SOBO vs NOBO | Which way is better? | Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike

[@bobtremblay9172]

I did a southbound thru-hike in 1981 (climbed Katahdin on 8/1/81 and reached Springer on 1/2/82). Back then there were far fewer thru-hikers over all but we did see a ton of them finishing up all through our hike in Maine and even saw a couple in NH and VT. After that, it was just us for the rest of the trail. I'm happy we did what we did as I was looking for a wilderness experience and not really interested in socializing or hanging with other people. I also much prefer the cooler and cold weather. We started hitting freezing temps in PA, and we had snow periodically win VA and then full on winter snow all through the Smokies. Again, this is what we preferred. I had no interest in hiking with bugs, or humidity, or big crowds of people.

[@LeftEnright]

Your experience must have been much more "back to woods" then mine given the year you thru hiked. Congrats on really hiking it the hard way. I am so interested in the types of hiker gear, food, and clothing from that time period.. Our modern dehydrated food and nutritional science knowledge leads to super foods for today's hikers which has to give an advantage to current hikers. But on the flipside, technology probably draws more hikers off trail then helps keep on trail. .

[@mountainman32]

You have some good points for sure. My original plan was to flip flop from Harpers NOBO thinking that It would be easier to find a spot in the the shelters/sites, somewhat better weather and get my trail legs before I got to the tough stuff. As always, you never disappoint. Another great video!

[@thomasc4478]

Great videos man, I think your unedited style is really awesome and your thoughts in this video are definitely based in sense and also experience. Thank you my friend for sharing your knowledge 🙂👍

[@LeftEnright]

You are very welcome. I appreciate your kind words!

[@michaelmisiaszek2514]

I have just under 2K AT miles and have been sectioning since 2018, have done both directions and I still can't find the handle of what really IS the difference, but it is palpable. It is not just a direction. Best thru hiking theory I heard was start in Harper's Ferry and NOBO to Lady K, then SOBO HF to Springer. Misses the crowds and the weather conditions can be easier. Keep Hiking!

[@LeftEnright]

I finished the AT with a couple of flippers and can see the benefit to the approach you mentioned. For me, I think maintaining the continuous direction SOBO or NOBO allows for more comradery with those in your immediate bubble. Thanks for watching!

[@austina701]

I did SOBO in 2020, and was ahead of most SOBOs until Virginia, so it was especially solitary. I was alone at camp most nights until Virginia.

[@evans_swiftie_shirt1730]

You get the shelters to yourself seems like a great thing.

[@LeftEnright]

Yeah that way no one is bothered by my acapella performances early in the morning. 😆

[@TheJhtlag]

Yeah, that shotgun start from the south is a big turnoff.

[@KenFernbach]

Hmmm, now a see the other side of this decision- many thanks for very well thought out and sensible explanation of this perspective! 🚴🏼‍♂️🏃‍♀️🧘🏼🧘🏼🌿🙏

[@LeftEnright]

Happy to help!

[@Yetithruhikes]

This is a very good video. Much better and raw compared to all the edited BS we usually see. Thanks! A few comment of my own. 1. You started in August, which is rather late for a SOBO, so saw the bubble in ME mostly I would assume. The "usualy SOBOs meet the bubble in NH and VT which is basically the worst place to meet them. That's a disadvantage for SOBOs. 2. I met a lot of SOBOs when I thru hiked in 21'. There is a bubble there as well. And it is even tighter in matters of time frame and distance between groups. Could be quite annoying at the beginning of the hike going south, to be amongst so many people in the hardest part of the AT. 3. I went NOBO, I started April 15th and basically bypassed the big bubble quite fast (Probably mid May they were behind me). I did see another small bubble going into VT and NH but that was people that started early like March 1st or even end of Feb. I eventually finished July 31st and there was no bubble for me. I had many many days I hiked alone on the AT. I think I met more day hikers/section hikers then thru hikers going NOBO. So, it is always a matter of what you do. The bubble can be avoided and you do not have to start in January for that to happen. 4. I did feel that the quality of hikers amongst the SOBOs was higher. You get a lot less hiker trash than NOBOs that's for sure. Luckily enough, the trail trash of NOBOs quit fast enough that they do not reach Harpers Ferry even. 5. Last thing, going SOBO means you're done with the hardest miles at the beginning, but only the best parts of the trail. So, the mental challenge of keep going until Springer is in some ways bigger than going NOBO. And finishing at Springer....well that's a real anti-climax of a finish for a thru hike. Any thru hike. Finishing on Katahdin is epic. Springer is well...... 🤢. In any case, thanks again for the video. Good luck with completing your thru hike! (on Springer.......)

