[at-l] How early to Start ?

[m_factor at hotmail.com (Mara Factor)]

There could be another problem starting that early.  The Green Mountain Club 
strongly advocates that hikers avoid mud season on the Long Trail.  
Depending on how fast you get up to Vermont, you might hit the Long Trail 
just in time to encourage erosion while hiking.  You may want to leave a bit 
later if only to allow the trails to dry up a bit more and be less prone to 
damage that foot traffic causes on muddy trails.

You can read about the GMC's take on mud season at:

http://www.greenmountainclub.org/page.php?id=60

If you don't anticipate getting to Vermont until June, your plans might just 
be OK.

Hmm, if you get to Vermont in June, you'll be dealing with black fly season. 
  Bring plenty of DEET.  Want to avoid black fly season, get to Vermont in 
mid-July.  It's a perfect time to hike.

Mara
Stitches, AT99
(and LT96-02)

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Visit my Travels and Trails web site at:

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>From: Roy <roy_hiking@yahoo.com>
>To: at-l@backcountry.net
>Subject: [at-l] How early to Start ?
>Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 13:00:39 -0800 (PST)
...
>   I read your post on early, long hikes and still running thru my head 
>when to start my North bound AT/LT hike.  I am starting just south of Post 
>Clinton, PA and one hiker said I could start mid-March and not have a lot 
>of snow or low-temps.