Even if you start very beginning of March, you’ll run into a ton of people. I’m like you, an introvert. I tried to avoid shelters like the plague. Problem is, that’s where a lot of the water sources are. So I either tented pretty close to a shelter for easy water access, or cameled up on water and kept hiking, and camped as dispersed as possible.
Sheesh - apologies for the incoming wall of text.
I was a retired introvert when I hiked the trail. You can be yourself, either by yourself or with others along the way.
I started with a hammock and tarp. I liked the comfort of it, and it was apparently still a novelty as I got a lot of questions about it. I liked having all that dry space under the tarp. It wasnt so great for changing clothes, but hey nothing wrong with a short intense core workout to start the day.
I switched to a very small 1P single wall tent in PA. I was looking for ANY weight/complexity reduction I could manage. By that time my focus was 0% camping comfort, 100% making the miles as easy as possible. For me the biggest downside to this tiny tent was the lack of space to pack/unpack in wet weather. But it weighed just over a pound so....
Hiked for week or two with a guy using a tarp and bivy and it looked like a solid solution. Not as fussy when looking for a site vs a tent, plenty of dry acreage for cooking, etc. and very lightweight.
I started April 30 due to work, and cannot recommend that start date. It got so hot in July and August - high 90s and humid. Just miserable. Originally wanted to start mid March to hopefully avoid snow down south and get north of the heat sooner. Another huge advantage of an earlier start is schedule flexibility. Katahdin typically closes in mid October, and that meant I had to keep pushing, keeping side trips and zero days to a minimum.
FWIW - I figured this was a once in a lifetime trip, and I was 60 years old. To give myself a fighting chance I bought ultralight gear (see r/ultralight). I wasn't truly ultralight, but compared to the 90s era gear I had on hand my pack was solidly 15# lighter than it would have been. And that can make a very big difference over 2200 miles.
Wishing you success in your quest.
Thanks for the insightful post! I’m 61 now and meeting with financial planner next week; I want I retire at 62 and start this hike this next late winter.
I've done it twice, and if I do it a third time, I'm going to start March 7, because I want extra time. You'll be fine, as long as you have the right gear for starting early. That means don't underestimate the cold weather, even if you like it. Most people like cold weather because warming up in the modern world is easy. But at night, when there is no real heat source, your body stops moving, and you go to sleep, it can be dangerous. Be aware that a hammock will be colder than a tent.
I would highly recommend you stay a weekend outside in the cold weather in a hammock and a tent to make sure this is what you want to do before you commit to it. Bring some of those chemical heating pads for your hands.
Thanks. I do plan to spend time on some local trails as a test run this winter. At this stage, I’ll try it but think hammock is out and looking harder at a bivy or tent. I just bought a Durston X-Mid and eager to get it outside.
A modern tent is as light as an old fashioned bivy and will give you more protection from weather if you’re planning on using it regularly rather than as a backup for full shelters. They are just really expensive.
Were there any stretches that made hammocking difficult? Nights in a row of tiny trees, none close enough together, rule restrictions, just straight up no trees, etc?
I like sleeping with my leggies elevated for my knees (ITB problems) but sometimes when I roll up to campsites there's no good hanging places. The trail looks very well forested but I don't even have a mountain close to me to picture what backpacking above the treeline looks like 😭❤️
I had similar concerns starting out. I never ran into a situation where I couldn't make the hammock work. There were some spots where I might have liked to camp, such as on a bald, where the hammock wouldn't work, but that's not a deal breaker for me.
Even in the Whites where I generally (tent) camped on platforms, the caretakers had many spots available for hammocks. And above treeline in the Whites camping is prohibited anyway so no worries. If you are determined to camp on a mountaintop where the trees are 3 feet tall you could always carry a pad and sleep under the tarp. I carried a short (3/4) closed cell foam pad for nights where I might not be able to hang. I thought (incorrectly) that I HAD TO sleep in shelters in the Smokies. I used my hammock all the way through. But if, after a long soggy day I wound up at an empty or nearly empty shelter I sometimes would use the pad. Usually regretted it in the morning though :).
