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dmperkins74
03-04-2012, 09:04
Hey Hikers, what's your favorite / most rewarding state. I mean in regards to quality of the hiking, scenery, whatever you value in hiking (as opposed to "Maine, because it was so rewarding getting to Katahdin!)? I haven't done enough states so far, so I'm not feeling qualified to answer, but curious what you all think.

Alpha Pig

lush242000
03-04-2012, 09:17
Virginia. Mt. Rogers

Spokes
03-04-2012, 09:34
You'll think I'm crazy but it was New Jersey. Totally blew me away. If you had blindfolded me and dropped me off on the trail there I would have never figured out where I was. I know now why they call it the Garden State!

Cheers

kayak karl
03-04-2012, 09:53
New Hampshire

DLANOIE
03-04-2012, 10:05
This should be a poll. My vote is for Maine with NH a close second. Love them big mountains and steep climbs.

BrianLe
03-04-2012, 10:46
Oregon. Somewhat of a high getting (finally) out of California, lots of scenery, still not much rain, easy still to find campsites, and you can really move with overall good trail. I do admit that I enjoyed Maine on the whole; felt a bit like I was back in the PNW but in some weird, twisted, alternate universe sort of way.

brian039
03-04-2012, 10:52
Maine and New Hampshire. It's awesome to be above treeline at only 4,500ft and have the big views. The woods are enchanted, I love the wood thrush's song, it's cool to see moose and camp by ponds and listen to loons at night.

dmperkins74
03-04-2012, 11:06
Glad to hear so much love for Maine and New Hampshire. I haven't touched those yet, so nice to know I've got some great stuff ahead of me. And yeah Spokes, I agree... New Jersey has been VERY surprisingly rewarding for me.

Carbo
03-04-2012, 11:08
I agree with Spokes. Yes, I live here, but when I get out there on the AT section in NJ, I just can't believe I'm in NJ.

4eyedbuzzard
03-04-2012, 11:16
I agree with Spokes. Yes, I live here, but when I get out there on the AT section in NJ, I just can't believe I'm in NJ.I'm a NJ escapee. My first hike was on the AT in NJ back in the late '60's. Took my kids hiking there when we lived there too. Yeah, it's surprising that anything like it exists there if all you ever think of is the the way the media portrays NJ. Some really pretty trail and a surprising climb up and out of the water gap if you don't expect it to be there.

LIhikers
03-04-2012, 11:52
As a section hiker, who's only seen the trail from Harper's Ferry to Pinkham Notch so far, Vermont and New Hampshire are tied.
Vermont for its lush greenery and New Hampshire for its rugged handsomeness.

garlic08
03-04-2012, 12:07
New York. The food.

Cookerhiker
03-04-2012, 17:10
Maine in late summer/early fall for the mountains, lakes, wildlife (especially loons), evergreens, clean air
North Carolina/Tennessee in mid-spring for the flowers

Grampie
03-04-2012, 17:19
After hiking the whole AT I would have to say Maine was my favorite state. Besides the beautifull mountains, lakes and streams the views from the mountain tops are unbeatable. Maine is probably the only place you will see a moose. The trail is kept in a more natural condition. Most rivers and streams have no bridges. You have to ford. Fewer roads cross the trail you get more of a feeling that you are in a wilderness.

on_the_GOEZ
03-04-2012, 17:22
Maine - most quiet state along the whole trail, best water, most rewarding terrain, and MOOSE!

Tennessee - Bob People's section...

rocketsocks
03-04-2012, 17:45
Wow,I cannot believe all the responses to my little state of NJ,yes were not all refineries,and highways.I have never been in the Whites and long to go,it is probably going to be my first stop on a long list of want-to-see though above tree line anywhere would be spectacular too...one day

takethisbread
03-04-2012, 18:45
West Virginia.

obscura
03-04-2012, 19:46
The balds of TN/NC. Overall, the first 700 miles in general. NH and Maine had some lovely scenery, but I figured out I really just don't care much for rock climbing.

Lone Wolf
03-04-2012, 21:03
Va, nj, ct

Smooth & Wasabi
03-04-2012, 23:15
Maine is great overall

Joker4ink
03-05-2012, 00:15
Lone Wolf - Nice job adding CT to this list! I love our little state.

Tinker
03-05-2012, 00:30
Maine for swimming

New Hampshire for views (too many people in the Whites, though).

Vermont for its greenery
(Vermont's name is a contraction of "Les Montes Vertes" as spoken by Samuel de Champlain - literally, "The Green Mountains"). The license plates read, "Vermont, the Green Mountain State" - redundancy :).

