NB after GSMNP in March?

[lillyfamily]

Don't care about finishing the trail at a particular point, nor about doing the whole thing at once, but would it be feasible to start at Davenport Gap and head north in mid- to late March? Or would it be too cold? Better maybe to start later and do the traditional flip-flop route?

[Ox97GaMe]

it will still likely be cold in March whether you start at Springer or at Davenport Gap or anywhere along the trail. But, it isnt totally out of the question. There are hikers that start from Springer on Jan 1st almost every year. There are NOBOs that are hiking through GSMNP right now. If you are prepared for colder weather hiking, then just pick a day and go for it.

Cold temps here would be single digits and teens. Occassionally, or at higher elevations, you might get wind chills that reach subzero, but that is not the norm. Expect temps to fluctuate anywhere from lows in teens to highs in the 70s during March/April in the south. And it can change from one extreme to the other in a matter of a a couple days.

[fredmugs]

I did a 172 mile section hike from Standing Bear to Dennis Cove last year March 13 - 22. I never had any snow but did have one miserable freezing rain kind of day. Lows were down around freezing and highs some days never made it to 40 and several days made it over 50 and those days were awesome.

Some peaks were windy and cold - others, like Max Patch, were perfect. You're going to get a mixed bag that time of year.