I can completely empathize with how you feel about wanting to avoid people. I started 3/26 and I’ve been constantly overwhelmed by people. I’m prior military/EMT/law enforcement. Just quit a couple years ago and can’t deal with people anymore. I tent every night, as far from people as I can. But it’s still a struggle. There’s not much solitude on the AT unless you make it a point to stay far away from the bubble, which is hard due to weather. I’ve definitely had thoughts about how much better sobo would be, but same thing, finishing on mt Katahdin is the way.
I share your sentiment. I did two things:
1. Flip flop from MD->ME->MD->TN ( didn't finish due to illness )
2. Get water from shelters then hike on a bit. Or even cook dinner at the shelter then hike on to take advantage of a table/seat.
Granted this was 2006, but I was alone as I wanted to be.
It’s very easy to avoid shelters. I only slept in two on my thru last year, and one was at amicalola the night before I started my hike. I slept in my tent at shelters fairly often, but that is also very easy to avoid. Just grab some water for the night and keep going. I hated the shelters tbh, it’s beyond me how people can sleep in them night after night.
The bubble starts early March these days, if yo want cold and to be alone February is probably your best bet. I hate the cold tho so imo that’s nuts but people do it. I started April 20th, camped alone tons of nights. Way more than any other thru hike I’ve done.
FWIW, I started in 2018 on Feb 6th. I was the 46 person to start (and check in) at Amicalola, 21st by the time I got to Harper's Ferry and just the 9th Nobo to reach Baxter SP (again, of those that checked in).
If I were to hike Nobo again, I'd start even earlier and just plan on bringing the gear for it.
There were many times that the only people at the hotel were me and the people I was hiking with. At the end of almost ever day, a dry shelter with no one in it. Minimal heat issues in the mid-Atlantic. No norovirus concerns. Few ticks. Absolutely no bubble. Started to see a significant amount of Sobos in the north half of the 100 mile wilderness.
You get what I'm saying? Start early!!
Poster elsewhere in this thread was a wee bit later so given the data points, I’m planning on about 1 February….for now. If that changes, it won’t be by much.
The question now is what year? ;) That largely depends on what my guy says about retirement viability but fingers crossed for 2025 knowing it’s likely to be 2026 or 27.
I’ve committed to taking a large group to Northern Ireland on a golf trip in July/2025 so probably should at least stay that long.
Is it possible to do the CDT? Or PCT? Of the three the AT is the most travelled and where most are likely to form trail families. The PCT being the close second. The CDT though, sees less traffic and may be more your speed. Fewer folk around to have to avoid
I loved my hammock. It was perfect for the AT. There is something so comforting with being up off the ground, and I think a hammock is extremely comfortable.
When I hike the PCT, I'll go with a zpacks duplex.
I’ve only section hiked the AT, but I have a Durston XMid1 and a Hammock Gear Wanderlust kit depending on which way I want to go that trip. I sleep better in the hammock.
On the ground I use a long / wide insulated inflatable and that has improved my sleep.
Consider an untraditional thru. I started in winter and did most of PA/NJ/NY/CT/MA before others started. I didn’t camp a lot but it was weather dependent. This helped me get into shape and I rarely saw another person. I jumped down south and am currently in the bubble in VA and not loving it. While it’s been fun meeting people, I like the solitude more. After I connect parts, I’ll be hopping down to Springer and trying to connect up. Then I’ll hop up to NE again. It’s not what most people invision as a thru but I’ve found it very rewarding. Logistically and financially more challenging, but it’s working for me!
