Katahdin in the spring??

[schumi248]

When do the peaks in the NE usually melt out to summer conditions?? (Katahdin, Washington, etc.). I was wanting to do a state high point trip through the NE, and my off season is usually April and May, is that probably too early??

[letitbeirie]

IIRC the AT up to the top of Katahdin usually opens up in the second half of May. Take a head net if you go, the black flies are something else.

[tremont]

Agree with the above poster, things start melting out towards mid-May. I believe Baxter State Park opens for camping around that time as well. I usually skip May in the Whites entirely because of the mud and bugs - June is much nicer in that regard.

[schumi248]

Agree with the above poster, things start melting out towards mid-May. I believe Baxter State Park opens for camping around that time as well. I usually skip May in the Whites entirely because of the mud and bugs - June is much nicer in that regard.

I was wondering about May, because that’s when I usually have time off to do this, maybe SE is sounding better for April/May. For that, when do North Carolina and Tennessee Appalachians melt out. I could fly into Atlanta, and get the high points for GA, SC, NC, VA, KY, and TN, and stop at other sites along the way. I just got back from a road trip where I did black Mesa, OK, and Guadalupe peak, TX, as well as saw Carlsbad caverns, and Roswell, NM. I’m aiming for my Whitney sometime in July or august this summer. Not sure if all 50 are in my future, but it’s still fun to do, and see other things along the way.

[madmattd]

Katahdin trails close April 1 each year and often don't reopen until Memorial Day depending on conditions.

[nyker]

On Apr 19 of this year in northern NY we had 18" of new snow fall in lowest elevations/main roads and more higher up, so I'd plan on mid-late May for a looking for a snow free trip in NY, though expect muddy trails in some areas.

[cougar]

Fall may be a better time for the northeast, both for no snow and foliage. Late September with some accounting for elevation and latitude. Of course it will be busier.

I don't know firsthand, but the southern Appalachian should be melted out by then. See when the AT through hikers start. Expect thunderstorms that time of year though, not the monsoon pattern like CO but in general storm season, so have extra days. Consider Nashville airport over Atlanta, much easier getting in and out, rental cars are at the terminal, and you can hit those highpoints in an arc pretty nicely. ChrisinAZ lives by the Smokies so you might PM him.

Adirondack may get more snow than New England due to lake effect. East coast snowpack is heavy and wet in a damp climate, so it will linger.

[nyker]

Fall is great for the foliage, though the volume of newly fallen leaves often obscure trails so on some peaks this makes route finding trickier and depending on when in the Fall (but usually coinciding with the leaves turning) you could have snow/ice eggshelled on boulders higher up necessitating spikes or some type of traction.

[Istoodupthere]

When do the peaks in the NE usually melt out to summer conditions?? (Katahdin, Washington, etc.). I was wanting to do a state high point trip through the NE, and my off season is usually April and May, is that probably too early??

Mt. Washington is way more fun during the snowy months. Less people, nobody driving up the road so way less people on summit. Plus plenty of people are still doing it so there will be a boot pack. You should be ok with Katahdin later in May.

[Istoodupthere]

Agree with the above poster, things start melting out towards mid-May. I believe Baxter State Park opens for camping around that time as well. I usually skip May in the Whites entirely because of the mud and bugs - June is much nicer in that regard.

I was wondering about May, because that’s when I usually have time off to do this, maybe SE is sounding better for April/May. For that, when do North Carolina and Tennessee Appalachians melt out. I could fly into Atlanta, and get the high points for GA, SC, NC, VA, KY, and TN, and stop at other sites along the way. I just got back from a road trip where I did black Mesa, OK, and Guadalupe peak, TX, as well as saw Carlsbad caverns, and Roswell, NM. I’m aiming for my Whitney sometime in July or august this summer. Not sure if all 50 are in my future, but it’s still fun to do, and see other things along the way.

The southern Appalachians rarely hold snow for long periods. It’s getting warm there in March. Winter is the best time to go. People in the south don’t seem to get out in the mountains much in the winter.

[nyker]

I’m aiming for my Whitney sometime in July or august this summer.

plan that one around when you can get the permit...July/Aug is the toughest time for a permit, fyi.

[schumi248]

Fall may be a better time for the northeast, both for no snow and foliage. Late September with some accounting for elevation and latitude. Of course it will be busier.

I don't know firsthand, but the southern Appalachian should be melted out by then. See when the AT through hikers start. Expect thunderstorms that time of year though, not the monsoon pattern like CO but in general storm season, so have extra days. Consider Nashville airport over Atlanta, much easier getting in and out, rental cars are at the terminal, and you can hit those highpoints in an arc pretty nicely. ChrisinAZ lives by the Smokies so you might PM him.

Adirondack may get more snow than New England due to lake effect. East coast snowpack is heavy and wet in a damp climate, so it will linger.

I looked at Nashville, it’s a little further away. If I were to fly into a different airport than ATL, it would probably be Charlotte. I would allow an extra couple days for weather, and if everything goes to plan, spend a day or two at carrowinds. Kind of a theme park kind of person, too.