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Re: which direction?
The advantage of south to north is that you have less time pressure
than on a north to south hike. If you start in Maine in June, (after
snow melt), then a six month hike has you finishing in December.
The Smokies are high enough that you will probably get snow
there in November and December. Do you really want to be hiking at
Thanksgiving and Christmas? In June, Maine has heavy heavy mud and
black flies (nasty!) so the first few weeks are not much fun,
especially since you start out carrying enough food for 10 days to
two weeks. If you start in the south, you cross roads that will take
you to town within the first week, so you can dump weight at the post
office, and you don't have to carry as much. You can get used to the
trail more gradually. The hostel/store at Neels gap (35 miles out)
is run by the nicest people you will ever meet (the Hansons) and they
can help you to mail home surplus gear, or reequip if you discover
that your kmart tent isn't keeping you dry. Although Keith Shaw will
do likewise, you don't reach Monson for more than 100 miles. That's
a long way to go with a 70 lb. pack. If you go out and decide
you hate the trail, it is a lot easier to leave in Georgia than in
Maine.
That being said, the next time we do the trail, if we do, will be
north to south because it is less crowded. You may miss some of the
community spirit (though there are enough southbound hikers now,
they are getting their own community together), but not having to
fight for space at a shelter is probably worth it.
Spirit Walker