2022 Southbound AT Hiker Survey

Data was collected from 96 respondents in an attempt to better understand southbound “SoBo” hiker trends. This equates to roughly 25% of SoBos that started in 2022, providing a decent sample to pull population statistics from. This survey will evolve over the next few years as we try to improve information available to future SoBo hikers. Thanks to each and every hiker that participated in this year’s survey.

Please note that 61.5% of respondents this year completed a thru-hike. Knowing that only 18-25% of people that attempt a thru-hike are successful, we can infer that the results of some of the questions in this survey are somewhat skewed, as answers from those who were unsuccessful and section hikers are not represented proportionately to the real world scenario. While the information provided is still relevant and beneficial, it should be noted that the results of some questions favor those who were successful (the minority) over those who were unsuccesful (the majority).

You can click on the charts to see more information.

How did you get to Katahdin?

There are several different options for getting to the northern terminus of the trail. When family and friends can’t make the drive up, the AT Lodge (now AT Hostel & Outfitters) has been the go to option for an economical and efficient start to a southbound hike.

 

Baxter Reservation

Obtaining a Baxter State Park reservation is one of the most important aspects of starting a southbound hike. 28.1% of respondents had to partner up with someone else, who had a reservation, in order to get into Baxter and be able to summit Katahdin. Reservations become available four months prior to the date you would need one and can sell out weeks or even months in advance. Even if you do not plan to spend the night in Baxter you still need a day-use parking reservation, or to accompany someone that has one, in order to access a Katahdin Trailhead.

 

How did you obtain a reservation?

63.5% of respondents planned ahead and secured a reservation, 28.1% had to partner up with someone else who had a reservation, and 6.3% winged it close to their start date and were able to secure a reservation. If you are unable to obtain your own, sharing with another hiker is a good option. Other options exist, however, securing a campsite in advance is the best option for a SoBo.

 

How did you gain entry to Baxter?

While it is possible to use other Baxter campgrounds or a day-use-parking reservation to climb Katahdin, the most common method is with a Katahdin Stream Campground reservation. To gain entry, 67.8% of respondents used a single night camping reservation and 18.8% used a 2+ night campsite reservation. A two night reservation gives hikers a back up day if the weather is less than desirable.

 

Start Dates

45.8% of respondents began their hike in the first three weeks of June. After this, numbers typically begin trail off through the end of July. However, this year there was a surge in the first half of July, with more hikers choosing to wait for better hiking conditions than in previous years. Early to mid-June can still have freezing temperatures at night, elevated stream crossings from snow melt leaving the region, and hordes of mosquitos and black flies.

The AT up Katahdin opened May 27. It is recommended to choose a start date of June 1 or later, as a trail up Katahdin may not be open in May. This year, one respondent started April 30, from Abol Bridge, and is considered an outlier.

 

When do you suggest future SoBos Start?

While the majority of respondents were happy with their start date, some who started in early-June and July chose the second half of June as their suggestion. Respondents were able to choose more than one option.

We consider June and July to be SoBo season, with the second half of June through early July being the ideal time to start. This allows for more stable conditions and typically fewer mosquitos and black flies. Anyone wishing to begin a hike in August or September should be physically prepared for not only higher mileage days to “out-hike” incoming winter but also a far less social hiking experience.

 

How long did it take you to summit and descend Katahdin?

56.3% of respondents took between eight and twelve hours to complete their summit. This is considered the average return trip time for Katahdin. This year 36.2% of respondents were able to complete the trip in less than eight hours. The two the respondents who did not climb Katahdin are not included in these results.

We know from our own observation, as well as communication with hikers we put out on trail and Baxter State Park rangers, that a far higher percentage of SoBo starters took between 12 and 24 hours, than is represented in this survey. After investigating each respondents answers, we concluded that respondents that completed a thru-hike more often had more trail experience than those who were unsuccessful. We can also suggest that successful thru-hikers were likely in better physical condition starting out and due to more successful thru-hikers responding to the survey than unsuccessful attempters, the results are skewed toward faster times.

