S eeing a town coming up in the guidebook can make even the lousiest day on trail better. Most people start with 5 to 10 miles per day. Swarming insects. Our CFC number: 12230. The Start Date This is the biggest bonus of hiking SOBO. I started hiking in WV and Virginia, my 10th and 11th states. During snowmelt, which continues to the end of May in high elevation areas, stream crossings are extremely dangerous due to cold and high water, which can rise rapidly and be fast flowing. December 24, 2020 at 7:18 AM. Don’t rush through this wonderland. I kept a blog throughout to help others who may be interested in doing a thru-hike and to keep me company in the woods. It’s that time of year again! Mosquito season lasts from May through the beginning of July, but there can be hatches later in the season depending on weather. Six Moon Designs, Purple Rain Adventure Skirts, LightHeart Gear, AntiGravity Gear, Ever Green Adventure Foods, AT Chaplaincy, Goosefeet Gear, Benton-MacKaye Trail Association, Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA), Backpackers Pantry, Etowah Outfitters, Carol and Jim Steiner, ZPacks, Karen Lord Rutter, Discover Georgia Outdoors, Sarah Jones Decker … Traveling on the Appalachian Trail can be one of the most rewarding experiences for hikers. I plan to keep the blog going for future hikes in various parts of the world. There's lots going on to learn from. That means, anyone who joins that list will have a little bit more to brag about at the next thru-hikers’ bar. How long does it take to hike the Appalachian Trail? This is a challenging trail that requires preparation and training. Shortly after, entering the “100-mile wilderness” which has no resupply–making your pack very heavy. 2020 ATKO Vendors. On June 26th 2020 I took off on my 3rd attempt of the AT. Plan ahead. Wide-open vistas beyond the footpath offer respite and are essential to the Wild East. "The trail has a way of answering the questions you most need answered, even if you are afraid to ask." It proved to work well back in 2011 and several 2012 thru-hikers found success as well. The window of favorable hiking conditions for a southbound thru-hike is only 4-5 months; the average thru-hike time is almost 6 months. You can expect snow and sub-freezing temperatures as early as the end of October. As the class of 2020 begins to come down with Springer Fever, we’ve been reaching out to past thru-hikers and trail organizations alike to find out exactly what these hikers need to know before … The Appalachian Trail (AT) is a long-distance hiking trail that goes from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. 1. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. A typical southbounder, starting in June or July and finishing in December, can expect: There is a narrow window of favorable weather in which to complete a southbound thru-hike. Deer flies, gnats and horse flies make more local appearances through the early summer months. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Hello, all. Due to COVID-19 and in an attempt to best follow state and local guidelines, I opted for a flip-flop thru-hike. This blog covered the 6 month,  2,192 mile journey plus a little time before and continues now. share. You can’t reasonably start until June, losing prime spring hiking time. Novice backpackers should be carrying 10 days worth of food. haha. Trail towns are a real richness for this particular trail. The BSP Trail Specialist didn't open the Hunt Trail until June 14th. Expect the best, with exception given to blackflies, mosquitoes, and No-See-Ums. I have compiled a list of Appalachian Trail NOBO (Northbound) bloggers and bloggers (now called the Class of Covid-19 since we all had to readjust our hikes) that will be hiking the trail in 2020 (and beyond thanks to Covid-19). I plan to keep the blog going for future hikes in various parts of the world. Sure hope so. Expect to use your hands as you climb over steep boulders and ledges above treeline. I'm hoping my stories will inspire others to thru hike during the off season. Cassie “Mountain Cat” Free as a weed Appalachian Trail NOBO 2018 International AT Maine SOBO 2020 AT SOBO 2020 Virginia linktr.ee/Mountainkitty Consider going South Bound! What an experience!. Southbounders must be very fit and disciplined, plan the timing of their hikes well, and maintain a high mileage average with few days off, or be prepared to face conditions at one or both ends of the Trail due to weather and other seasonal issues that make these sections more dangerous than normal. The SOBO start is just a different version of difficult. In-depth tips on logistics for starting a southbound thru-hike. 25 comments. Was wonderful meeting everyone on this amazing journey please stay in touch! Appalachian Trail The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has taken inventory of the social landscape within the Appalachian Trail community and across the United States, and we believe that by making meaningful changes, the A.T. can be a space … Black flies, muddy trail, and difficult stream crossings in Maine in June. Hiking southbound on the Appalachian Trail, this state marks our 5th and once completed, over 730 miles backpacked. Extremely difficult terrain to start. I'm hoping my stories will inspire others to thru hike during the off season. As you head south