Is it just the south or does hitching always work?

[The Doctor]

Just Curious, but I have only hiked in the southeast, but it seems like everytime I need a hitch I get one within 20 minutes (even in inclement weather). Is this just a southeast thing (Ga, NC, TN) or is this a common occurence all the way to Maine?

[ScottP]

Don't expect easy hitches in new england (other than Maine). I found people in PA to be just as friendly as those in the south.

[A-Train]

People who live near the trail are used to hikers being in their neck of the woods during the typical hiker season and are generally receptive to the need a hitch issue.

I'm sure folks on here will have stories of unfriendly encounters and difficult hitches up north, particularly around the mid-atlantic and southern new england. Luckily there are few places you need to hitch to in this area, as usually the PO's and towns are within walking distance. In fact, off the top of my head one could hike some 800 miles betwen Waynesboro VA and Manchester VT without needing to hitchhike.

I think you'll find it's not much of a problem anywhere. By the time you get up to Maine it'll be easy again. Having an attractive female around always helps.

[hopefulhiker]

As soon as I got to PA and tried to get a ride... I was out there on the road, pack on, thumb out and a car full of people rode by threw garbage out at me,*which hit me*, and screamed "Get a JOB!" Rides were harder to get until you get to Maine then people there seemed to be nicer...

[Lone Wolf]

hitchin is hitchin between GA and ME. no problem or better or worse in the south or north. all good

[A-Train]

As soon as I got to PA and tried to get a ride... I was out there on the road, pack on, thumb out and a car full of people rode by threw garbage out at me,*which hit me*, and screamed "Get a JOB!" Rides were harder to get until you get to Maine then people there seemed to be nicer...

Wow, I had the exact same experience. The first major road in PA (can't remember the number) had me standing there for over an hour trying to get ice cream. I usually don't mention it because I didn't NEED to go there, just wanted to. Also, it wasn't a real trail town per say. Still, the people around there were unfriendly A$$holes

[superman]

The people in the south were realy great but I've gotten rides all over the country. Here are some examples:

I was hitching back to the trail with Scott and Nora. We waited and waited. Then I suggested that Nora let her hair down. She did and the next vehicle gave us a ride.

Dolly and I were going to hitch to that town by the NOC. We each had a dog. I didn't think it would work but a guy in an SUV stopped and he had a huge dog. Three dogs, three people, no problem.

I never had a problem hitching with Winter. One time an elderly couple stopped for us and Winter sat in front with them. They asked Winter questions and I answered from the back seat as if it were Winter. Very sick but what the heck.

I thought I had been discreet when I changed my clothes behind a vehicle at the grocery store parking lot in Gorham, NH. I hiked on. Two or three days later I was hitching back to the trail again. A car slammed on her brakes and stopped for me. It seems that the woman had been sitting in the grocery store parking lot with her girl friend. She stopped and picked me up because she remembered my legs.

I was hitching with TUK and Rachel and not getting a ride. TUK hitched in the opposite direction and the guy turned around and took us to the restaurant.

Just smile and try not to look like an axe murderer.

[Bearpaw]

Actually my worst (never got one) was trying to get to Franklin, NC. I walked about 3 1/2 miles to a payphone at a campground and called a cab. However, I should mention it was COLD rainy day, and I was a bit of a BIG drowned rat. I never really needed to hitch any where I went the rest of the time I was in the south. You walk through LOTS of trail towns and easy resupply points.

I never had to wait more than maybe 20 minutes for a hitch any where else, and usually less than that.

[mrc237]

Hitchin' is like raindancing. Its all in the timing!

[the_iceman]

It was not getting picked as much as having no one come by for an hour.

[Mountain Dew]

They threw trash at you that actually hit you ? omg...That's hilarious. I'm sorry, but I'd pay good money to have seen that. The question that begs to be asked here is...

Did you go through the trash to see if there was anything good to eat on ?

[Sly]

The worst time I've had recently was in Kalispel, MT trying to get to Glacier. I hhitched 3.5 hours before I gave up and rented a car. I had one guy yell out the window, "You need a woman!" Yeah, like I didn't already know.

[Sly]

I know this girl that got hit with beer bottle thrown from a trunk on 19E. There was no mistaking her for a man either. What's with that?

[Sly]

Hitchin' is like raindancing. Its all in the timing!

No kidding. I've resorted to making signs and at times to hold cash, without luck. Other times I can barely get across the street and I have a ride.

[A-Train]

I know this girl that got hit with beer bottle thrown from a trunk on 19E. There was no mistaking her for a man either. What's with that?

Southern Hospitality?

[the_iceman]

I know this girl that got hit with beer bottle thrown from a trunk on 19E. There was no mistaking her for a man either. What's with that?

We camped there in behind the sign because we hit there at dark. The locals noticed us and started driving by and whopping and shouting and throwing bottles out the window. It lasted 15 minutes and I slept with one eye open.

[fiddlehead]

I remember a long time ago, i hitched from CO to my home in PA, the last ride i needed was about 6 miles from my house.
A bunch of kids went off the road onto the shoulder to either try to scare me or actually try to run me off the road.
Oh well, you never know.

A sign in a Loo in England: "Hitching is like a pubic hair on a toilet seat - Sooner later you get pissed off!"

[HIKER7s]

As soon as I got to PA and tried to get a ride... I was out there on the road, pack on, thumb out and a car full of people rode by threw garbage out at me,*which hit me*, and screamed "Get a JOB!" Rides were harder to get until you get to Maine then people there seemed to be nicer...

Consider yourself lucky, I got paintballed last year!

[SlowLightTrek]

I tried to pick resupply points that were close enough to the AT that I could walk in case I couldn't get a ride. Worst place I had was Lincoln NH. I had to roadwalk 6 miles into North Woodstock. It took me less than 2 hours though.

[Yahtzee]

I find MD, PA, NJ, NY and NH to be the hardest states to get a hitch. The first four I think because of the proximity to the big cities and the distrust that sometimes comes with that. NH, well, people are just cold and distant up there. Til you get 'em drunk, of course.

I'd rank Geogia and Maine as the easiest places to get a hitch.