 

Did you attempt to summit and hike the extra 9.9 miles out of Baxter to Abol Bridge in the same day?

94.6% of respondents chose to not attempt hiking the extra miles after their summit and 80.9% of those respondents were glad they didn’t. The two respondents who did not climb Katahdin are not included in these results.

This is roughly a twenty mile day and is not advised for SoBos, unless they are an experienced long distance backpacker in great hiking condition. SoBos are required to have a reservation in order to gain entry and climb Katahdin, even if they plan to exit the park the same day. For this reason, we suggest hikers obtain a campsite reservation for the day of their summit and enjoy an easier hike out of Baxter the following day.

 

Did Katahdin meet your expectations?

41.5% of respondents stated that Katahdin met their expectations, while a combined 35.1% found it to be more difficult than they anticipated. 23.4% found it to be easier than expected. The two the respondents who did not climb Katahdin are not included in these results.

Katahdin is considered one of the toughest climbs on the entire trail and for some SoBos it is the toughest day of their entire journey.

 

Looking back, did you feel you were prepared to climb Katahdin?

84.0% of respondents felt they were prepared to take on Katahdin while 16.0% did not. The two the respondents who did not climb Katahdin are not included in these results.

 

How long did it take you to hike the first 115 miles of the AT from Katahdin to Monson?

68.1% of respondents took between eight and eleven days, with ten being the most common. The two the respondents who did not climb Katahdin are not included in these results.

 

How long would you recommend new SoBos plan to take for the first 115 miles from Katahdin to Monson?

46.8% of respondents recommend taking ten days while 18.1% said nine days, 13.8% said eight days, 11.7% said twelve days, and 9.6% said eleven days. The two the respondents who did not climb Katahdin are not included in these results.

50.0% of respondents who took seven days or less, recommended taking nine or ten days. 72.7% of respondents who took eight days recommended taking nine or ten days. These results reinforce our opinion that nine to eleven days is optimal.

Of the thirteen respondents that recommended eight days, 53.8% were previous thru-hikers and another 38.5% had been on section hikes of at least seven days or more, prior to beginning their SoBo hike.

 

Did the 100 Mile Wilderness meet your expectations?

36.5% of respondents stated that the 100 Mile Wilderness met their expectations, while a combined 36.5% found it to be more difficult than they anticipated. Another 27.0% found it to be easier than expected.

 

Looking back, did you feel you were prepared for the 100 Mile Wilderness?

82.3% of respondents felt they were prepared to take on the Wilderness while 17.7% did not.

 

Did you utilize a food drop service?

71.9% of respondents utilized a 100 Mile Wilderness food drop service and were glad they did. In addition, another 5.2% wish they had utilized a food drop, 5.2% wish they had not, and 15.6% did not feel the need for one.

 

Which guide or guides did you find most useful?

91.6% of respondents selected the Farout “Guthook” app while 22.9% selected the AT Guide. Only 3.1% selected paper maps. Respondents were able to select multiple guides or input their own. Many respondents selected both Farout and AT Guide.

 

What was your total pack weight at the start?

50.0% of respondents had a starting pack weight between 25 and 35 pounds. This is considered average for first time thru-hikers.

One factor to consider is that respondents who did not utilize a food drop would have had more food weight in their packs than respondents who did. Most of these respondents reported a total pack weight of 30 pounds or more. One respondent chose “prefer not to answer / do no care about pack weight.”

 

What starting total pack weight do you suggest for future SoBos?

94.8% of respondents suggested a starting pack weight less than 35 pounds, with 72.9% suggesting 30 pounds or less. Two respondents chose “prefer not to answer / do not care about pack weight.”

We suggest your total pack, with five days of food to reach a food drop and a liter of water, be 35 pounds or less.

 

What backpacking experience did you have before starting your hike?

