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  1. #1
    Formerly "Totem"
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    Default A different midpoint of the trail.

    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.
    up over the hills, theres nothing to fear
    theres a pub across the way with whisky and beer
    its a lengthy journey on the way up to the top
    but it ain't so bad if you have a great big bottle o'scotch

  2. #2
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    Default

    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 !!!!!

  3. #3
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    Default

    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.

  4. #4
    Super Moderator Ender's Avatar
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    Default

    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.
    Don't take anything I say seriously... I certainly don't.

  5. #5
    Peakbagger Extraordinaire The Solemates's Avatar
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    I can count the total number of SOBOs we saw on our thru-hike on my hands.
    The only thing better than mountains, is mountains where you haven't been.

    amongnature.blogspot.com

  6. #6
    Super Moderator Ender's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Solemates View Post
    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.
    Don't take anything I say seriously... I certainly don't.

  7. #7
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    Default

    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.
    I walk the line.

  8. #8
    AT 4000+, LT, FHT, ALT Blissful's Avatar
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    Default

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







    Hiking Blog
    AT NOBO and SOBO, LT, FHT, ALT
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  9. #9
    Formerly "Totem"
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BR360 View Post
    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.
    up over the hills, theres nothing to fear
    theres a pub across the way with whisky and beer
    its a lengthy journey on the way up to the top
    but it ain't so bad if you have a great big bottle o'scotch

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Blissful View Post
    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.

  11. #11
    Registered User KG4FAM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Totem View Post
    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.
    those are this years numbers from people who have sat down and filed. Its still pretty early for sobos. There are some sobos who are trying to get a big group together to have a mass finish on the 15th of December.

  12. #12
    Getting out as much as I can..which is never enough. :) Mags's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ender View Post
    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.
    Paul "Mags" Magnanti
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    The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau

  13. #13
    Super Moderator Ender's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mags View Post
    Also in 1998.. Damn; time flies.
    Tell me about it... and I can still almost remember it like it was yesterday.
    Don't take anything I say seriously... I certainly don't.

  14. #14
    Getting out as much as I can..which is never enough. :) Mags's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ender View Post
    Tell me about it... and I can still almost remember it like it was yesterday.
    I am not exaggerating when I say the AT was a watershed moment in my life. For better or worse, my life was altered forever when I took that first step from Springer. Other longs hikes, my move to Colorado, still trying to balance wanderlust and a need for community, etc.

    And, as you said, it all seems like yesterday....
    Paul "Mags" Magnanti
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    The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau

  15. #15

  16. #16
    Super Moderator Ender's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mags View Post
    I am not exaggerating when I say the AT was a watershed moment in my life. For better or worse, my life was altered forever when I took that first step from Springer. Other longs hikes, my move to Colorado, still trying to balance wanderlust and a need for community, etc.

    And, as you said, it all seems like yesterday....
    I agree completely. My life would be totally different, and most likely a lot less good, had I not done the AT. It only changed me for the better.
    Don't take anything I say seriously... I certainly don't.

  17. #17
    Peakbagger Extraordinaire The Solemates's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ender View Post
    Really? In 1998 I saw a lot more than I expected... dozens, easily.
    we left 1 feb
    The only thing better than mountains, is mountains where you haven't been.

    amongnature.blogspot.com

  18. #18
    Peakbagger Extraordinaire The Solemates's Avatar
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    i can also count the number of nobos we saw on our thru-hike on one hand.
    The only thing better than mountains, is mountains where you haven't been.

    amongnature.blogspot.com

  19. #19

    Default

    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.
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  20. #20
    Moccasin, 2008 Thru-hiker TrippinBTM's Avatar
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    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.

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