SoBo from Harper's ferry?

[DBOW!]

I got a month starting May 1 to hike and want to hear the pros v cons of going SoBo
I got 600 miles done going nobo from springer!
I thought it would be fun to go SoBo as I would meet new people daily.
Any thoughts or experiences

[George]

you would be in the bubble + hot

nobo from pearisburg to HF would be a better option IMO

[Slo-go'en]

It's not that bad. It will get hot towards the end of May, but that's pretty much unavoidable. You do get the SNP out of the way early on before it gets busy there, which is a plus.

The trail will be quiet until the day after Trail days finishes up. Then car and van loads will suddenly show up at every road crossing in the state. That has been my experience SOBOing VA in May. It was like walking into a wall. Then you start to run into all those who were a bit slow leaving town.

HF to Pearisburg would be do-able in a month. Marion would be better as it has the bus station, but you'd need a full 30 days and average 17 MPD. Which is not out of the question. Or cut it short after Dragon Tooth, as your close to Roanoke there. That's about a 3 week hike at a modest pace. You'd only be in the post Trail Day surge for a little bit.

[windlion]

How about starting south from NYC (NY-22 Metro North at 1451.7, doing 425 miles of NJ, PA, and MD instead? Weather will be cooler, and you will likely meet more of the serious hikers.

[JNI64]

How about starting south from NYC (NY-22 Metro North at 1451.7, doing 425 miles of NJ, PA, and MD instead? Weather will be cooler, and you will likely meet more of the serious hikers.

" likely meet more of the serious hikers" ? How serious?

[windlion]

Serious enough to be on the trail before lunch?

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[chknfngrs]

May and June are warm but not hot. You’d rip that section up, going south you’d high five that bubble

[JNI64]

you would be in the bubble + hot

nobo from pearisburg to HF would be a better option IMO

Wouldn't that put him or her in the "bubble " hiking with, as opposed to going south against passing the "bubble "? And wouldn't it be hotter as it's alot further south? I like chknfngrs reasoning.

[Slo-go'en]

Serious enough to be on the trail before lunch?

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I'm a founding member of the "Crack of Noon" hiking club. Easy to join.

[George]

Wouldn't that put him or her in the "bubble " hiking with, as opposed to going south against passing the "bubble "? And wouldn't it be hotter as it's alot further south? I like chknfngrs reasoning.

mid bubble is damascus mid may, so it would be a month-ish ahead, and better to finish june 1 at HF for hot then S VA

HF to pawling NY would also be another good option at that time (if you want to do PA)

[George]

Easy to join.

just need a comfy sleeping pad