Only 18 Thru-Hikers have hit the Big K so far?

[SavageLlama]

Anyone know approximately how many thru-hikers are still on the trail? Is this a low year?

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#6666ff><TD class=stats style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #ffffff" width=125>2004 Thru-hiker Estimate: Northbound </TD><TD class=stats style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #ffffff" align=middle width=55>As of Aug. 5</TD><TD class=stats style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #ffffff" align=middle width=55>2003 Totals</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ccccff><TD class=stats width=125>Springer Mtn., Ga.</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>1,535</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>1,750</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD class=stats width=125>Neels Gap, Ga.</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>1,305</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>1,400</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ccccff><TD class=stats width=125>Fontana Dam, N.C.</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>864</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>1,028</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD class=stats width=125>Harpers Ferry, W.Va.</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>657</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>741</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ccccff><TD class=stats width=125>Katahdin, Maine</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>18</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>391</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Rocalousas]

The Big K has fallen on hard times lately. Most hikers are going to Wal-Mart.

[Kerosene]

From what I've heard, this is the lightest year since the late 90's.

[TJ aka Teej]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#6666ff><TD class=stats style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #ffffff" width=125>2004 Thru-hiker Estimate: Northbound </TD><TD class=stats style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #ffffff" align=middle width=55>As of Aug. 5</TD><TD class=stats style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #ffffff" align=middle width=55>2003 Totals</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ccccff><TD class=stats width=125>Springer Mtn., Ga.</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>1,535</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>1,750</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD class=stats width=125>Neels Gap, Ga.</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>1,305</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>1,400</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ccccff><TD class=stats width=125>Fontana Dam, N.C.</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>864</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>1,028</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD class=stats width=125>Harpers Ferry, W.Va.</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>657</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>741</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ccccff><TD class=stats width=125>Katahdin, Maine</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>18</TD><TD class=stats align=middle width=55>391</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Glad to they're finally adding in-season Katahdin stats. But I counted over 20 finishing GAMErs Just between Aug 1-6, so their "18" is waaaaaaaaaaay wrong.

TJ

[Haiku]

I was either number 40 or 44 (can't remember, and it didn't really matter to me, so I didn't pay too much attention) on 30 July. The number 18 probably reflects the number of people who have mailed back their completion form to the ATC, not the number at the ranger station in Baxter S.P..

Haiku.

[Lone Wolf]

Wonder how many actually hiked the whole trail? :-?

[SavageLlama]

Interesting figures from a Knoxville Sentinel article (which I posted in the media forum):

TRAIL REPORTS
* Winton Porter, owner of Mountain Crossings: Season-end count of 1,305 thru-hikers from Neels Gap

* At Fontana Dam: Thru-hikers this year numbered 864 for March 1- May 31 -- down 16 percent from last year

* Shenandoah National Park: 11 percent decrease in northbound A.T. hikers (thru-hikers and section hikers combined) this year

* Harpers Ferry: As of July 7, 562 northbound thru-hikers had reached that point -- 83 fewer than at same date last year

[TJ aka Teej]

The number 18 probably reflects the number of people who have mailed back their completion form to the ATC, not the number at the ranger station in Baxter S.P..Yup, that's it. Here are the numbers collected at Baxter last year:

AT SOUTH-193,
AT NORTH-541,
AT FLIP-FLOP- 60,
AT SECT. SOUTH- 119,
AT SECT. NORTH- 201=
Total for the year 1114+.

The numbers from Baxter (and those collected at the Kennebec) are better indicators of actual Thruhiker traffic than the number of Rocker applications sent in.

Teej

[SavageLlama]

This article states there were 215 fewer NoBo's this year.

"According to the Appalachian Mountain Club, last year 1,750 northbound “through hikers” left Springer Mountain. As of Aug. 5 this year, the number was 1,535. Those numbers do not include southbound hikers."

