Though
most people choose to hike the JMT from north to south
, there are some who opt for a northbound hike. Hiking north means you’ll begin with an intense climb to Whitney and then gradually decrease in altitude as you hike towards Yosemite.
How crowded is the John Muir Trail?
The JMT is
insanely crowded
. While on the trail for only 13 days I counted over 1,800 people, and this doesn’t include the people in tents I couldn’t see. This means you should expect crowded tent sites. And your odds of experiencing solitude are greatly diminished.
Is it better to hike the Appalachian Trail north to south or south to north?
The Low Down
They generally start as winter is fading and move
north
as it turns from spring to summer. This is undoubtedly the preferred and traditional route most thru-hikers choose this route. If you are in this for the social aspect, this is the direction for you since you’ll have the largest group of hikers.
How difficult is the John Muir Trail?
Plus,
except for the high passes, the JMT is not, step for step, as difficult as hiking in other parts of the country
. Give serious thought to food supply and daily mileage, because leaving Muir Trail Ranch with 10 or 11 days worth of food will add about 20 pounds to your pack as you head for the JMT’s highest passes.
Is it better to hike the AT northbound or southbound?
If you are a fast hiker and like to keep your pace,
going southbound is easier
in this sense, as it is faster to pass people when meeting them head on, rather than from behind. Walking northbound with the flow, you have the chance to walk with new people, if only for a few minutes when you keep the same pace.
How far did Cheryl Strayed walk?
In June 1995, the real Cheryl Strayed hiked
1,100 miles
of the 2,663 mile long Pacific Crest Trail. The Wild movie true story reveals that Cheryl began her journey in Mojave, California and finished her 94-day trek at the Bridge of the Gods on the Oregon-Washington border.
What is the roughest part of the Appalachian Trail?
- Southern Maine. nazdar.britches. …
- White Mountains, New Hampshire. whitemountains. …
- The Roller Coaster, Virginia. Mile Marker : 995 Distance : 13.5 miles. …
- Northern Pennsylvania. Mile Marker : 1,150 Distance : Roughly 150 miles. …
- Mt. Katahdin, Maine. …
- Southern Virginia.
How much money do you need to hike the Appalachian Trail?
How much does it cost to hike the Appalachian Trail? The average cost of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail ranges from
$5,000 to $7,000 for a 5- to 7-month hike
; that amount includes gear, trail resupply, and town expenses. Expect to spend about $1,000 a month per person.
What is a SoBo hike?
So what is NoBo and SoBo hiking? Simply put, a NoBo hiker is someone who is hiking northbound on a trail, while a SoBo hiker is
hiking southbound
. These terms are commonly used on long-distance trails like the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.
Is the John Muir Trail worth it?
It is not for the beauty and fun of the trip that I make the recommendation that one not do it. It is that
it is not worth the effort
. Absent the ability to have multiple resupply stops and taking some 2-3 months to make the trip it is a long walk in a beautiful place.
How much does it cost to hike the JMT?
Assuming you are hiking alone, live pretty close to the trail, have all the gear you need and want to eat pretty well; you can expect to shell out
at least $825
to hike the JMT.
How long does it take to thru hike the John Muir Trail?
Over the last few years, a retired San Francisco lawyer named John Ladd has run an annual online survey of people who hike the John Muir Trail, a famous route through the Sierra Nevadas that typically takes
about three weeks
to complete (through the fastest known time is two days, 19 hours, and 26 minutes, set last …
Can you section hike the JMT?
The JMT can be done in segments or as a thru-hike
, many opting for the latter. Pre-planning is critical to a successful JMT thru-hike, and advance permits are required. Most hikers take around three weeks to complete the journey following the trail southbound (SOBO) from Yosemite Valley.
What is the best time of year to hike the John Muir Trail?
According to the Pacific Coast Trail Association, the best time to hike the John Muir Trail is usually during
June through September
(after the majority of the snowpack has melted) for casual backpackers, though more hardcore hikers may choose to challenge themselves with substantial snowfall starting in October.
What is the longest hiking trail in North America?
| Rank Hiking Trail Route Length | 1 American Discovery 6,800+ total; 5,057 miles (Southern Route alone); 4,834 miles(Northern Route alone) | 2 Great Western Loop 6,800 miles | 3 Eastern Continental 5,400 miles | 4 North Country 4,600 miles |
|---|
What is the hardest section of the PCT?
By far the most difficult stretch of PCT in Washington,
Section K
puts hikers through a grueling 127-mile trek over harsh terrain and treacherous conditions.
What direction do you hike the at?
When to Start and Which Direction to Go
Those two questions are closely related, as the time of year you begin your hike could dictate whether you travel north to south or vice versa. Generally speaking,
most thru-hikers start at the southernmost trailhead located on Springer Mountain in Georgia
.
When should I start hiking through?
To avoid crowds and winter conditions, the optimal time to start a northbound thru-hike is the window
between April 15 and the first week of May
.
Who was Cheryl Strayed first husband?
| Cheryl Strayed | Spouse Marco Littig ( m. 1988; div. 1995) Brian Lindstrom ( m. 1999) | Children 2 |
|---|
Who is the oldest person to hike the PCT?
A little research revealed that person to be
Al ‘Al’ Learned
, who completed the trail in 2018 (and also in 2003) at the age of 81 years and 58 days.
Was Cheryl Strayed an experienced hiker?
Seventeen years later, Strayed published her memoir Wild, which details her experience of
hiking alone for two months
, and the poignant life events — the death of her mother and subsequent divorce from her husband of six years — that propelled her journey.
Is there a serial killer on the Appalachian Trail?
Randall Lee Smith
(June 29, 1953 – May 10, 2008) was a convicted murderer from Pearisburg, Virginia. He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, who were killed while hiking the Appalachian Trail, in May 1981.
What is the easiest part of the Appalachian Trail?
- Springer Mountain, Georgia 75 miles (eight days) …
- Nantahala Mountains, North Carolina 29-mile hike (three days) …
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (four days) …
- Iron Mountain Gap to Cross Mountain, Tennessee 17 miles (overnight)
What is the most beautiful section of the Appalachian Trail?
- The Pinnacle , Pennsylvania. …
- Clingmans Dome, Tennessee. …
- McAfee Knob , Virginia. …
- Tinker Cliffs, Virginia. …
- Dragon’s Tooth , Virginia. …
- Max Patch, North Carolina. …
- Grayson Highlands/ Mount Rogers, Virginia. …
- Mount Moosilauke, New Hampshire.
Can you carry a gun on the Appalachian Trail?
In general,
ATC discourages the carrying of firearms on the Trail
for the reasons noted below. On federal lands administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), possession of a firearm must be in compliance with the law of the state in which the federal land is located.
How do you shower on the Appalachian Trail?
Showers. Showers are rarely available right on the A.T. Hikers usually shower while at hostels or hotels in towns; less common are campgrounds with shower facilities. To bathe in the backcountry,
carry water 200 feet from the water source in a container and rinse or wash yourself away from streams, springs and ponds
.
Can you hike the Appalachian Trail with no money?
Appalachian Trail costs typically net around around $6,000 for thru-hikers. However,
you can easily spend far more, usually because of a lack of budgeting, or less, if you maintain self-control and have a setback-free hike
.
