[at-l] looking for partner

[Bob C." <ellen@xxxxxxxxxx (Bob C.)]

>"... I know this is kind of a late start"

Not at all. Starting in Mid April may force you to cut down on your town days a
bit, but such a start puts you on the trail during the most beautiful seasons.
Trees will be beginning to leaf in the valleys, while frosty weather remains on
the ridgelines. Essentially, you will be walking through hundreds of springs as
the trail changes elevation.

 You will see virtually all of the spring flowers through Georgia and the
 Smokies again and again, the earliest blood roots, eight varieties of trillium,
 wild iris, may flowers, scores of violets....

  And as you reach the Whites and Maine, the autumn colors will be at their peak
  in late September and early October.

  Earl Shaffer began his 50th anniversary hike on May 2. Until recent years
  early to mid April was the starting dates for most NB thru hikers.

  Why the popular switch to February and March starting times, remains a mystery
  to me.

  Weary