into the Hundred Mile Wilderness, the mountains may seem small because of modest elevations, but they are some of the most rugged in Maine. I finished a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail on January 19, 2020. I started hiking the Appalachian Trail Southbound on July 13, 2019 and finished January 19, 2020. Arizona Trail Association Discourages 2020 SOBO AZT Thru-Hikes and Thru-Rides Citing multiple trail closures with “no safe or reasonable detours,” in addition to Arizona being a COVID-19 hotspot, the Arizona Trail Association is discouraging both thru-hikes and thru-rides on the Arizona Trail for the remainder of 2020. Jul 13, 2020 - Explore Trail Journals's board "Appalachian Trail", followed by 392 people on Pinterest. Please subscribe and keep tabs on my hiking adventures. If you hike the Trail in 2021, proper planning and preparation will help ensure everyone’s A.T. experiences are safe, healthy, responsible, and successful. However, out of the thousands of people who have completed the journey, only about 1,250 hikers, as of 2014, have completed the SoBo Appalachian Trail. :). Cold weather during last month or two of the hike, with snow likely. However, out of the thousands of people who have completed the journey, only about 1,250 hikers, as of 2014, have completed the SoBo Appalachian Trail. They hatch in the cold clear streams and are an indication of healthy and clean water, but their sting hurts and their bites itch for days. If you're interested in prints from my photographs on the trail, follow the Shop link at the top. The trail will be hard no matter how you start. Camp groups are also common on the Trail during the summer months. I cut its head off a couple minutes later. The trail is about 2,190 miles long, though the precise length changes over time as parts are modified or rerouted. And ‎ Jack Walker ‎ to Appalachian Trail SOBO 2020. If you’re eager to get going in May, consider starting in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. I will join the trail for the 2020 SOBO. Appalachian Trail: Smith's Gap is a 4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Wind Gap, Pennsylvania that features beautiful wild flowers. A southbounder or “SOBO” begins with the hardest part of the Trail first. worried about getting your hands dirty? Our Tax ID number: 526046689. How long does it take to hike the Appalachian Trail? This means you have to ford. report. Hiked to the top of Mt. hide. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a 501c3 organization. 2020 Sobo Thruhike cost A bit of background information: I started the trail with my Katahdin summit on July 2nd and finished on Springer Mountain on Nov 27th for a total of 149 days. The most infamous are Maine’s black flies, which are out in swarms at the end of May and the beginning of June. You cannot start your hike and climb Katahdin until Baxter State Park announces the Hunt Trail open (as the A.T. in the park is called); this date is usually late May but can range from May 15 to well into June. Most people start with 5 to 10 miles per day. Some years snow may be deep; expect to encounter low temperatures dipping into teens or single digits at some point in November. Cassandra Smith 495 views. Also keep in mind that the later you start, the longer you will encounter winter conditions in the high mountains of the South (with elevations exceeding 6600 feet) toward the end of your hike. hiking the appalachian trail expert guide 2019. level 1. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the Eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. In some respects, it is the wildest, most remote section of the entire Trail. Some of the most thrilling wildlife encounters of the entire A.T. are likely to happen here: seeing a moose or hearing the haunting call of a loon. The wildlife along the trail is plentiful, and hikers may see bears, wild ponies, and numerous bird species. This trip changed my life!!! I became a southbound or SOBO hiker as I resumed my hike, from Harpers Ferry, WV where it all began nearly 4 months ago! The trail is easier than what I dealt with in NH The Appalachian Trail begins its northbound trek to Maine’s Mount Katahdin in the rolling southern Appalachians of North Georgia, beginning a 2000+ mile northbound journey through fourteen states. Along with the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, it is one of the "Big 3" National Scenic Trails. Water levels are highest in May and June when the snow melt is still occurring. May 21, 2020; When Kelsey Foster started hiking the Appalachian Trail in early March, she had left her whole life behind — her job, her apartment, her family. Are you considering attempting an A.T thru hike? I created The Last SOBO as a place to share experiences and information about hiking the Appalachian Trail through the fall and winter, provide advice on cold weather hiking, and connect with more of the AT community. The trail is about 2,200 miles (3,500 km) long, though the exact length changes over time as parts are rerouted or modified. sobo appalachiantrailclarity. But maybe you hiked the trail in 2016, 2017, 2018, or 2019* and would like a momento of your hike. From amazing signage to the best field lunch on record, Connecticut offered a diverse trail experience. 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