Originally Posted by
ConallT
Hey guys!
I've wanted to do the AT all my life, and - as I am just out of university and this will probably be the last summer I will ever have fully free - I've decided to bite the bullet and finally try my hand at it.
I don't have the funds or the time to commit to a thru-hike, but I'm thinking about a section-hike from Harpers Ferry to Springer Mountain. And basically, as much as I'm enjoying planning it, I think I need some advice:
1) Time - I'm from Ireland, meaning that I can only visit the USA with a visa. Good news is that I qualify for a visa-waiver programme, which allows me entry for a nominal processing fee and for up to 90 days. Bad news, is that I'm not sure if 90 days will be sufficient for me to complete this section hike. I've scoured forums, including a thread on this site wherein someone collated averages of everybody's hiking times, and the average appears to be around 75-85 days (including rest days). Now, I'm 22 years old, frequent hiker, good shape, I'm optimistic that after a while hiking on the AT I'll be of a good enough standard of fitness that I can put away some decent milage per days. But I'm still a little worried about how close the average hiking time is to the duration of my visa - I don't really have any leeway in case I need to take an unforeseen rest day, or if I get injured or need to see a doctor or even if I'm just not as fit as I expect to be. The travel to and from airports on either ends will take around 2 days as well, so that's even less time. Would I be crazy to just do it anyway? I don't have time to apply for any longer visa so the 90 days ESTA is really the only way that I can do it. This leads me into the second question, which will also affect how many miles per day I'll be able to travel.
2) Weather - If what I've read and scoured online is anything to go by, it seems that a hike from Harpers Ferry to Springer Mountain between June, July and August isn't a popular route. It'll be hot, it'll be humid. But I was prepared for that. Essentially, what I want to know is whether the heat will be unbearable throughout the hike. Will I be constantly sunburned, thirsty, assaulted by the sun such that I'll be uncomfortable every day and that I won't be able to put away as many miles a day as I will need in order to keep within my visa times? Or will the frequent high elevation and tree shade mitigate it. I'm sure this must sound silly, but I can't - either on this forum or elsewhere - find any working links to sites which document the mean/median temperature of parts of the trail per year and at average elevations. So will the heat be scorching, above average or just a little above average? And will it impinge upon my ability to hike the amount of miles per day that I will need to in order to make it back home before my visa runs out?
3) Weather and Gear - conversely, if the heat will be so bad, or above average or whatever; does this mean that I could get away with order a predominantly summer sleeping bag and summer clothing (albeit with a three season tent)?
I'd really appreciate any/all help and advice yous can offer, its pretty cool just how helpful this forum is to be people asking questions about their upcoming hikes.
Thanks very much!