[@LeftEnright]

I feel the raw nature of hiking blends well with my free form thought process and my style of filming. Im glad you enjoyed it. You make good points. My later than most start of August 5th affected my journey and a faster/early NOBO could possibly replicate the solidarity I felt. Nothing compares to Katahdin...and being a Mainer who has summited the Big K before I felt like finishing in Springer was an acceptable compromise. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate the feedback.

[@TheJhtlag]

Northbound certaily has more "rising action" as if you were writing a story. Aquaman started in winter and it was mesmerizing to see the guy camping out in deep snow in the Whites and all. But yeah, it got kind of boring watching him in Virginia etc. Even he got bored of vlogging and cut way down on it. I do get the sense that SOBOs are more hiking for the sake of hiking and not as much as a right of passage or thing one's gotta do. Yeah, maybe that's quality of hikers I dunno.

[@LeftEnright]

​@@TheJhtlag I heard of Aquaman as I was finishing and couldn't imagine doing it in winter. My hat is off to him! Either way, completing a thru of the AT is epic and a pilgrimage of sorts for everyone.

[@matthewfurst1577]

Great video bro, started SOBO back 20 years ago, didn't finish. Want to try again, great points on what way to go. Thanks

[@LeftEnright]

..didn't finish yet. You got this Matt! Any progress towards a goal is time well spent.

[@travisrainey1171]

I always thought NOBO was the only way to do it but you have some real good arguments for doing a SOBO.

[@TheBonswah]

Good video, fair points and an open minded view on those points. Wish there were a lot more videos like this out there

[@LeftEnright]

Hey I appreciate that feedback sincerely. If you haven't yet, check out some more of my videos from previous hikes. Aside from lovely scenery, I think you might enjoy the vicariously positive vibe. Cheers!

[@TheBonswah]

@@LeftEnright I've watched some of your AT SOBO videos last night, good stuff :)

[@donald2818]

I find it interesting all the leaves are down now in the south while most of them are still on up here in the north.

[@LeftEnright]

This was from Day 126 of my SOBO last year and was filmed in December. Hopefully the foliage is lovely in your neck of the woods.

[@robinmarshall1298]

Thank you, I appreciate your candor!

[@LeftEnright]

Thanks for watching!

[@suemoore1965]

GREAT INFO AND VIDEO ❤

[@LeftEnright]

You are so very welcome. Glad you stopped by.

[@jamesquinlivan7876]

Great video with very good inputs! I never considered going SOBO but to see the Fall colors would be amazing! Appreciate your thoughts! 👍👊

[@LeftEnright]

Thank you kindly! Happy trails.

[@myleftthumb2294]

Excellent video. Thank you so much for your thoughts on this. Fall is my favorite season (October B-day), followed by winter. I'm now thinking of starting in June and pacing myself to be done before Thanksgiving which would put me in the Shenandoahs for leaf peeping season. Might even catch a light dusting of white towards the end there in the Smokies, but hopefully nothing too severe.

[@LeftEnright]

Sounds like a great plan! Bring the bug spray though 😉

[@lundiboy8]

4th Nobo Jan of 2023. I start earlier each time. Avoid crowds, See those early views before the green tunnel happens, See some snow, Avoid southern heat. Starting anywhere after Feb 20th see's those early campsites over capacity real quick in my expierience. I do NOBO just because it is closer to home and harder to get there/more costly if I have a bad day going north haha. I am out here to hike and that's it. People can call it anti social all they want but when surrounded by nothing but people and noises in everyday life, I want to be alone out here. It is not hard to politely decline joining a tramily. I also find it cheaper to be alone out there. I am not for spending money at every location that has shelter or food. People spend quite alot for the gear on their backs and will spend even more in towns to not use it. Those big tramilies can spend alot to keep the party going. Nothing against anyone doing the hike their own way. Never met a hiker that rubbed me the wrong way. That is the luxury of hiking your own hike right haha. If something is not broke, I dont need to be in the middle of tent city in Damascus trying to get replacement gear.