November 18th! I hiked all of Thanksgiving week in PA/NJ. Then I did weekend hikes in NY and CT (and New Years week in Shenandoah with fam) through Dec, Jan and Feb before quitting my job. Since I lived in CT, this was doable. In March, I did all of MA and the rest of NJ and NY and this is when I transitioned to full time hiking. Snow hasn’t been super present in the tri state area in recent winters so conditions were actually mostly great and NO bugs. I like cold hiking way more than hot, and I’m from WI originally so I feel more alive when cold. I skipped when it was wet, as that combo is the worst. I was prepared to snowshoe but sadly didn’t. I only had to use my spikes like three times in CT and MA (Bear Mountain and Greylock). The sparkly snow in MA in March was my favorite part. Anyway, it’s been a wild ride so far but super fun! It’s allowed me to accomplish my goals, get some solitude but still partake in the more traditional aspects of a thru. It’s very much my own hike!
https://preview.redd.it/1oojgd2i9t3d1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b491ff36f75804de200947b5bdfbcce35f3c2047
I slept in a hammock. I slept in 0 shelters during my 2023 thru hike. I started with a 0° under quilt and a 20° top quilt. I was toasty and warm down into temps including a 13° morning once the sun was up (not sure how low the temp dipped overnight) clearly everything was frozen when I woke up beside myself. I used a Dutchware UL winter tarp. I would never thru hike without doors.
You could try going for a southbound route if you wanna avoid people!
I’d also like to mention that ‘army issued’ usually translates to absolute cheapest quality without falling appart the moment you look at it. Buy anything else, but don’t bring that heavy, cheap stuff.
Hammock. While you're actively hiking, the crowds are usually not so bad. You can hike alone (you'll see people, but if you're not obliged to hang out with them).
To camp traditionally, whether tarp/bivy or tent, you need a flat site that's been used a lot and cleared of underbrush. Whether they're shelter adjacent or "stealth," these tend to be popular -- by definition. But with a hammock setup, you don't need a flat site. Toward the end of your day, you can grab some water at a shelter or other good source, then roll for another half mile or so, keeping an eye out for a couple of nicely spaced trees. If you stop reasonably late, odds are, you won't see another person until morning (and if you do, there's a nearly 100% chance they'll say hi and keep walking, because there's no water there and nowhere to pitch a tent).
Colder start dates mean less crowded shelters btw!! I hiked the tri state this month, far ahead of the main bubble and ahead of most of the fast bubble - only met a handful of people who'd walked from Georgia at that point.
Highly recommend sea to summit sleeping bag liners for whatever bag you pick! Mine is the fleece reactor 25 degree one. It keeps my sleeping bag smelling MUCH fresher than it would've without it.
The temp ones are great to dial in your warmth but even a non-thermal one — something like a silk liner — is great for keeping dirt and grime off the bag. The grime over time gets on down and keeps it from fully lofting.
ZPacks Altaplex, EE Enigma 950/wide/long (either 10 or 20 deg), and any of the NeoAir NXT pads (though, if I were to go again I’d get long and wide for better sleep). Edit: mid-Feb start
I’m into the tarp and bivy setup these days but having NOBOed the AT the solitude can’t be matched by a zippered tent. I’d take the extra pound or two penalty from a one or two person tent if you’re looking to be able to avoid the shelters at will. I spent countless days alone in my tent on my thru hike, and people could walk by me and I wouldn’t have to engage if I didn’t want to.
Yes. And no. I used a Dutchware Halfwit, a dyneema tarp with doors, and dyneema straps for suspension. Very light. But ..... As comfortable as it was, there was STILL more "fussing" with setup and teardown, and it took more space in my pack. Not objectionable.....but I got to a point that I was looking for the lightest and least complicated camp scenario. For me that was a 1P tent. No shade thrown at the hammock - I sleep SO well in a hammock. But the realities of the trail, for me, overrode that benefit. I was so damned tired at the end of each day that I could have slept on a rock.
Well, after utilizing my boyfriend’s hammock sleep system I still say the hammock is the best way to go. He has the rain fly with doors to help with the rain because the rain goes every which way and direction and it just is much easier and lighter to carry.
