Old News items:

We did it!!!

On December 11th, at about 2pm, Frogger, Barrel Roll, Bouie, Heehaw, Steiner, Goldfish, Bumfoot, Pokey, Harvest Moon, Firefly, Bad Cheese, Stale Crackers, and Footwalker stood on the summit of Mount Springer in Georgia, victorious in their 2100+ mile hike from Mount Katahdin in Maine.

Maine to Georgia

It's official - we've hiked from Maine to Georgia. All that's left is the pesky little task of hiking 75 more miles to Springer Mountain. The plan is to summit on the 11th, after meeting up with visiting friends and family at the parking lot at noon. We hope to have many many Sobos with us, and it will definitely be a great time.

Almost There!

The SOBO party was a smashing success. It was so great to see everyone again. Thanks to Sidetrak, Strider, and everyone who helped out, as well as all of the guests that made the party such a great time. Some of our fellow sobos are even done already! It can be done!

As for us sobohobos, we're almost there. A few more weeks and we'll be done. What a journey.

SOBO Class of 2005 Celebration

The SOBO party is happening - and soon! Come celebrate your amazing experience on the AT and the friendships you've made along the way. Strider and Sidetrak are putting on a bash in their hometown of Sylva, N.C. on November 19th. If you are hiking south, you are INVITED. There will be food, fun, friends, and more food! (Hey, we know what hikers want.) The hosts have arranged some pickup points all along the trail from Hot Springs to Dick's Creek. So if you are south of Hot Springs by the 19th (the Sobohobos will be, and you can probably hike faster than them, right?) then get your lazy butts out of that shelter - yes, even if its raining - and hike to your nearest pickup point. Throw in a few dollars towards gas money, (everything else is paid for, but I'm sure donations would be accepted) and let the good times roll!

If you plan on coming, please call ASAP:
Laura and Adam (828) 631 - 9355
or
Tony (828) 586 - 5105
If no one answers, please leave a message with your name and where you need a pickup.

After you call to RSVP, post a message in the Party Thread so we all know who is coming!

Pickup points (on 19 November):
Note: Pickup points are only at the following places and times. Locations are listed from North to South.

1. Hot Springs, NC - 9am
2. Max Patch Road, NC - 10am
3. Highway 40, NC - 11am
4. Newfound Gap, NC (US 441) - 10am
5. Fontanai Dam, NC (NC 28) - 9am
6. Stecoah Gap, NC (NC 143) - 10am
7. Wesser, NC (US 19) - 11am
8. Winding Stair, NC (US 64) - Noon
9. Rock Gap, NC (USFS Road 67)- 11am
10. Deep Gap, NC (USFS 71) - 10am
11. Dick's Creek Gap, GA (US 76) - 11am
12. Neels Gap, GA (US 19) - 10am

New England Trail Review

Our friends and fellow southbounders Book and Inara (Ron and Ara) have some great pictures up at their website newenglandtrailreview.com. Check out their AT section here. And in case you were wondering about the origins of their trail names, you owe it to yourself to watch Firefly, a great TV show that was cancelled a little too early for our tastes.

New feature: Subscriptions

How many times has this happened to you? You sit in front of the computer, refreshing sobohobos.com so you can keep up to date on all of the crazy stuff going on in the forums when you should be getting ready for that hot date or important business luncheon. Well, that won't do at all.

Introducing subscriptions. You're about 3 clicks away from this nifty new feature that lets you know via email when your favorite fellow 'hobo makes a new post. Cool! It's also accessible from anywhere on this site by clicking on the "Manage Subsciptions" link over in your User Controls on the left.

Forums and Photos

Our forums are online and live. If you want to read what our members have to say, if you want to ask us questions about our trip, if you want to tell us what you had for breakfast this morning, our forums are the place for you. Remember to register (don't worry, it's free) if you want to be able to post.

Our members can also upload photos to our site!

Registration is open!

Come on in and sign up. Got questions? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

What is this site?

Sobo: SOuthern BOund.
Hobos: bums.

Need help using this site?

The Appalachian Trail is roughly 2,200 miles of volunteer-maintained trail running from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia. Last year, 1535 people started a northbound hike, and 369 finished. In comparison, only 233 people started a southbound hike, and only 45 people completed it.

First of all, that's about a 20-25% completion rate no matter which way you go. But secondly, only about 1/7 of AT thruhikers choose to go southbound.

Shian and I will be starting a SOBO this year.

"Remote for detachment, narrow for chosen company, winding for leisure, lonely for contemplation; it beckons not merely north and south but upwards to the body, mind, and soul of a man." -Myron H. Avery, In the Maine Woods