[@1z1zmike]

Thanks…great topic and views🙂🙏

[@1z1zmike]

Thanks for your analysis 🙂🙏

[@LeftEnright]

You betcha!

[@parkerhoffman1723]

Thanks for the video, why did you wait till August to start? I was thinking you could start the end of June?

[@LeftEnright]

Slightly to do with a 2 week notice for my employer and also to avoid most of the summer heat.

[@glynnmorgan6422]

Dude, everything you brought up is what I would think makes sense.

[@LeftEnright]

Cheers to that! At least we are not alone ;)

[@lisamonalisahikes]

Thanks for your honest thoughts

[@LeftEnright]

My $0.02 + Honest Abe= My Honest Thoughts

[@TheJhtlag]

NOBOs and SOBOs seem like different cats and you clearly fit my notion of a SOBO. Also seems like much more of a destination northbound, more of a right of passage, more "purism", more reaching momma K and all that stuff. I've run into a few SOBOs in my recent day hikes (including one at the true halfway point in PA last weekend) and - hard to put into words - introspective, kinda have more time to talk, (being by themselve more?) , more in the moment perhaps. I could actually see you getting off the trail for some of those other things you said you wanted to do and it wouldn't be all that big a deal in the sense that you somehow wouldn't feel you had quit or failed. I'm a little confused you said you started in August? which doesn't jibe with the 4 months, you started in June perhaps? The guy I ran into "Baxter" started in August and was halfway as of last week, doing pretty good w/the hard stuff behind him could be a 120 130 day hike also, also timing the leaves here pretty well. Note: I'm taking it this was a video from '21 now. OK, got it.

[@LeftEnright]

Being from Maine, I always told people I was 'getting out of dodge' by heading SOBO and I do think there is (in general) a difference in the types of people who choose a SOBO over NOBO. This was filmed in December last year on Day 126 of my southbound thru. It is an excerpt from my daily video series I released after completing the trail. I decided early on that editing and uploading while on trail was nothing I wanted after 20+ miles of hiking. I think the end product is better because of waiting.

[@The_Duck_Pond]

My logic on considering a SOBO is to lower the risk of Norovirus … perhaps that is what you mean by avoiding the “bugs”

[@LeftEnright]

I was referring to the biting and stinging insects that pester any travelers on the AT during spring-summer. You make a good point, with less people means possibly less likelihood of transmitted germs, but proper precautions are always a good call when on trail.

[@bfg216]

As a hugh school student in grade 11, im looking into hiking it (maybe with a friend, maybe alone, dunno yet) summer after senior year, and since id be starting in July after im done with graduation, a NoBo would be tough (summer in the south and fall in the north) i guess that fall in the whites would be great, but i dont like the idea of having really hot at the start and really cold at the end. Largely due to needing 2 sets of gear lol I figure SoBo allows me to stick to warmer weather, and only need summer gear for it, and also would allow me to go July-October (maybe early november) meaning when i hit Georgia its still around 50 or 60 degrees (maybe needs a baselayer, but not more.) Anyway, Kathadin for a first day is daunting, and all the elevation gain/loss in the first few weeks is sub optimal for me, as i am from Ontario, and we're really flat here (highest elevation is like 2000 feet lol) so i have no real experience with that aspect of it. But i did like to hear your perspective, so i do thank you for that!

[@LeftEnright]

Given you have some time to physically train before your planned thru, I recommend walking as often as you can and work towards maintaining a consistent healthy diet to provide your body with proper nutrition leading up to your hike. Hiking or walking on uneven outdoor surfaces is best but if you aren't near hilly/rocky areas then climb stairs in your home, school building, or any multilevel building you can access. It is important to train your body with climbing up and down. As you get more comfortable with climbing and walking, increase the distance and try carrying a backpack while exercising. Then slowly increase the amount of weight you carry carrying in the backpack.