26.0% of respondents had some form of prior thru-hiking experience, ranging from shorter trails less than 400 miles to multiple thru-hikes. The most common responses were “a few overnights or weekend hikes” at 23.9% and “2 - 7 day section hikes” at 17.7%. Due to the remoteness, terrain difficulty, and lack of easy access to resources a southbound hike should be prepared for with on trail experience prior to starting.

 

If you got off trail in the first 115 miles what was the reason?

Of the eight respondents who left the trail within the first 115 miles, Katahdin to Monson, 50.0% were due to injury.

This also indicates that 8.4% of respondents left the trail in the first 115 miles. Due to the disproportionate amount of successful thru-hikers that responded to this survey, over unsuccessful attempters, we believe this result to be skewed and would argue that 15-20% of hopeful SoBos leave the trail within the first 115 miles.

13.7% of respondents stated they suffered an injury while on trail. The most common being overuse injuries to the ankle and knee regions.

 

Successful Thru-Hiker Questions

Fifty-nine (61.5%) of the respondents reported that they successfully completed a thru-hike. The section that follows was only asked to these “successful” respondents.

Originally, there were an additional three respondents that reported they completed a thru-hike and answered these questions, however, in their answers they mentioned they had not completed the trail yet. We reached out to these respondents to see if they had finished and could update their answers. After three weeks of not receiving any communication back from them we decided to remove their answers from the results.

What did you find more difficult?

83.1% of respondents, that completed a thru-hike, found southern Maine to be more difficult that the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

 

What was the easiest part of the trail?

We allowed respondents to submit anything that came to mind rather than having a selection of answers. Most respondents answered with a particular state or section of the trail. Georgia and Virginia were the two states mentioned the most, with Shenandoah National Park being the section of trail that was mentioned the most. We also received “joy” “getting up every morning and hiking” “meeting folks and getting into towns” and “walking” as responses.

 

What was the hardest part of the trail?

We allowed respondents to submit anything that came to mind rather than having a selection of answers. Most respondents answered with a particular state or section of the trail. Maine was the most mentioned by far, with southern Maine and the Mahoosuc area being the most mentioned section. Pennsylvania was the second most mentioned with most of those respondents stating “physically Maine, mentally Pennsylvania.” A few respondents mentioned a heat wave in the mid-atlantic states.

We also received the following answers: “Katahdin” “big ass mountains” “figuring out how to get to the northern terminus” “cold weather after/during November” “myself” “missing my wife” “knowing every day was one day closer to finishing” and “not being bored.”

 

How long did it take you to complete the state of Maine?

The most common answers were 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 days. Two respondents said they did not remember.

For many SoBos, the idea that Maine can take an entire month of a 5-6 month hike, that traverses 14 states, can be daunting. We encourage new SoBos to plan to spend 25-30 days in Maine averaging 10-14 miles a day for most of the state. If you mentally prepare for a slow start you will be able to manage your expectations better. Once you make it through Maine and New Hampshire the miles start to fly by.

 

How long did it take you to complete the Trail?

The majority of respondents finished their thru-hike between 4.5 and 5.5 months.

71.2% of respondents recommended that new SoBos plan to take 5-6 months. The other 28.8% recommended anywhere from 4 to 7 months.

 

How many miles per day would you suggest for SoBos just starting out?

The majority of respondents recommended between 10 and 15 miles per day with 10-12 being the most common answer.

We recommend that SoBos plan to hike 10-14 miles per day, for the state of Maine.

 

What was your favorite section?

Respondents were able to select multiple sections and most chose at least three of the seven options. Southern Maine and the White Mountains of New Hampshire tied for the favorite section of the Trail with the 100 Mile Wilderness, Baxter State Park, and Roan Highlands coming in second.

Other responses included “Massachusetts” “New Jersey” “Northern Pennsylvania” and “all of it.”

 

What was your favorite state?

Respondents were able to select multiple states and most chose at least three of the fourteen. A few chose every state. Maine was the undisputed winner with Virginia coming in second. The state with the fewest mentions was New York.

