Hi – I’ve hiked various parts of the AT but have never thru-hiked it. Here’s a resource that might point you in the right direction. http://www.trailplace.com/portal/index.php

Have you read “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson? He shares some interesting experiences. Bryson says that most people hike South to North with Spring and try to stay one step ahead of the hot weather. You’ve got to finish by mid-October before the snows start in the Northeast.

Took me about 6 months, and that was taking time to enjoy it, meet people, and taking side hikes, as well as contend with a knee injury.

I myself left March 11 at Amicalola, encountered a little snow just outside Franklin, NC. This is also just before the mad rush of hikers on April 1, which can make the trail very crowded. Don’t worry by early Virginia most will be gone. The nice thing about starting at this time is you will be in the Mid-Atlantic to Mid Northern states by the time the heat sets in. And the best part is you will be in the North during foliage seaso(If you take 6 months). Good luck. Need any help on the trail, I live 30 minutes from Sams Gap in NC, by the way great burgers just down the road from there.