New York for its frequent deli locations near the trail (lots of litter near trail heads frequently, unless volunteers have picked it up before you go through)

New Jersey for its open ledges (I have quite a few photos in the gallery from NJ)

I wasn't too impressed with Mass. (except for the southernmost stretch), or Connecticut.

I haven't hiked the rockiest stretches of Pa. yet, so I won't comment except for the fact that I've seen more hunters on the Trail than in any other state.

Georgia is a great workout - hardly a level stretch anywhere. The closest thing to it is the gradual grade (forever) heading north from Dick's Creek Gap until you hit the N.C. line and proceed to climb straight up!

The Blue Ridge in Va. is pretty, relatively well graded with nice views, and there are plenty of (expensive) wayside restaurants along the parkway.

Rasty
03-05-2012, 01:04
The fifty-sixth state!!! :D

bgood360
03-05-2012, 06:58
Alabama, after/but then I realized I had been holding my map upside down for the first 450 miles of my trip.

cabbagehead
03-09-2012, 21:23
I've only done a northern chunk, but...

New Jersey (for it's views). There are orange salamanders, lots of snakes, some cool buildings...

Least favorite: New Hampshire and Maine
The mountains blocked my view.

Chop
03-09-2012, 23:34
Maine, Vermont and Virginia were all surprising in good ways to me. Maine's lakes and ponds. Vermont was nice to roll into pastoral scenes mixed in with mtns... Virginia had a lot of beauty I didn't expect.

NH is super, but I moved here for the landscape, so opinion is biased by that.

MJW155
03-10-2012, 01:28
Glad to hear NJ. I lived there for 30 years until I moved to FL. Everytime I'd have friends/relatives that made fun of NJ while visiting, I"d take them to the Del. Water Gap or High Point. Everyone of them would say "This isn't really NJ is it?" LOL.

Pony
03-10-2012, 03:15
Maine, Vermont and Virginia

That's my top 3. I think there is a 13 way tie for first, and Pa is 2nd.

JAK
03-12-2012, 15:54
James Taylor turned 64 today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78O6--THTF0

Spokes
03-12-2012, 16:06
James Taylor turned 64 today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78O6--THTF0

...... and is still batty as all get out.

Rusty Nail
03-12-2012, 21:34
I get a lot of BS for living in NJ but spending most of my time swimming in Crater lake, climbing Buttermilk Falls, Going up to the fire tower (catfish), chilling at Sunfish pond, trips to Sunrise Mtn. and being so close to the DWG makes it all worth it. It is all I have ever known. My wife actually grew up in the last house before the state park on the road you cross after coming down from the catfish fire tower northbound about 1/2 mile from the trail.

snorz
03-12-2012, 22:55
Yeah joisey is best!

XrayDuke
03-15-2012, 09:41
Roan Highlands Tennessee/North Carolina

dmperkins74
03-16-2012, 05:32
I SOOOO can't wait for Roan Highlands... I've been thinking of holding off to do that area as a reward or something later on, but I may just have to do it this year :)

lemon b
03-16-2012, 07:19
Grayson Highlands, Va. Also I have a propensity for Vermont. Guess because I can make it up there a few times a year these days.

genetic claybuilding
03-16-2012, 13:26
Colorado in the fall, when the aspens are blazing gold and the air is something out of this world.

BrianLe
03-17-2012, 02:57
"Colorado in the fall, when the aspens are blazing gold and the air is something out of this world."

And when a world of snow is soon to be falling onto you. Been there, done that, just squeaked through ...
I'll stick with Oregon.

Wise Old Owl
03-17-2012, 09:15
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/1/5/5/2/parock.jpgPA Rocks!

coach lou
03-17-2012, 10:11
WWO, is this picture Tourist advertizeing or "Warning: KEEP OUT", 'cause when ever I flash back to PA/AT, this picture is what I vision! I love Pa. though, you have the most wonderful trout streams!

4eyedbuzzard
03-17-2012, 10:14
15546

more pa rocks!

Jeff
03-17-2012, 10:20
Isn't there a spot in PA where you hike past a huge pile of rocks...like they are storing them in case they run out!!!!:)

4eyedbuzzard
03-17-2012, 10:21
Isn't there a spot in PA where you hike past a huge pile of rocks...like they are storing them in case they run out!!!!:)Yeah, it's called the AT. :D

Jeff
03-17-2012, 10:44
Here's the pile:

15547

Muckaday
04-16-2012, 08:51
The balds of TN/NC. Overall, the first 700 miles in general. NH and Maine had some lovely scenery, but I figured out I really just don't care much for rock climbing.

Near Gatlinburg was one of my favorites, its where you decide out wether or not you can do a thru-hike. Plus you meet really great people by then. Clingsman Dome :) Awesome