What's best -- Northern or Southwest VA?

[Press]

OK, I have hiked the AT from Front Royal to the south side of Catawba/Blacksburg area. What's more fun -- from Harper's Ferry to Front Royal, or Catawba south to whereever? I want to finish up the trail in VA eventually and am trying to decide btwn. these two sections. I live more or less in between them so it's a several hour drive to start either one, a bit less down to Catawba area though.

[Tennessee Viking]

Mt Rogers

[Lone Wolf]

Catawba- south by far

[mikec]

Catawba south by far. I live in northern VA and the trail in that area, IMO, is not that great compared to further south.

[Pedaling Fool]

Southwest

[Nicksaari]

SW. when are you heading out there to finish the section? ill be out there after trail days.
gonna buy LW a beer, see the ponies, creeper trail. cant wait!

[Jack Tarlin]

Southwest VA, no question.

My LEAST favorite part of VA is the Northern end of it.

[TrippinBTM]

i agree with the rest. SW VA was one of my favorite parts of the AT as a whole. And the northern part, with the "rollercoaster" is kind of a pain, and far less great as far as views and stuff go.

[Blissful]

Rollercoaster is nice in the fall though.

[Doxie]

Definitely Agree...SW VA has a lot more views, and is an all-around beautiful area. The lack of views was one of my major complaints about NoVA. The terrain in SWVA has longer climbs, but you tend to stay up there for a little bit and be rewarded with nice views, rather than going up and down. The Shelters are nice in both places, and they both have great trail maintenance. Also, if you're planning on going in the summer, SWVA tends to have cooler temps.

[Press]

Thanks to all for the replies, that's what I figured, only thing attracting me to northern part of VA is desire to complete that part of it from Harper's Ferry to Front Royal. Plus my son lives in DC so he could be source of ride to HF. But you guys have convinced me to head south, thanks again. Nice weather here in Central Va., today, makes me anxious to get out. "By tomorrow I'll be through them hills and gone," as Townes Van Zandt wrote. Except it won't be tomorrow, maybe next month though!