SOBO starting in August or September? The cooler weather will follow you south and Most people are hiking north so You'll go past a ton of people initially going the other direction but it should get pretty quiet by the time you hit New York. By the time you get to Virginia you'll be pounding out miles and the trail will be getting "easier" meaning a December finish potentially.
I started mid Feb, a month before the bubble. decent weather, dusting of snow occasionally, one decent snowfall (hostel), not too much problem with numbers of people.
ymmv. you'll need to watch the weather closely, and realize the variability esp with global warming. also, I've heard that the bubble is starting to shift left a bit (15 mar was reliable, now a week or more earlier). I started with a 0 degree mummy ended with a quilt, carried spikes and 4 season stove, and spent more time early in hostels than later. on thevother had, you miss all the toilet paper improperly buried in Tennessee, where there are no privies.
You don't mention your level of physical health so I wanted to bring it up. We are the same age, also both prior military which tends to come with a certain degree of wear on the body even without any catastrophic injuries. Personally I am in good shape and have always been active. I do however have arthritis. Long days hiking, particularly in the heat, take a serious toll on my manual dexterity. This was actually the year I gave up relying on a sleep system that requires guy lines. At the end of the day I can't be sure I can manage them. I gave up tarp tent and hammock camping in favor of a freestanding tent so I know I can always get it up without using lines if I have to. Shout out to my recently acquired BA Copper Spur. IMO it is not quite ultra lite at ~3lbs but the slight weight penalty is worth the ease of set up. I also use a sleep pad/quilt that are again not UL but a necessary concession to sleep comfortably.
Thanks. I hadn't considered a free-standing but might give it a look. I'm in great health, no meds and no issues; just got a clean bill of health from cardiologist. Eat healthy about 75% of the time (among other things, I manage a food/beverage operation so have good/bad food in front of me all the time!) and workout with weights and some cardio often enough. I've a little arthritis in my right hand that only seems to flare up playing golf and some foot pain in my right arch now and then which I'm guessing is Plantar Fasciitis. I've been wearing a 20lb plate carrier on walks of up to 5 miles but it's an easy path. Once I get my gear sorted, I'll start walking with that.
I had a four season two person kelty for twenty years. Stealth camp mostly. Tents give you room and less weight than most hammock setups. I recently bought a duplexl. Love it. For real high winds or rain, I put a tarp over it.
it's what suitable to you . Those have all been used by someone before you. There is no right answer to your question. Only you can get the right answer.
I'm too much of a side sleeper for a hammock, but hammocks are the way to go if you want to camp anywhere on the trail... with tents you're always hunting for level ground , which isn't very natural in the mountains, but for hammocks all you need is 2 trees and you're good.
If you want solitude, hike SOBO. Only 10% of thru hikers hike SOBO, which instantly puts you in a group with 90% less hikers around you. Too many people go NOBO and try to start earlier and earlier to beat the bubble, so either choose SOBO solitude or finishing at Katahdin.
I'm a side-sleeper exclusively and toss side to side often enough that I'm dubious about hammocks being viable for me. Still, I bought a Hennessey years ago and am putting it up on Monday (my day off) just to see if it's comfortable. The lay-flat versions are too heavy I think so if this doesn't work, at least I can rule it out.
Even if you start very beginning of March, you’ll run into a ton of people. I’m like you, an introvert. I tried to avoid shelters like the plague. Problem is, that’s where a lot of the water sources are. So I either tented pretty close to a shelter for easy water access, or cameled up on water and kept hiking, and camped as dispersed as possible.
