[at-l] Cold weather camping

[Teresa French]

>
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 14:51:36 -0800 (PST)
> From: Carole Warner <carewarner at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [at-l] Cold weather camping
> To: at-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <455538.29223.qm at web39107.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi Ya'll,
>
> I'm in the process of creating my itinerary for my
> 2008 AT thru-hike, and I'd love some input from all
> you experienced folk who've not only thru-hiked the
> AT, but have also hiked in colder weather.
>
> I know things can get pretty lonely on any kind of
> extended journey (I went on a 6 month bicycle tour
> once).  However, I'm definitely NOT interested in
> starting out on the AT when there are crouds of twenty
> somethings starting out (50/day by some accounts) and
> the shelters and trail are PACKED, etc.  I prefer a
> start with more peace, solitude and space.  So,
> although I am planning a March 1st start date, I'm
> seriously considering starting somewhere close to
> Ashville, NC (perhaps even as far north as Damascus.

In 2003, Hotdog and I started March 1st.  There was quite a group that 
started Feb. 28 and March 1 (and the 2nd, I think).  When we got to Hawk Mtn 
Shelter the first night, there were people tented everywhere, and it was 
drizzling, and I really WASN'T looking forward to setting up my tent in the 
rain.  But, the shelter was nearly empty!  So, several of us lollygaggers 
piled into the shelter.  I don't think it ever filled up.

There were many times along the trail when we'd hear from faster hikers that 
there was a HUGE group behind us that would catch us in a "day or two," but 
it never really happened.  Yes, there were times that shelters were stuffed 
full, but that didn't necessarily mean there was a crowd of people.

I never found the trail to be "packed."  People hike at different speeds, so 
it's unlikely to hike on a crowded trail.  I enjoyed meeting everyone 
(thruhikers, dayhikers, school groups) along the trail and getting to talk a 
little more to those sharing the shelter with me.

Perhaps, instead of staying at Hawk Mtn Shelter the first night, you either 
stop earlier or go farther to get "out of sync" with the masses (even though 
they don't all hike the same distances).  Or, you can tent away from 
shelters.  Stop in to cook dinner and chat a little, then move along to camp 
for the night.  Another option is to start on a weekday, not a weekend end 
day.  It seems a lot of folks start on weekends.


> In this way, I'll be at least a month ahead of the
> throngs, and by the time some start to catch me
> they'll be fewer in number I'm pretty sure.  This
> would put me in Maine in July, and I'd finish up on
> Springer in August or early September.  Ideally I
> wanted to start in Georgia and end in Maine, but I
> don't see a way to do so without starting in February!

Why do you say this?  Do you mean that you don't think you can finish by 
early September unless you start in Feb?  Or that you don't think you can go 
Ga to Me and miss the crowds unless you start in Feb?  If it's the first 
idea, we started March 1st and finished Sept.11.  I certainly would not say 
that we rushed!  I took plenty of days off, lollygagged many days, and still 
finished.


> So, #1 does March 1st seem too early to start (in
> terms of weather, enjoyment of the hike, etc.)?  Any
> other feedback on the weather thing on the AT?

No, not too early.  There was a big snowstorm on March 31 in 2003, and again 
April 10.  Late March, about 5 of us stayed in a shelter an extra day 
because we weren't sure how bad/deep the snow would get.  It stopped at 16", 
and we weren't even at very high elevation.  A couple of days later, the 
snow was completely gone and we were struggling with warm temperatures.  For 
the April storm, I was taking a few planned days off while family was 
visiting, so I missed most of the snow.  It was very slushy by the time we 
got back on the trail (not much fun for uphill, but very fun going 
downhill).  Most hikers near us holed up at Miss Janets in Erwin.  There are 
numberous options to getting off trail if the weather gets that bad.

> #2 what thoughts, feedback, input do ya'll have about
> my idea?  Any suggestions for other itineraries or
> other ways to meet my "needs/desires" for my trip?
>
> Any input (based on experience, not just opinion
> please) you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Bottom line is that you have to think about what you really want.  I 
don't/didn't have a huge problem with crowds (except at Hawk Mtn) even 
though there were supposedly 50+ starting each day that weekend.  After just 
a few days, the "crowds" thinned.  Like I said before, I enjoyed meeting 
people along the trail.  While hiking, I never felt like the trail was "too 
busy."

> Many thanks.

Believe me.  My pleasure.  I love talking about it.
:-)
Wench
AT03
www.trailjournals.com/wench

> Carole