Just wondering how the conditions are for SOBO starting in NY in Mid September and finishing on Springer in December. Concerned about cold and snow.
Just wondering how the conditions are for SOBO starting in NY in Mid September and finishing on Springer in December. Concerned about cold and snow.
Cold maybe. Snow maybe. Last Christmas Day it was 70 degrees in Michigan. Weather is different every year
I can't speak for the weather in December. I finished on Springer on October 19th (2013), it was between 45-50 degrees with a light drizzle. The previous week I'd been walking through pretty similar conditions, so I'll assume (yeah, I know...) that this wasn't "freak" weather. My $.02: If you can leave earlier, then absolutely leave earlier. Not only for Springer weather, but consider that you'll be going through the Smokies (4200ft elevation and up) about 2-3 weeks before you finish. That will certainly be cold on your schedule. Plus, it is likely that every water source in NY will be dry. I hiked through NY in August, it was my most dehydrated section of the trail. I can't imagine there will be MORE water in September
Righeous
AT SOBO '13
Montani Semper Liberi- Mountaineers are always free
Take a look at Trailjournals.com. Look up Solo,2012, Steve Ainsworth. A Sobo. Go to his journal entry for Oct 29 to 31