From the temperate rainforests of northern Georgia to the windswept alpine tundra of northern Maine, a thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail — called the “AT” by those in the know — has to be prepared for a wide range of climates. Travel writer Bill Bryson dubbed his epic trek on one of the country’s longest footpaths “A Walk in the Woods.” A weather geek might call it a “walk in the weather.”
At a length of 2,190 miles, the Appalachian Trail snakes up the spine of the oldest mountain chain on Earth. Along the way, a “northbounder,” someone who attempts to thru-hike from Springer Mountain, Ga., to Mount Katahdin, Maine, will climb and descend a staggering 464,500 vertical feet.
Northbounders congregate at Springer Mountain in early spring to begin the punishing journey on the remnants of mountains that once soared to 30,000 feet. Today, the highest point on the trail is only 6,643 feet above sea level — Clingmans Dome, that straddles Tennessee and North Carolina. But don’t let that fool you. If you are contemplating the hike, it can dip to near-freezing in the middle of the summer on top of the Smoky Mountains.
The goal of any northbounder is to reach Mount Katahdin before snow starts to blanket the deep woods of Maine. The trek takes about six months to complete. If you leave by April 1, you can be rewarded in early October with fireworks of peak New England fall colors. Start too late, or if you are slowed by never-ending blisters, you may need cross-country skis for the last couple of hundred miles.
Lightning is a serious hazard for hikers on the trail, especially when traveling along an exposed ridge or above the tree line on a hot and humid July afternoon. Thunderstorms can form with little warning from saturated air rising up the slopes.
One of my favorite climates the AT transects is the temperate rainforest in the Blue Ridge of northern Georgia and southwest North Carolina. With more than 100 inches of rain a year on the highest peaks, the hemlocks and poplar trees grow huge, and pink rhododendrons bloom in patches so big they make mountain sides appear ablaze. There are waterfalls galore and the water is so pure that many breweries have sprouted in towns close by, such as Asheville, N.C. Nothing like a strong IPA to deaden the pain after a strenuous day of hiking.
The Presidential Range in New Hampshire is a true alpine environment with plant species related to those found in the arctic. When northbounders reach these high peaks sculpted by glaciers, which includes the Mount Washington massif, they must be prepared for anything. Mostly known for its hurricane-force winds, the “home of the world’s worst weather” gives any thru-hiker pause and hope that they pass by on a balmy day.
The heat can be brutal on low-elevation sections of the trail. At Harper’s Ferry, W.Va., the AT crosses the Potomac River at an elevation of just 489 feet. The record high temperature in the historic town is 107 degrees, and the heat is usually accompanied by strength-zapping humidity.
Sections of the AT are very easy to access from Washington, D.C. But be aware of where you are going. Stretches in Shenandoah National Park (SNP) reach nearly 4,000 feet — extra layers are a must as rain on unsuspecting hikers could cause hypothermia. Lower down in Sky Meadows State Park, in the middle of summer, you can get away with hiking in shorts, and that afternoon shower may feel refreshing.
When tackling the AT, check the forecast but be prepared for anything.
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