I live in Charlotte, NC and would love to do a thru hike but I am a school teacher and time just does not permit it. My "penciled in" plan is to start a hike near Bland, VA and hike as far north as I can beginning the end of May ending July 31st. Then I will pick up as much of the southern part of the trail as i can in long weekends and vacations in the fall. The following summer I will head back north and attempt to complete the northern section. Does this make sense to those of you in the know? Thanks for your help?