When will you be in PA?

[RachelPockets]

I've tried looking online but haven't found an easy way to see when through hikers will be in Pensilvania. My friends and I are planning a section hike and would like if possible to time it with with when some through hikers will be on the trail. Approximately when will most through hikers be around?

[rafe]

See mapman's article here: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/content.php?44

I imagine some of the faster hikers and successful early-starters will be in PA soon -- as in, the next few weeks. I'd expect the slowest successful northbound thru hikers to be done with PA by... oh, early July or thereabouts.

Let's put it this way... a northbound hiker hitting Delaware Water Gap in mid-July is going to have to push really hard to get to Katahdin before the window closes.

I walked south from Lehigh Gap starting early August, and only met one or two northbound thru-hikers.

[fredmugs]

Several years ago I hiked PA around the 3rd week of June (what has been seen on Hike Naked Day cannot be unseen). When I dropped my re-supply package at The Doyle there were 25 or 30 thru hikers waiting to get in. When I rolled in there a week later the place was full up. It was also hot. I hiked SOBO and it was 95 when I walked thru town and it was a tough mile or so.

[ki0eh]

Typically end of May south thru beginning of July north, for the NOBO's. The faster folks are noticeable for the Foundry Day festival in Boiling Springs (coincides with National Trails Day 1st Sat in June, crafts on one side of the lake, trail exhibits on the other side). The partiers used to be in Duncannon around Independence Day, but the newer more official fest is a bit earlier, June 21st in 2014. http://www.duncannonatc.org