Not OP but, for people planning to hike the entire trail in one season, there is a relatively narrow window of when you need to start. Too soon and the first mountain passes you meet will be snowed in. Too late and you'll be running in to a lot of snow further north.
That plus the increasing popularity of thruhiking has led to there being a "herd" at the starting point that will spread out due to people's varying walking speed, daily start time, etc.
Twafflecone46 karma
Not OP but, for people planning to hike the entire trail in one season, there is a relatively narrow window of when you need to start. Too soon and the first mountain passes you meet will be snowed in. Too late and you'll be running in to a lot of snow further north.
That plus the increasing popularity of thruhiking has led to there being a "herd" at the starting point that will spread out due to people's varying walking speed, daily start time, etc.
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