I am planning to hike around the 23st of May, and can't go earlier because of my final exams in school. I am quite fit, but haven't done any long hikes yet. Is starting this late too extreme or is it still possible, if I start training now? I could also do SOBO, but NOBO seems more appealing to me. What do you recommend?
If it was my first time and starting late May - I personally would still prefer a NOBO for the community, but would try to get as hike fit as you reasonably can, expect it be hot in the desert, so plan for early cool mornings starts to get some early miles each day, maybe consider a sun umbrella (very useful, despite what some ppl might say about wind in the desert), siesta in the hottest part of the day, plan to hike into the evenings and some night hiking. I think sun umbrella is the key thing for May starters to help take the edge off the heat, but some people really dont like them - but I use one every year and its not constantly windy in the desert.
But would also recommend you plan for a few 4am starts in the really hot sections. If you like lying in in the mornings and later starts then maybe May is not for you ;)
@@lothar8194 Okay, Thank you. Because of my jetlag I think 4 am hiking would be perfect for me. I will also look into getting a sun umbrella. What can I expect for how many fellow hikers I will meet along the trail when starting this late? I am starting alone and am afraid I will walk for weeks while barely seeing people.
You will potentially have 50 ppl starting per day, but in reality probably 35, so lots of ppl and you will not be alone. Would plan to arrive day before you hike and stay at CLEEF which is a campsite near the start and all hikers congregate there before they start their hike. There will be hikers faster than you, slower than you and some the same pace, and hikers ahead and behind you.
I am planning to hike around the 23st of May, and can't go earlier because of my final exams in school. I am quite fit, but haven't done any long hikes yet. Is starting this late too extreme or is it still possible, if I start training now? I could also do SOBO, but NOBO seems more appealing to me. What do you recommend?
If it was my first time and starting late May - I personally would still prefer a NOBO for the community, but would try to get as hike fit as you reasonably can, expect it be hot in the desert, so plan for early cool mornings starts to get some early miles each day, maybe consider a sun umbrella (very useful, despite what some ppl might say about wind in the desert), siesta in the hottest part of the day, plan to hike into the evenings and some night hiking. I think sun umbrella is the key thing for May starters to help take the edge off the heat, but some people really dont like them - but I use one every year and its not constantly windy in the desert.
But would also recommend you plan for a few 4am starts in the really hot sections. If you like lying in in the mornings and later starts then maybe May is not for you ;)
@@lothar8194 Okay, Thank you. Because of my jetlag I think 4 am hiking would be perfect for me. I will also look into getting a sun umbrella. What can I expect for how many fellow hikers I will meet along the trail when starting this late? I am starting alone and am afraid I will walk for weeks while barely seeing people.
You will potentially have 50 ppl starting per day, but in reality probably 35, so lots of ppl and you will not be alone. Would plan to arrive day before you hike and stay at CLEEF which is a campsite near the start and all hikers congregate there before they start their hike. There will be hikers faster than you, slower than you and some the same pace, and hikers ahead and behind you.
@@lothar8194Oh great. Thank you so much!!