i'd like to know how many people you meet along the way, like would you see people on the track daily, people everywhere, young old etc. and what is the huts like, always room in the huts? if doing it for a month which section would recommend, time of year?
2007-02-08 22:41:47 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Other - Outdoor Recreation
Parts of it.
It depends on the time of year and the section you're on. It gets most crowded as people heading north on thru hikes pass through an area - there tends to be a definite bulge in the pipeline. I've spent days where I only saw 2 or 3 people, and other days maybe 20 or more.
No matter where or when, yes, there's a mix of ages.
The huts vary, from slightly musty, decrepit, or mouse-ridden to rather nice edifices you wouldn't mind having in your own back yard. No, there's not always room in the huts, especially if it's the time of year when thru-hikers are in the area. Most of the other times there's room. Bring a tent or at least a bivvy sack/tarp just in case.
As far as where and when - it's up to you. You'll have to figure what kind of terrain you want and what kind of weather you're looking for. Do you like sleeping out when it might be 30F-40F at night, but few bugs during the day, or do you like the nights where you can lie out under the trees in comfort but possibly have grueling humid temps during the day? If this is your first hike and you're not sure how it'll go, you might want to select a relatively tame part of the AT (if such a thing really exists) during a mild part of the year.
Myself, I like the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge sections, maybe in May/June, but I also think you'll find a lot of thru hikers there about that time.
Browse around the AT Journal site - you'll read some interesting stuff there - http://www.trailjournals.com/. So far, there's not a huge amount of hiking going on in the southern sections, but that should be picking up soon. Read last year's entries to get a feel for things over the course of a hiking season along the trail.
2007-02-08 23:06:18 · answer #1 · answered by mattzcoz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fall is a wonderful time to walk the shannendoah valley section of the trail in VA. I experienced a good bit of traffic. It is quite beautiful and you have the opprotunity of seeing the waterfalls andof course the wildlife. Might I suggest late summer and right up to the changing of the leaves. Less bugs , more people, and mild weather. Have a great journey.
2007-02-09 06:54:54 · answer #2 · answered by chasin_jasen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've just finished reading a book by Bill Bryson called "A Walk In the Woods" in which he recounts his experiences of walking the Appalachian Trial. I think you'll probably find it useful
2007-02-09 06:56:46 · answer #3 · answered by the ox 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