Full article here: http://www.iberkshires.com/story.php?story_id=15248

[Flash Hand]

It was low this year all because Baltimore Jack retired. No one want to run further if Forrest Gump quit. :bse

Flash Hand :jump

[Peaks]

Interesting figures from a Knoxville Sentinel article (which I posted in the media forum):

TRAIL REPORTS
* Winton Porter, owner of Mountain Crossings: Season-end count of 1,305 thru-hikers from Neels Gap

* At Fontana Dam: Thru-hikers this year numbered 864 for March 1- May 31 -- down 16 percent from last year

* Shenandoah National Park: 11 percent decrease in northbound A.T. hikers (thru-hikers and section hikers combined) this year

* Harpers Ferry: As of July 7, 562 northbound thru-hikers had reached that point -- 83 fewer than at same date last year


I know that Winton gets his numbers from those who sign in at Mountain Crossings, and the ATC gets theirs the same way. But who is doing the counting at Fontana Dam and Shenandoah National Park?

[Lone Wolf]

I assume the Park Service counts the hikers by the permits they fill out.

[Blue Jay]

It was low this year all because Baltimore Jack retired. No one want to run further if Forrest Gump quit. :bse

Flash Hand :jump

Now that's just cold :banana

[hustler]

ATC numbers are wrong. I summited on July 15th and I was number 21. There were 4 of us that summited that day. So as of the 15th there was 25. That does not include the people who didn't sign in. I know of at least 3.

[chris]

Yeah, I think the ATC numbers are wrong. I have three friends that summited Special K, all before Aug 5. The earliest of them was circa July 26, and he was roughly 28.

[Bluebearee]

How did you guys know your # @ Baxter? I didn't know of anyway to count that when I reached there. Just curious.

[TJ aka Teej]

Chris & Hustler - The ATC numbers reflect only the hikers who have sent in to Harper's Ferry for their certificate and rocker.

Bluebearee - The Rangers at Katahdin Stream keep track of the AT hikers who check in and/or stay at The Birches. They'll (usually) tell you what number nobo you are.

To all - the Baxter numbers and the numbers Steve the Ferryman collects are always larger than the ATC figure. The Ranger at Katahdin Stream told me only 2/3s of the nobos take the ATC 2000 miler form when it's offered to them.

Teej

[broodX]

Yay my first WB post. I am currently hiking and there are still a lot of people out on the trail. I plan on finishing around the 4-8th of October.

[Youngblood]

Chris & Hustler - The ATC numbers reflect only the hikers who have sent in to Harper's Ferry for their certificate and rocker.

Bluebearee - The Rangers at Katahdin Stream keep track of the AT hikers who check in and/or stay at The Birches. They'll (usually) tell you what number nobo you are.

To all - the Baxter numbers and the numbers Steve the Ferryman collects are always larger than the ATC figure. The Ranger at Katahdin Stream told me only 2/3s of the nobos take the ATC 2000 miler form when it's offered to them.

Teej
Teej,

I would be interested in knowing if the Ranger at Katahdin Stream thinks the percentage of nobos who take the ATC 2000 miler form when offered is different this year. If you get a chance, would you mind asking?

Youngblood

[trailangelmary]

Glad to they're finally adding in-season Katahdin stats. But I counted over 20 finishing GAMErs Just between Aug 1-6, so their "18" is waaaaaaaaaaay wrong.

TJ

:banana Hi Teej, Will you be at Baxtar to give us those great updates on the hikers that you did last year?

[Jaybird]

as of August 23rd: Wildcat, Sierra Marmot, Tank, Bonespur, Rocket & Easy Duzit summitted Mt. Katahdin. So thats 6 more to add to the list.

The ATC releases the stats monthly (i think).

Wildcat reports he was the 145th NOBO hiker to sign in @ Katahdin Stream Ranger Station for the year. :clap



Wildcat's Trail Journal (http://http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=77538)

[TJ aka Teej]

Youngblood - as of last week, his estimate was the same as last years. We've marveled over the whys for the 2/3s figure, but I suppose there's really a hundred different reasons for declining the application.

Mary - heck, if I'm up there any more than I already am, I'm gonna ask Buzz for one of them nifty green pickups :D I'm going to hike in to the Penobscot Nation gathering at Baxter this weekend, I'll try to write up a report.

TJ