Hi, new here, thinking about hiking the AT. From the posts I have read here and some videos I have watched, it appears that hiking NOBO is akin to a moving Spring Break party in Florida. It sounds like there are 30 or more people in all the shelters every night, the hostels are always full, and there is a line of hikers on the trail. Is this a true depiction? Are you ever alone for more than 10 minutes on the trail? Is it possible to find solitude? I am 53, and while a party every once in a while would be fun, having one 24/7 is not what I am looking for. I can and would camp away from shelters, but what is it like actually hiking?
Tabriz