NoBo or SoBo

What do NoBo or SoBo even mean?  And what about GaMe or MeGa?
These are actually fairly simple concepts, they're all just acronyms that say which direction people are hiking in.  Northbound or Southbound are what they sound like, the other two are the start or ending state: Gerogia to Maine or vice versa.  What's the fuss about then, it's the same trail after all?
Well, it is but they have slightly different challenges.  The most common and perhaps traditional direction is starting at Georgia - and this is what I plan to do - and ending in Maine.
Common wisdom has it that this way is 'easier', the hike starts off nice and simple and by the time you get to the hard stuff, you've done a lot of hiking and can breeze through it.  The scary White Mountains are far away, the mud of Vermont is far away, and the boot-eating rocks of Pennsylvania is far away.
Northbound also has much more of a 'hiker bubble'.  Lots of people start around the same time starting from the same area, which means it's easy to find hiking buddies though it can be avoided if people really want to be alone.  The camaraderie is often touted as being part of the experience, and you can easily pick up a 'Tramily' or 'Trail Family' - a group of people you hike because your hiking plans all line up near enough.  If you're there for the social experience, Northbound is the way to go.
Bill Bryson went this way (until he gave up).
I think he did better in the film. (Which was great by the way.  It has a brilliant soundtrack.)

Southbound has its own perks too.  It's perhaps more environmentally friendly as there are less people in the area ta once, so the trail isn't worn as badly.  Some people would rather do the hard bits first so that the easier bits are for when you're exhausted, but - as the saying goes - your mileage may vary.  Southbound also doesn't have a seasonal time limit.  Baxter State Park, the end point of a northbound hike, will be shut for winter by the 15th of October.  A slow northbound hiker might end up missing out on their thruhike because of seasonal weather, but a southbounder can keep hiking into winter and out the other side to spring if they really want.  Arguable, southbounders get a nicer time with the weather.  Starting in Georgia can be unpleasantly cold from March all the way through April.  Snow isn't unheard of.  And then you're against the clock to get to Baxter State Park before winter gets there.  Meanwhile starting in Maine and heading south lets you start after the snows and chills have gone, and aim to finish in Autumn before the next set of chilly weather.
The film Southbounders is about a few people going this way.  It was also great and has a fairly catchy song too.