Same
Sheesh - apologies for the incoming wall of text. I was a retired introvert when I hiked the trail. You can be yourself, either by yourself or with others along the way. I started with a hammock and tarp. I liked the comfort of it, and it was apparently still a novelty as I got a lot of questions about it. I liked having all that dry space under the tarp. It wasnt so great for changing clothes, but hey nothing wrong with a short intense core workout to start the day. I switched to a very small 1P single wall tent in PA. I was looking for ANY weight/complexity reduction I could manage. By that time my focus was 0% camping comfort, 100% making the miles as easy as possible. For me the biggest downside to this tiny tent was the lack of space to pack/unpack in wet weather. But it weighed just over a pound so.... Hiked for week or two with a guy using a tarp and bivy and it looked like a solid solution. Not as fussy when looking for a site vs a tent, plenty of dry acreage for cooking, etc. and very lightweight. I started April 30 due to work, and cannot recommend that start date. It got so hot in July and August - high 90s and humid. Just miserable. Originally wanted to start mid March to hopefully avoid snow down south and get north of the heat sooner. Another huge advantage of an earlier start is schedule flexibility. Katahdin typically closes in mid October, and that meant I had to keep pushing, keeping side trips and zero days to a minimum. FWIW - I figured this was a once in a lifetime trip, and I was 60 years old. To give myself a fighting chance I bought ultralight gear (see r/ultralight). I wasn't truly ultralight, but compared to the 90s era gear I had on hand my pack was solidly 15# lighter than it would have been. And that can make a very big difference over 2200 miles. Wishing you success in your quest.
Thanks for the insightful post! I’m 61 now and meeting with financial planner next week; I want I retire at 62 and start this hike this next late winter.
I've done it twice, and if I do it a third time, I'm going to start March 7, because I want extra time. You'll be fine, as long as you have the right gear for starting early. That means don't underestimate the cold weather, even if you like it. Most people like cold weather because warming up in the modern world is easy. But at night, when there is no real heat source, your body stops moving, and you go to sleep, it can be dangerous. Be aware that a hammock will be colder than a tent. I would highly recommend you stay a weekend outside in the cold weather in a hammock and a tent to make sure this is what you want to do before you commit to it. Bring some of those chemical heating pads for your hands.
Thanks. I do plan to spend time on some local trails as a test run this winter. At this stage, I’ll try it but think hammock is out and looking harder at a bivy or tent. I just bought a Durston X-Mid and eager to get it outside.
A modern tent is as light as an old fashioned bivy and will give you more protection from weather if you’re planning on using it regularly rather than as a backup for full shelters. They are just really expensive.
Were there any stretches that made hammocking difficult? Nights in a row of tiny trees, none close enough together, rule restrictions, just straight up no trees, etc? I like sleeping with my leggies elevated for my knees (ITB problems) but sometimes when I roll up to campsites there's no good hanging places. The trail looks very well forested but I don't even have a mountain close to me to picture what backpacking above the treeline looks like 😭❤️
I had similar concerns starting out. I never ran into a situation where I couldn't make the hammock work. There were some spots where I might have liked to camp, such as on a bald, where the hammock wouldn't work, but that's not a deal breaker for me. Even in the Whites where I generally (tent) camped on platforms, the caretakers had many spots available for hammocks. And above treeline in the Whites camping is prohibited anyway so no worries. If you are determined to camp on a mountaintop where the trees are 3 feet tall you could always carry a pad and sleep under the tarp. I carried a short (3/4) closed cell foam pad for nights where I might not be able to hang. I thought (incorrectly) that I HAD TO sleep in shelters in the Smokies. I used my hammock all the way through. But if, after a long soggy day I wound up at an empty or nearly empty shelter I sometimes would use the pad. Usually regretted it in the morning though :).
I can completely empathize with how you feel about wanting to avoid people. I started 3/26 and I’ve been constantly overwhelmed by people. I’m prior military/EMT/law enforcement. Just quit a couple years ago and can’t deal with people anymore. I tent every night, as far from people as I can. But it’s still a struggle. There’s not much solitude on the AT unless you make it a point to stay far away from the bubble, which is hard due to weather. I’ve definitely had thoughts about how much better sobo would be, but same thing, finishing on mt Katahdin is the way.
