A different midpoint of the trail.

[Manwich]

Okay, Not quite a midpoint, but for thru-hikers, at what point did you intercept the most thru-hikers going the other way?

Like, For NoBos, where did you run into the most SoBos, and Vice-President-Versa? And When?

Looking for specifics. I might section hike the areas noted during said times to meet the most thru-hikers.

[Jeff]

Mid August in Vermont is when I see the most NOBO/SOBO mix.

Contrary to what I've read, the two groups really do get along with each other quite well !!!!!

[rafe]

For what it's worth: there are far fewer sobos than nobos, so the sobo "wave" is a lot more dispersed than the nobo wave. I would guess most of the encounters of which you speak occur in the northernmost 1/4 of the AT.

[Ender]

For me, I started seeing very early sobo's in mid VA, but the bulk started around Harpers Ferry, increased until probably CT/MA, and tapered off around VT/NH.

[The Solemates]

I can count the total number of SOBOs we saw on our thru-hike on my hands.

[Ender]

I can count the total number of SOBOs we saw on our thru-hike on my hands.

Really? In 1998 I saw a lot more than I expected... dozens, easily.

[BR360]

For real data that will help you:

See this, from the ATC:
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site...QKtH/b.851143/

And this, from Whiteblaze (excellent article!):
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...578#post170578

Excerpt from above link:

Here's the distribution of hikers grouped by the month they left Springer and the month they reached Katahdin:

1 hiker in this study left Springer in January
25 in February
102 in March (59%)
42 in April
3 in May

4 arrived at Katahdin in June
25 in July
44 in August
77 in September
23 in October

Terrapin is right; August & Sept in the northern 1/4 trail will be best, though your chances of seeing more than a dozen or so SOBO's are not good, given their sparse #'s and wide dispersion of departure pattern.

[Manwich]

For real data that will help you:

See this, from the ATC:
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site...QKtH/b.851143/

to be fair, there were 120 sobos who got to harpers ferry which is more than the halfway point, apparently something beyond that crushes their spirit.

[Mags]

Really? In 1998 I saw a lot more than I expected... dozens, easily.

The most thru-hikers I saw at once was in Maine. 13 SoBos in a shelter...

Because I started realtively early and finished early (Aug) at what was then a fast pace (5 mos), I saw more SoBos overall than NoBos....


Also in 1998.. Damn; time flies.

[Ender]

Also in 1998.. Damn; time flies.

Tell me about it... and I can still almost remember it like it was yesterday.

[The Solemates]

Really? In 1998 I saw a lot more than I expected... dozens, easily.

we left 1 feb

[The Solemates]

i can also count the number of nobos we saw on our thru-hike on one hand.

[Blissful]

I saw sprinklings of SOBOs in August but the most in one day was in VT after Hanover, NH around August 10-11.

[rafe]

I saw sprinklings of SOBOs in August but the most in one day was in VT after Hanover, NH around August 10-11.

In my section hikes over the last 10 years or so, the largest concentration of thru-hikers I met were in Vermont, in mid-August. In 2007 I started in eastern PA in early August, and met exactly two SOBOs in the next 600 miles south. Met two or three straggling NOBOs in PA in the first week, then no more.

[Sly]

Mostly in VT or NH but I saw my 1st near Ceoah Bald.

[twoshoes06]

Just before the 100 mile wilderness (after it for SOBOs) was where I saw and passed the most SOBOs.. I finished in late July. I saw my first SOBO in the Presidentials.

[TrippinBTM]

saw my first sobo in NJ, but most were from MA to VT, though VT was confusing with all the Long Trail hikers... I did see two sobo's (together) in Maine, too, and I didn't finish till September 21, so that shows how late they were starting.

[Serial 07]

i definitely saw and hung out with more SOBOs in daulton, MA than anywhere...i was there around mid to late august...

[twoshoes06]

As a NOBO, I finished early (July 27th) so I saw the most SOBOs right before the 100 mile wilderness as they were coming out of it. I would recommend waiting a little later (like mid August) in VT. That would be the best time to see both.

[Grampie]

When I thru-hiked I fliped from Duncannon. I summitted Katahdin on July 23 and started south. I met my first NOBO in the 100 mile wilderness. These hikers left springer in Feb.
I started to meet the folks that I had hiked NOBO with between Gorham and Hanover.
I probably met and hiked with only about a dozen true SOBO hikers.