Earliest Start Time Going NOBO
What's the earliest that people can start going NOBO? Does anyone ever start in January or early February?
Anytime, multiple people in 2017 started Jan 1. Some even started in late December. The issue becomes how fast you move. If you get to Katahdin before it opens, what are you going to do?
AT: 695.7 mi
Benton MacKaye Trail '20
Pinhoti Trail '18-19'
@leonidasonthetrail https://www.youtube.com/c/LeonidasontheTrail
The issue really is how well you tolerate cold, wet, icy hiking - dangerous conditions, sickness, and accidents take out several early starters every year. Read their journals & see if you want that.
Many will start November/December if weather is friendly to avoid the crowds and to jump start before the real cold weather hits.
Then jump off for the holidays and snow/ice.
Others will use this time to start a Flip Flop.
Just wear your Blaze Orange as well.
''Tennessee Viking'
Mountains to Sea Trail Hiker & Maintainer
Former TEHCC (AT) Maintainer
I've contemplated a fall Springer start (September-ish) with a holiday break, putting the spring launch point or eventual Flip-Flop finish around Hot Springs (give or take, of course.)Originally Posted by Tennessee Viking
It's all a calculus of potential weather, seasonal services, and what you're willing to tolerate.
It is illegal to hike in North Carolina in January. But if you really take your time on the first 80 miles to the border, you can spend all of January in Georgia.What's the earliest that people can start going NOBO? Does anyone ever start in January or early February?
Something doesn't sound quite right about that - can you elaborate?It is illegal to hike in North Carolina in January.
In the entire state??It is illegal to hike in North Carolina in January. But if you really take your time on the first 80 miles to the border, you can spend all of January in Georgia.
Where did you get that info? Can you post your source pleaseIt is illegal to hike in North Carolina in January. But if you really take your time on the first 80 miles to the border, you can spend all of January in Georgia.
From the same source that says tomorrow is the earliest one can start a NOBO hike.
Or maybe the day after.
The important, real world question, is how early can you finish a NOBO hike?
The answer: It depends. Research is the key.
Wayne
Eddie Valiant: "That lame-brain freeway idea could only be cooked up by a toon."
https://wayne-ayearwithbigfootandbubba.blogspot.com
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the real question is how long one can procrastinate starting their hike??????????
25 years for me.. i started planning when i was 16
He didn't respond 9 days ago, I'm sure he won't now. What a turd.
Sarcasm eluded you.
Wayne
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Eddie Valiant: "That lame-brain freeway idea could only be cooked up by a toon."
https://wayne-ayearwithbigfootandbubba.blogspot.com
FlickrMyBookTwitSpaceFace
It totally depends upon your winter hiking skills...
I've got a relative (collage age at the time) that started the day after Christmas so that he could finish some time in June. He was successful, but then his dad had been teaching him winter hiking skills in places like GSMNP for years.
Yes. Your ability to adapt to the weather conditions is most important.
Met a guy on the trail today near Gooch Gap that is just now starting his NOBO. Not for me, but with the proper gear and enough cash for zero days you can start anytime.
Do people start in Jan + Feb?
Yes, but should you?
Probably not. Lots of disadvantages to starting early and not many advantages.
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mid Feb is a reasonably practical start, if you do decent milage/ few days off and have average to lucky weather, a mid June finish is realistic
My son has a college buddy who started Feb 15 this year and finished in 130 days. (100 mile wilderness took him 3.5 days) He was #66 on the registry at Baxter and finished the latter part of June. He's a recently graduated college swimmer, so his level of conditioning was a bit above average.
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