Comments on: Shoulder Season – The Time in Between

By: Go Backpacking in the Off-Season - Written with Renee

Go Backpacking in the Off-Season - Written with Renee — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 22:46:42 +0000

[…] you’re considering “off-season” trekking (in mild climates) or “shoulder-season” adventures (in more extreme climates), here’s why you should do it and what you should […]

By: Steven Magnanti

Steven Magnanti — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:25:27 +0000

Thanks again for the great pictures Paul.

By: Tom Murphy

Tom Murphy — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:40:08 +0000

I find shoulder seasons in New England to be the most challenging time to backpack.

The spring offers water crossings swollen by snow melt, the snowshoe monorails left over from the winter hiking season, rotten snow, and snow fleas. Along with a transition to mud and and black flys. I try to avoid the whole mess by chasing the residing cold and snow north to ME and then switch over to hiking in southern CT.

The fall offers cold, wet weather with the chance of snow flurries on the ridges. I love it but it does lead to the heaviest pack weight of the year. There is no snow cover yet, so I can’t use my pulk. I still need the rain layers as well as my extra insulating layers.

Easier tio find some solitude though. Some of summer’s most popular shelters and backcountry camp sites are ghost towns between Halloween and Christmas.

By: Kinnickinic

Kinnickinic — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:48:27 +0000

Thanks, Mags. I had wondered about that term myself.

Sawnie