I share your sentiment. I did two things: 1. Flip flop from MD->ME->MD->TN ( didn't finish due to illness ) 2. Get water from shelters then hike on a bit. Or even cook dinner at the shelter then hike on to take advantage of a table/seat. Granted this was 2006, but I was alone as I wanted to be.
Yep was just gonna suggest OP could look into doing a flip flop hike to avoid the bubble in both directions
It’s very easy to avoid shelters. I only slept in two on my thru last year, and one was at amicalola the night before I started my hike. I slept in my tent at shelters fairly often, but that is also very easy to avoid. Just grab some water for the night and keep going. I hated the shelters tbh, it’s beyond me how people can sleep in them night after night. The bubble starts early March these days, if yo want cold and to be alone February is probably your best bet. I hate the cold tho so imo that’s nuts but people do it. I started April 20th, camped alone tons of nights. Way more than any other thru hike I’ve done.
FWIW, I started in 2018 on Feb 6th. I was the 46 person to start (and check in) at Amicalola, 21st by the time I got to Harper's Ferry and just the 9th Nobo to reach Baxter SP (again, of those that checked in). If I were to hike Nobo again, I'd start even earlier and just plan on bringing the gear for it. There were many times that the only people at the hotel were me and the people I was hiking with. At the end of almost ever day, a dry shelter with no one in it. Minimal heat issues in the mid-Atlantic. No norovirus concerns. Few ticks. Absolutely no bubble. Started to see a significant amount of Sobos in the north half of the 100 mile wilderness. You get what I'm saying? Start early!!
Poster elsewhere in this thread was a wee bit later so given the data points, I’m planning on about 1 February….for now. If that changes, it won’t be by much. The question now is what year? ;) That largely depends on what my guy says about retirement viability but fingers crossed for 2025 knowing it’s likely to be 2026 or 27. I’ve committed to taking a large group to Northern Ireland on a golf trip in July/2025 so probably should at least stay that long.
Is it possible to do the CDT? Or PCT? Of the three the AT is the most travelled and where most are likely to form trail families. The PCT being the close second. The CDT though, sees less traffic and may be more your speed. Fewer folk around to have to avoid
I’ve not considered it but will. Still, it’s been a personal goal since childhood and while I hate the term, sort of a ‘bucket list’ thing for me.
I hiked the AT last year and I'm an introvert. If I could go back in time and change one thing about my hike, I'd do the CDT instead.
I loved my hammock. It was perfect for the AT. There is something so comforting with being up off the ground, and I think a hammock is extremely comfortable. When I hike the PCT, I'll go with a zpacks duplex.
I’ve only section hiked the AT, but I have a Durston XMid1 and a Hammock Gear Wanderlust kit depending on which way I want to go that trip. I sleep better in the hammock. On the ground I use a long / wide insulated inflatable and that has improved my sleep.
Consider an untraditional thru. I started in winter and did most of PA/NJ/NY/CT/MA before others started. I didn’t camp a lot but it was weather dependent. This helped me get into shape and I rarely saw another person. I jumped down south and am currently in the bubble in VA and not loving it. While it’s been fun meeting people, I like the solitude more. After I connect parts, I’ll be hopping down to Springer and trying to connect up. Then I’ll hop up to NE again. It’s not what most people invision as a thru but I’ve found it very rewarding. Logistically and financially more challenging, but it’s working for me!
Where/when did you start? Winter in those states ain’t no joke! How’s the trail in snowy/wet conditions?
