because my destination, beyond hiking, is the NE.

Without getting into too much detail, new opportunities await in the NE. This includes Maine and Virgina.

What better way to get there then via the trail?

Thanks again.

Blissful
07-14-2009, 19:50
I don't really care much about horrible weather conditions,


Just wondering if you have been in horrible weather conditions (like sub zero temps, feet of snow, etc which is what will happen in the NE by the time you arrive) because it is easy to say when sitting in comfort at a keyboard. Quite another to be out in it, enduring it day in and day out, week after week. And to hear other hiker's stories of what they endured. A whole other ball game. Esp the winter conditions - of which I hear this year could be nasty with el nino. Just things to consider when planning. I mean if you want to go and see where you get, go for it. But I doubt you will make it to the Northeast which is where you want to go. If I were you, I'd start at Harpers Ferry and go north. Thin flip and go south. Makes total sense.

And Virginia is not the Northeast and a far cry weather wise than Maine. 2 different weather systems. :D

bigcranky
07-14-2009, 21:14
You can easily hike from Georgia to Virginia starting now. If you want to go to Maine, I'd recommend starting at Harper's Ferry.

Lone Wolf
07-14-2009, 21:15
I don't really care much about horrible weather conditions, or the threat of having to bail out early.

I was just kind of wondering how late is considered "too late" for someone that is in shape, can walk from dusk til dawn, and has an abnormal amount of will?

just do it. don't ask people on here that have never attempted it. have fun

Ox97GaMe
07-15-2009, 00:01
If you start mid July, you have realistically 100 days to hike the trail. you will still have plenty of cold, snowy weather in Maine, if you make it that far.

You stated Maine or Virginia. A better plan would be to take the 100 days and just hike Springer to Harpers Ferry or maybe somewhere in PA. Get off the trail when the weather starts to get cold for you. Im from Michigan originally, so it has to get pretty cold to keep me off the trail, but everyone is different. You will know when you are no longer comfortable. Have fun and enjoy the trip instead of focusing on huge miles. You might not get to pass that way again.

Lemni Skate
07-15-2009, 01:33
Calling Virginia a Northeastern State? Them there's fighting words. General Lee and Jackson are rolling over in their graves.

High Life
07-15-2009, 01:35
just do it. don't ask people on here that have never attempted it. have fun

uhuh .. well i believe i thru hiked .. could be wrong ... or atleast
attempted to .. but whatev


GO SOBO !! and take your sweet ass time too

David@whiteblaze
07-23-2009, 00:43
im not sure what the what the weather is like up there but south georiga has unbearable heat in the summer so i wouldnt be able to stand hiking in that heat, otherwise, if you can stand it, best wishes.

David@whiteblaze
07-23-2009, 00:44
although, sobo sounds like a viable option.

Frosty
07-23-2009, 08:14
Calling Virginia a Northeastern State? Them there's fighting words. General Lee and Jackson are rolling over in their graves.:D I thought the same thing, but from the other end. I understand the point of view of someone from Texas, though, to whom Virginia is in the northeast. As a life-long New Englander, though, I consider New York the dividing line. New Jersey and beyond is the South; Pennsylvania and beyond is the West. Deep South starts in Virginia, Far West starts in Nebraska or Colorado.

What you see depends a lot on where you are standing.

Deadeye
07-23-2009, 09:07
Nobody's opinion but your own matters. Just go until you don't want to go anymore. If you prefer, get a job, sit behind a desk, and think about what could have been.

Your choice.

Tennessee Viking
07-23-2009, 09:12
Going Nobo in July. You would just be getting all the humidity thats all. You will be carrying summer/fall gear.

All the crowd is way gone. You would just be running into sectioners at camp. In a couple of months, you might see some SOBOs. Then just be sleeping with all the critters (bears, mice) that are not usually out in winter & early spring times.

Just do it and see how far you can get.

The Solemates
07-23-2009, 12:14
:D I thought the same thing, but from the other end. I understand the point of view of someone from Texas, though, to whom Virginia is in the northeast. As a life-long New Englander, though, I consider New York the dividing line. New Jersey and beyond is the South; Pennsylvania and beyond is the West. Deep South starts in Virginia, Far West starts in Nebraska or Colorado.

What you see depends a lot on where you are standing.

you're mixed up :) deep south starts in bama. GA aint even deep south.

mudhead
07-23-2009, 14:02
PA/VA/NJ = mid atlantic.

FL = new south.

CO = mtn west.

NV west = far west.

TN = ? Long skinny state?

Cool AT Breeze
07-23-2009, 17:20
uhuh .. well i believe i thru hiked .. could be wrong ... or atleast
attempted to .. but whatev


GO SOBO !! and take your sweet ass time too
Did you do a NOBO starting in late July?

Toinesolo
07-24-2009, 06:22
I am on my way to Springer in a week or two. Heading north into the wonderful fall and winter temperatures. I love the cold so it wont be a problem, the wet might bother me a little in the beginning. I will get used to it though.

Feral Bill
07-24-2009, 12:27
I am on my way to Springer in a week or two. Heading north into the wonderful fall and winter temperatures. I love the cold so it wont be a problem, the wet might bother me a little in the beginning. I will get used to it though.


-20 degrees (or colder:eek:) in a screaming whiteout isn't so wonderful. Please understand that above treeline in winter is not "just walking", and plan accordingly.

mudhead
07-24-2009, 13:07
-20 in the driveway bites. Eyelashes freeze, so don't know if the whiteout part makes a difference to me.

kayak karl
07-24-2009, 13:47
I am on my way to Springer in a week or two. Heading north into the wonderful fall and winter temperatures. I love the cold so it wont be a problem, the wet might bother me a little in the beginning. I will get used to it though.
go for it. :)

David@whiteblaze
07-25-2009, 18:53
PA/VA/NJ = mid atlantic.

FL = new south.

CO = mtn west.

NV west = far west.

TN = ? Long skinny state?

speaking as a long term (long is a relative term, it means 13 1/2 years.) resident of florida, were more of a tourist destination than a member of the south.(except, of course northwest FL where all the hicks and rednecks live)