Comments on: Five reasons to thru-hike Southbound instead of Northbound http://sourcetosea.net/five-reasons-to-thru-hike-southbound-instead-of-northbound/ Paddling the Mississippi River and Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail Wed, 26 May 2010 10:57:54 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John http://sourcetosea.net/five-reasons-to-thru-hike-southbound-instead-of-northbound/comment-page-1/#comment-156 John Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:18:08 +0000 http://sourcetosea.net/five-reasons-to-thru-hike-southbound-instead-of-northbound/#comment-156 Pi, Yeah - I was concentrating on most of the positives, but there are certainly negatives to go along with it no matter which way you go. Bugs, mud, and the fact that there's not a gear store 35 miles from the beginning to bail your butt out are certainly things to consider. You better have your act together if you're planning on going southbound. No kidding about the schedule. We were already off track about 2 days into it! I sweated waaaaay too much over that stuff when I thru-hiked. Never again. Pi,

Yeah – I was concentrating on most of the positives, but there are certainly negatives to go along with it no matter which way you go. Bugs, mud, and the fact that there’s not a gear store 35 miles from the beginning to bail your butt out are certainly things to consider. You better have your act together if you’re planning on going southbound.

No kidding about the schedule. We were already off track about 2 days into it! I sweated waaaaay too much over that stuff when I thru-hiked. Never again.

]]> By: Pi http://sourcetosea.net/five-reasons-to-thru-hike-southbound-instead-of-northbound/comment-page-1/#comment-155 Pi Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:25:44 +0000 http://sourcetosea.net/five-reasons-to-thru-hike-southbound-instead-of-northbound/#comment-155 Hi, I hiked about 390 miles northbound and over 2100 southbound in 06. A stress fracture in my foot ended my NOBO attempt, two months rest, and I headed south starting June 28th. You make great points. Walking with fall is certain to be a #1 tied with no competing for space or being part of the 'pledge rush' of 20 mile a day party'ers. You missed pointing out the bugs. They're significant in Maine. Also, you must start "with your stuff together". (100+ miles to the first town, fewer chances to re-gear at outfitters early on.) Southbound you will not have as large a "trail family" either. Sure, solitude is nice, but only once did I see as many as 6 sobo's in one place - once in 5 months. Southbound was awesome, but now that I've done it fully that way, I'd go northbound starting late (like April 18). To be sure, either way, it's an amazing experience and you'll end with new life-long friends. Schedule goes out the window the moment you get on the trail, so which ever way, get out there. --Pi Hi,

I hiked about 390 miles northbound and over 2100 southbound in 06. A stress fracture in my foot ended my NOBO attempt, two months rest, and I headed south starting June 28th.

You make great points. Walking with fall is certain to be a #1 tied with no competing for space or being part of the ‘pledge rush’ of 20 mile a day party’ers.

You missed pointing out the bugs. They’re significant in Maine. Also, you must start “with your stuff together”. (100+ miles to the first town, fewer chances to re-gear at outfitters early on.) Southbound you will not have as large a “trail family” either. Sure, solitude is nice, but only once did I see as many as 6 sobo’s in one place – once in 5 months. Southbound was awesome, but now that I’ve done it fully that way, I’d go northbound starting late (like April 18).

To be sure, either way, it’s an amazing experience and you’ll end with new life-long friends. Schedule goes out the window the moment you get on the trail, so which ever way, get out there.

–Pi

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