[@bfg216]

@@LeftEnright well, I'm a cross country runner, so I've got the first half of that done. Gonna try some overnight and weekend hikes on atv trails behind my house, and maybe even the backpacking trails in provincial or national parks

[@LeftEnright]

Being a runner is quite the 'leg up' for training @@bfg216 And I like that idea of practice camping to get familiar with your gear and figure out what works for you.

[@tedinohio3981]

I've watched a few NOBO hikes on the AT, and a lot of it is about the Tramily. I prefer the trail itself, and I've watched 1 1/2 SOBO hikes on the AT, and think I preferred the SOBO. As I'm 77 with bad knees, I know I won't ever be able to do either, just watch. As one of my hobbies is landscape photography, that is another way to vicariously enjoy places I can't go to to photograph.

[@LeftEnright]

Check out some of my other videos, I think you might enjoy the scenery. And you are correct, regardless of the direction traveled, the most important part of every hike is to enjoy the trail while embracing the lessons nature presents to us. Thanks for commenting!

[@tedinohio3981]

@LeftEnright I noticed in the Shenandoah area. when the leaves were yellow and back-lit by the Sun, how similar it is to views on a 3.5 mile trail in a metropark near where I live in Central Ohio.

[@Clear24chris]

I think the 100 mile wilderness is a very tough way for new hikers to start.

[@LeftEnright]

In my mind those early sections were like 'boot camp' The trail thru everything it had at me to scare me away but it only drew me in more.

[@davidortiz3094]

​@@LeftEnrightSounds tempting. I would be new to it as well but have a lot of equipment ready for it.

[@jairoaguilar3838]

SOBO FOR LIFE!!!

[@LeftEnright]

Yeah buddy!

[@sea_hous]

When hikers are SOBO do they hike up Katahdin from another side and then head down the AT side?

[@LeftEnright]

That's a great question! The Hunt Trail is also the AT so many people hike up Hunt, summit Mt. Katahdin, then start their thru hike by heading down the Hunt Trail. The summit of Baxter peak(katahdin) has trails that approach from all sides, though the most common route taken for thru-hikers is either Hunt or Abol, which start from the southwestern side of the mountain.

[@sea_hous]

@@LeftEnright 🙏🏻

[@mtadams2009]

Let’s be honest the best part of the the trail is in the North. Not hating on the other states but saving the best for last is the way to go, or it is for me. The Whites and Maine after that nothing remotely compares on the trail.

[@LeftEnright]

Hard to disagree. As a local to the area, I knew what treasures lay near, and is why I wanted to venture far away towards 'uncharted' territory. You can hate on Pennsylvania..it sucked😆

[@mtadams2009]

@@LeftEnright That makes sense. Congratulations on your hike. Thanks for sharing. Take care

[@jeremybrandt5779]

So southbound you start in Maine?

[@LeftEnright]

Yes. and the start is on top of Mt. Katahdin..a mere 5269 feet in the sky.

[@pattyfarghaly1821]

99 percent of leaves in my part of Massachusetts are still green.

[@LeftEnright]

New England is a marvel this time of year. Fingers crossed for some colorful foliage for you!

[@pattyfarghaly1821]

@@LeftEnright thank you I hope so. New York State is beautiful

[@Ihavenohandle....]

I've never heard anyone else say "NOBO" except the Simpsons. It was a episode where they're hanging out with a hobo and when they 1st meet him it's in a railroad car and they wake him up which scares them but he reassures them "I'm not a stabbing hobo I'm a singing hobo. 🎵Nothing beats the hobo life stabbing folks with my hobo kniiiife🎵 I'm just kidding ya and having a little fun with you NOBOs."

[@LeftEnright]

Got to love a good Simpsons reference! That show predicts the future 😁

[@Ihavenohandle....]

@@LeftEnright No problem you be careful out there man. When I was a kid I lived in Germany because of my Father being in the military and we went on plenty of Volksmarches and those were rough enough so I'm sure it's a endurance trial to do what you're doing so again "be careful out there".

[@aaronbradford8377]

#$obo4Lyfe

[@LeftEnright]

Only way to go! ...kinda

[@vegasjaydon1aauditstrump2024]

How very anti-social of you. Lol

[@LeftEnright]

Go figure. Must be the solidarity of solo hiking that clears the mind and helps one to focus their thoughts.