At Mountain & Weather Reference
Major Sections (NOBO)
1. Georgia — Mile 0 to ~78.5
Sharp climbs early, Blood Mountain. First state down.
2. Southern North Carolina — Mile ~78.5 to ~165.7
Long ridge walks. You're officially a real AT hiker.
3. Great Smoky Mountains — Mile ~165.7 to ~241
Highest sustained elevations. Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) 6,643 ft.
4. Northern NC & Tennessee — Mile ~241 to ~386
Big balds, Roan Highlands. Damascus = Trail Town USA.
5. Southern Virginia — Mile ~386 to ~550
Grayson Highlands, wild ponies. You're cruising now.
6. Central Virginia — Mile ~550 to ~785
Longest state. Long ridge walks, manageable climbs.
7. Shenandoah National Park — Mile ~785 to ~890
Gentle grades, frequent services. Fast miles. (~101-108 miles through the park)
8. Northern Virginia — Mile ~890 to ~1,025
The Roller Coaster. Short, steep ups and downs.
9. Mid-Atlantic — Mile ~1,025 to ~1,290
Harpers Ferry, rocky PA. Halfway is behind you.
10. NY-NJ Highlands — Mile ~1,290 to ~1,525
Short climbs, frequent towns. States fall fast.
11. Southern New England — Mile ~1,525 to ~1,630
CT and MA. Rolling, humid. You're in the North.
12. Vermont — Mile ~1,630 to ~1,791
Green Mountains. Mud season. Last 'easy' state.
13. White Mountains — Mile ~1,791 to ~1,912
Hardest terrain on AT. Alpine travel. If you finish this, you WILL finish.
14. Maine — Mile ~1,912 to ~2,198
Roots, rocks, ladders. Katahdin is inevitable.
"I'm not hiking 2,197.4 miles—I'm hiking 14 victories."
AT Mountain Reference & Field Decisions
Daily GO / NO-GO Check
- What's today's summit elevation?
- Town temp minus (3.5°F × elevation gain in thousands)
- Wind forecast?
- Any exposure above treeline?
If wind >30 mph or ice on rock: → Delay or bail
Major AT Climbs with Start Elevation
GEORGIA
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springer Mountain | ~3,200 ft | 3,782 ft | ~580 ft |
| Blood Mountain | ~3,100 ft (Neels Gap) | 4,458 ft | ~1,350 ft |
NORTH CAROLINA / TENNESSEE
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standing Indian Mountain | ~3,500 ft | 5,499 ft | ~2,000 ft |
| Wayah Bald | ~3,800 ft | 5,342 ft | ~1,540 ft |
| Cheoah Bald | ~1,700 ft | 5,062 ft | ~3,300 ft |
| Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) | ~5,000 ft | 6,643 ft | ~1,640 ft |
| Snowbird Mountain ✓ | ~2,200 ft | ~4,260 ft | ~2,060 ft |
VIRGINIA
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rogers Area | ~4,000 ft | 5,729 ft | ~1,700 ft |
| The Priest | ~650 ft | 4,063 ft | ~3,400 ft |
| Three Ridges | ~1,500 ft | ~3,970 ft | ~2,470 ft |
MID-ATLANTIC
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain (PA) | ~800 ft | ~2,300 ft | ~1,500 ft |
NEW ENGLAND
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Greylock | ~1,800 ft | 3,491 ft | ~1,700 ft |
| Mount Moosilauke | ~2,000 ft | 4,802 ft | ~2,800 ft |
| Franconia Ridge (Mt. Lafayette) | ~3,000 ft | 5,249 ft | ~2,250 ft |
| Mount Washington | ~2,400 ft | 6,288 ft | ~3,900 ft |
MAINE
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bigelow Range | ~1,300 ft | 4,145 ft | ~2,800 ft |
| Mount Katahdin | ~1,200 ft | 5,269 ft | ~4,000 ft |
Ranked Difficulty (Reality-Based)
TIER 1 — LEGENDARY
- Mount Washington
- Mount Katahdin
- The Priest
TIER 2 — MAJOR GRINDERS
- Snowbird Mountain
- Cheoah Bald
- Mount Moosilauke
- Franconia Ridge
TIER 3 — HARD BUT MANAGEABLE
- Blood Mountain
- Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome)
- Bigelow Range
Weather & Elevation Rules
Temperature Rule
Temperature Lapse Rates by Condition:
- Standard (dry air): -3.5°F per 1,000 ft gained
- Moist air: -3.3°F per 1,000 ft gained
- Worst-case (dry, windy): -5.5°F per 1,000 ft gained
Use worst-case for safety planning on exposed ridges and balds.
Wind Chill Guidelines
| Wind Speed | Feels Like |
|---|---|
| 10 mph | ~9°F colder |
| 20 mph | ~15°F colder |
| 30 mph | ~19°F colder |
| 40+ mph | ~22°F+ colder |
Hard Bail Conditions
- Wind >30 mph above treeline
- Ice on rock
- Freezing rain
- Visibility <100 ft
- Rapid temperature drop (>15°F/hour)
Month-by-Month Risk Overview (NOBO)
| Month | Region | Conditions | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | GA → Southern NC | Cold, ice risk, short daylight | Moderate-High |
| March | Smokies | High elevation, severe wind chill | High |
| April | NC → VA | Wet, improving temps | Moderate |
| May | Central VA | Heat + steep climbs | Moderate |
| June | Shenandoahs → PA | Rocks, fatigue | Low-Moderate |
| July | NY → VT | Heat, storms, mud | Moderate |
| August | Whites (NH) | Exposure, extreme weather | Very High |
| September | Maine | Cold, wet rock, fatigue | High |