What was your favorite hostel?

We allowed respondents to submit anything that came to mind rather than having a selection of answers. These results were purely chosen by the respondents as we did not offer a list or any guidance. We ranked the top ten hostels by number of mentions. We then included the next ten in the honorable mentions section. There are several more hostels that received one mention. One respondent answered with “I came here to be in the woods not hostels.”

Hostel - Number of Mentions

  1. Maine Roadhouse - 34

  2. Woods Hole Hostel - 19

  3. Shaw’s Hiker Hostel - 16

  4. Hostel Around the Bend - 9

  5. The Notch Hostel - 8

  6. Appalachian Trail Lodge - 7

  7. Laughing Heart Hostel - 6

  8. The Merry Inn - 6

  9. The Yellow Deli - 5

  10. Human Nature Hostel - 5

Honorable Mentions

Above the Clouds Hostel - 4

Angels Rest Hiker Haven - 4

Chica & Sunset’s Hostel - 4

The Broken Fiddle Hostel - 4

Wonderland Hiker Refuge - 3

The Station at 19e - 3

Mountain Home B&B - 3

Hostel of Maine - 3

Bear’s Den - 2

What was your favorite trail town?

We allowed respondents to submit anything that came to mind rather than having a selection of answers. These results were purely chosen by the respondents as we did not offer a list or any guidance. We ranked the top ten towns by number of mentions. We then included the next ten in the honorable mentions section. There were many more towns that were mentioned once.

Trail Town - Number of Mentions

  1. Hot Springs, NC -17

  2. Hanover, NH - 10

  3. Monson, ME - 9

  4. Damascus, VA - 8

  5. Duncannon, PA - 7

  6. Delaware Water Gap, PA - 6

  7. Great Barrington, MA - 5

  8. Marion, VA - 5

  9. Waynesboro, VA - 4

  10. Harpers Ferry, WV - 4

Honorable Mentions

North Woodstock, NH - 3

Gorham, NH - 3

Rutland, VT - 3

Warwick, NY - 3

Manchester Center, VT - 3

Daleville, VA - 3

Rangely, ME - 3

Lincoln, NH - 3

Pearisburg, VA - 2

Most important gear advice for new SoBos?

We asked respondents to give their most important gear advice for hopeful SoBos. We received many excellent suggestions and have ranked them. We only included advice that was mentioned multiple times.

For number 3, it should be noted that most of the responses suggested switching from a 20-30 degree bag/quilt to a 0-15 degree bag in the fall, when it got colder.

For number 5, it should be noted that some SoBos show up to Maine without thermals or a down/synthetic jacket. The mountains of Maine can see freezing temperatures even in June and July. Several of these respondents mentioned the need to bring a down/synthetic jacket.

Gear Advice

  1. Get the lightest gear you can afford.

  2. The best gear is what works for you.

  3. Star with a summer kit and swap it for a fall/winter kit later on.

  4. Test your gear and shoes before you start your SoBo hike.

  5. Carry cold weather gear from the start. (always carry a puffy)

  6. Less is more.

  7. Find a balance between lightweight and comfort.

  8. Trekking poles are a must.

Most important advice for new SoBos?

We asked respondents to give most important advice for hopeful SoBos. We received many excellent suggestions and have ranked them. We only included advice that was mentioned multiple times.

It should be noted that a majority of the responses included both “start slow” and “don’t trust NoBos and their fear mongering.”

NoBos have a completely different perspective and experience as they are hiking the opposite direction as you. Their toughest climb on the trail may be your easiest descent. Their worst day on trail might be your best.

SoBo Advice

  1. Start slow and avoid injury - push bigger miles after the White Mountains.

  2. Don’t trust NoBos and their fear mongering.

  3. Embrace every moment - don’t rush.

  4. Hike as much as you can before you start.

  5. One day at a time - just keep moving.

  6. Adopt the mindset “this too shall pass.”