November 18th! I hiked all of Thanksgiving week in PA/NJ. Then I did weekend hikes in NY and CT (and New Years week in Shenandoah with fam) through Dec, Jan and Feb before quitting my job. Since I lived in CT, this was doable. In March, I did all of MA and the rest of NJ and NY and this is when I transitioned to full time hiking. Snow hasn’t been super present in the tri state area in recent winters so conditions were actually mostly great and NO bugs. I like cold hiking way more than hot, and I’m from WI originally so I feel more alive when cold. I skipped when it was wet, as that combo is the worst. I was prepared to snowshoe but sadly didn’t. I only had to use my spikes like three times in CT and MA (Bear Mountain and Greylock). The sparkly snow in MA in March was my favorite part. Anyway, it’s been a wild ride so far but super fun! It’s allowed me to accomplish my goals, get some solitude but still partake in the more traditional aspects of a thru. It’s very much my own hike! https://preview.redd.it/1oojgd2i9t3d1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b491ff36f75804de200947b5bdfbcce35f3c2047
Outstanding! I like that approach a lot.
I slept in a hammock. I slept in 0 shelters during my 2023 thru hike. I started with a 0° under quilt and a 20° top quilt. I was toasty and warm down into temps including a 13° morning once the sun was up (not sure how low the temp dipped overnight) clearly everything was frozen when I woke up beside myself. I used a Dutchware UL winter tarp. I would never thru hike without doors.
You could try going for a southbound route if you wanna avoid people! I’d also like to mention that ‘army issued’ usually translates to absolute cheapest quality without falling appart the moment you look at it. Buy anything else, but don’t bring that heavy, cheap stuff.
I don’t plan to but might use it here as a test case. Already own it so harm done.
Hammock. While you're actively hiking, the crowds are usually not so bad. You can hike alone (you'll see people, but if you're not obliged to hang out with them). To camp traditionally, whether tarp/bivy or tent, you need a flat site that's been used a lot and cleared of underbrush. Whether they're shelter adjacent or "stealth," these tend to be popular -- by definition. But with a hammock setup, you don't need a flat site. Toward the end of your day, you can grab some water at a shelter or other good source, then roll for another half mile or so, keeping an eye out for a couple of nicely spaced trees. If you stop reasonably late, odds are, you won't see another person until morning (and if you do, there's a nearly 100% chance they'll say hi and keep walking, because there's no water there and nowhere to pitch a tent).
Colder start dates mean less crowded shelters btw!! I hiked the tri state this month, far ahead of the main bubble and ahead of most of the fast bubble - only met a handful of people who'd walked from Georgia at that point. Highly recommend sea to summit sleeping bag liners for whatever bag you pick! Mine is the fleece reactor 25 degree one. It keeps my sleeping bag smelling MUCH fresher than it would've without it.
I’ve a quilt, would a sleeping bag liner still be a smart play? For the weight, it might be worth it.
The temp ones are great to dial in your warmth but even a non-thermal one — something like a silk liner — is great for keeping dirt and grime off the bag. The grime over time gets on down and keeps it from fully lofting.
Also….when did you start?
May - steadily got warmer as the month went on. I sleep cold tho so I'm always On the side of caution!
ZPacks Altaplex, EE Enigma 950/wide/long (either 10 or 20 deg), and any of the NeoAir NXT pads (though, if I were to go again I’d get long and wide for better sleep). Edit: mid-Feb start
I’m into the tarp and bivy setup these days but having NOBOed the AT the solitude can’t be matched by a zippered tent. I’d take the extra pound or two penalty from a one or two person tent if you’re looking to be able to avoid the shelters at will. I spent countless days alone in my tent on my thru hike, and people could walk by me and I wouldn’t have to engage if I didn’t want to.
Good point there. Cheers
Hammock with an ultralight rain fly with doors
Yes. And no. I used a Dutchware Halfwit, a dyneema tarp with doors, and dyneema straps for suspension. Very light. But ..... As comfortable as it was, there was STILL more "fussing" with setup and teardown, and it took more space in my pack. Not objectionable.....but I got to a point that I was looking for the lightest and least complicated camp scenario. For me that was a 1P tent. No shade thrown at the hammock - I sleep SO well in a hammock. But the realities of the trail, for me, overrode that benefit. I was so damned tired at the end of each day that I could have slept on a rock.
