North Bound Hikers are the overwhelming majority of people who thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Thru- hiking the trail by being a North Bounder means that you start you journey at Springer Mountain in Georgia, and go up the East Coast several months until you end your hike at Mt. Katahdin, Maine. In order to qualify as a "normal" northbound thru-hiker, you would start your hike between March-April, and then end your hike, if everything goes well, some time in September up at Mt. Katahdin.

Becoming a "NoBo" is popular among numerous hikers for several reasons:

You beat the southern heat by walking up north! starting in Georgia is categorized as being easier than starting at Maine, and what's better than ending at the famous Mt. Katahdin mountain top? Also, by hiking from Georgia to Maine, you can escape prime Black fly season during the summer season in New England. Another plus when you hike from Georgia to Maine, is getting to meet all different sorts of people also hiking NoBo! 

When thinking about the actual hiking, lots of hikers prefer the NoBo direction. The reason is because, when you start on Springer Mountain, you slowly increase the intensity of the hike so your legs and muscles are struggling as much at the very beginning of the hike. 

However, a down fall to hiking NoBo over the last few years, has become overcrowding. Since this option has become increasingly more and more popular over the last few years, the increase of overcrowding on the AT has become a noticeable probelm for the Trail. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy atcually ecnourages on their website to not leave as a northbound hiker on certain days, so that you won't come into contact with "trampled vegetation, sanitation issues, and little solitude."