View Full Version : At Sobo 2011
So, yeah. I planned on hiking the CDT next year, but my buddy's finances won't allow it til 2012. Since I am unhappy in the real world, I need to find something to kill some time next year. That being said, there's a chance I will SOBO next year. No reason not to. I can do it pretty cheap, so money isn't an issue. Then I can finish around November, and maybe find some seasonal work to get me by until we do the CDT the next year.
So for those who know me, this will be my third AT thru and I still hate hiking. Just bored, and need something to do. I figure since I am pretty good at walking, I might as well just do that. Nothing set in stone yet, just an idea I am rolling with.
Good luck to you. At least if you are going south you won't run into many hikers. I like hiking, just don't like hikers.
A SOBO sounds good. Walk on.
Shug
Cannibal
06-23-2010, 23:16
Not sure how I can like someone I hate so much. :confused::D
Have yet another good hike my friend.
You could always do my job for a year and I'll hike the AT. ;)
At least your hiking the correct way this time.
The_Saint
06-24-2010, 16:36
So, yeah. I planned on hiking the CDT next year, but my buddy's finances won't allow it til 2012. Since I am unhappy in the real world, I need to find something to kill some time next year. That being said, there's a chance I will SOBO next year. No reason not to. I can do it pretty cheap, so money isn't an issue. Then I can finish around November, and maybe find some seasonal work to get me by until we do the CDT the next year.
So for those who know me, this will be my third AT thru and I still hate hiking. Just bored, and need something to do. I figure since I am pretty good at walking, I might as well just do that. Nothing set in stone yet, just an idea I am rolling with.
lame. If you don't like hiking, then find something else to do with your life. Try sailing, climbing or bumming in South America.
lame. If you don't like hiking, then find something else to do with your life. Try sailing, climbing or bumming in South America.
Nah. Sailing costs too much, and I don't have a passport.
Not sure how I can like someone I hate so much. :confused::D
Have yet another good hike my friend.
Yeah, nothing guaranteed yet. I'll play it by ear, and it all depends on how much is in my savings end of June next year. If I have atleast 12k then I leave. If not then I don't know what I'll do. Definately won't stay around here working though.
At least your hiking the correct way this time.
I am on a mission this time. I plan to have an answer once in for all as to who has it harder. Both have their pros and cons, and I think they may actually balance out. This time I hope to find out for sure.
I think your right. But I do remember people talking about how hard GA was starting out........
I think your right. But I do remember people talking about how hard GA was starting out........
Because they were out of shape and never hiked before. That's what kills NOBOs. We immediately started out with constant ups and downs. They weren't nearly as big as the northern states, but they also never ended. I remember the first flat section you notice as a NOBO is the parking lot at NOC. Other than that and Fontana Dam it's just up and down all day every day. Then the other difficulty is that when we hit the Whites and other real mountains we were drained. Our bodies were shot, we were never able to eat enough, and we started crashing.
SOBOs on the other hand start out on the hardest part. It's nice through the 100s, but after that you are smacked in the face with jagged terrain. You had to get in shape the hard way. You also don't have the support and trail magic NOBOs have. We had Neels Gap after 2-3 days. So we didn't have to suffer from our newbie mistakes nearly as long as you did.
Like I said, it balances out I believe. We both hiked the same terrain, just at different times. You got the hardest terrain over early while you still had some energy stores and were eager to hike yet were out of shape. Then hit the constant and non-stop ups and downs when you were drained and ready to finish. We hit them right away and had a good chance to get in shape without being whooped. On the other hand we had the hardest part while being physically and mentally exhausted yet more experienced.
Youngblood
06-25-2010, 16:12
Because they were out of shape and never hiked before. That's what kills NOBOs. We immediately started out with constant ups and downs. They weren't nearly as big as the northern states, but they also never ended. I remember the first flat section you notice as a NOBO is the parking lot at NOC. Other than that and Fontana Dam it's just up and down all day every day. Then the other difficulty is that when we hit the Whites and other real mountains we were drained. Our bodies were shot, we were never able to eat enough, and we started crashing.
SOBOs on the other hand start out on the hardest part. It's nice through the 100s, but after that you are smacked in the face with jagged terrain. You had to get in shape the hard way. You also don't have the support and trail magic NOBOs have. We had Neels Gap after 2-3 days. So we didn't have to suffer from our newbie mistakes nearly as long as you did.
Like I said, it balances out I believe. We both hiked the same terrain, just at different times. You got the hardest terrain over early while you still had some energy stores and were eager to hike yet were out of shape. Then hit the constant and non-stop ups and downs when you were drained and ready to finish. We hit them right away and had a good chance to get in shape without being whooped. On the other hand we had the hardest part while being physically and mentally exhausted yet more experienced.
I hiked it nobo and live in Georgia. I remember some talking about how tough Blood Mountain in Georgia was when we where in the Whites... I just laughed at them and told them they just forgot how bad of shape they were in when they started out.
The typical nobo hiker struggles in Georgia saying "Don't they believe in switchbacks... huff, huff?". The typical sobo can cover Georgia at 3 mph all day long.
I hiked it nobo and live in Georgia. I remember some talking about how tough Blood Mountain in Georgia was when we where in the Whites... I just laughed at them and told them they just forgot how bad of shape they were in when they started out.
The typical nobo hiker struggles in Georgia saying "Don't they believe in switchbacks... huff, huff?". The typical sobo can cover Georgia at 3 mph all day long.
Yeah, Blood Mt is a cakewalk compared to a majority of the climbs on the AT. The northern side is a little rough being steep near the top. Other than that though it's just a regular mt.
I actually preffered the lack of switchbacks in the north. The climbing straight up rocky areas was more strenuous, but you got it over with. In the south you can walk for a mile and only gain a few hundred feet and not really know it. In the north you can see what you have done because you are climbing straight up the side of the mt.