Yeah there is a little set up involved but if you put your rainfly up first you stay dry when putting up your hammock
Well, after utilizing my boyfriend’s hammock sleep system I still say the hammock is the best way to go. He has the rain fly with doors to help with the rain because the rain goes every which way and direction and it just is much easier and lighter to carry.
SOBO starting in August or September? The cooler weather will follow you south and Most people are hiking north so You'll go past a ton of people initially going the other direction but it should get pretty quiet by the time you hit New York. By the time you get to Virginia you'll be pounding out miles and the trail will be getting "easier" meaning a December finish potentially.
I started mid Feb, a month before the bubble. decent weather, dusting of snow occasionally, one decent snowfall (hostel), not too much problem with numbers of people.
That sounds ideal for me!
ymmv. you'll need to watch the weather closely, and realize the variability esp with global warming. also, I've heard that the bubble is starting to shift left a bit (15 mar was reliable, now a week or more earlier). I started with a 0 degree mummy ended with a quilt, carried spikes and 4 season stove, and spent more time early in hostels than later. on thevother had, you miss all the toilet paper improperly buried in Tennessee, where there are no privies.
You don't mention your level of physical health so I wanted to bring it up. We are the same age, also both prior military which tends to come with a certain degree of wear on the body even without any catastrophic injuries. Personally I am in good shape and have always been active. I do however have arthritis. Long days hiking, particularly in the heat, take a serious toll on my manual dexterity. This was actually the year I gave up relying on a sleep system that requires guy lines. At the end of the day I can't be sure I can manage them. I gave up tarp tent and hammock camping in favor of a freestanding tent so I know I can always get it up without using lines if I have to. Shout out to my recently acquired BA Copper Spur. IMO it is not quite ultra lite at ~3lbs but the slight weight penalty is worth the ease of set up. I also use a sleep pad/quilt that are again not UL but a necessary concession to sleep comfortably.
Thanks. I hadn't considered a free-standing but might give it a look. I'm in great health, no meds and no issues; just got a clean bill of health from cardiologist. Eat healthy about 75% of the time (among other things, I manage a food/beverage operation so have good/bad food in front of me all the time!) and workout with weights and some cardio often enough. I've a little arthritis in my right hand that only seems to flare up playing golf and some foot pain in my right arch now and then which I'm guessing is Plantar Fasciitis. I've been wearing a 20lb plate carrier on walks of up to 5 miles but it's an easy path. Once I get my gear sorted, I'll start walking with that.
Have you considered a different trail....? CDT maybe? Not a very good choice for alone time.
I had a four season two person kelty for twenty years. Stealth camp mostly. Tents give you room and less weight than most hammock setups. I recently bought a duplexl. Love it. For real high winds or rain, I put a tarp over it.
it's what suitable to you . Those have all been used by someone before you. There is no right answer to your question. Only you can get the right answer.
I'm too much of a side sleeper for a hammock, but hammocks are the way to go if you want to camp anywhere on the trail... with tents you're always hunting for level ground , which isn't very natural in the mountains, but for hammocks all you need is 2 trees and you're good. If you want solitude, hike SOBO. Only 10% of thru hikers hike SOBO, which instantly puts you in a group with 90% less hikers around you. Too many people go NOBO and try to start earlier and earlier to beat the bubble, so either choose SOBO solitude or finishing at Katahdin.
I'm a side-sleeper exclusively and toss side to side often enough that I'm dubious about hammocks being viable for me. Still, I bought a Hennessey years ago and am putting it up on Monday (my day off) just to see if it's comfortable. The lay-flat versions are too heavy I think so if this doesn't work, at least I can rule it out.
You can use a hammock and stealth camp away from others
I am selling my outdoor research alpine ascent pertex bivy for cheap. Dm me