Hello everyone:
I'm contemplating a Benton Mackaye Trail Thru Hike starting on May 27th or 28th of 2014. My goal would be to do the trail in about 18 days.
If you are not familiar with the BMT, it starts near Springer Mountain in Georgia and makes its way into North Carolina at a more westerly and
primitive tact than the AT - - it has sections that are closer to urban areas than the AT (actively logged areas, highways, farms) and more remote
areas (Joyce Kilmer Wilderness) - it crosses the AT at the southern part of the GSMNP and then ends at the northern terminus of the GSMNP - Davenport Gap. There are only 2 shelters on the BMT and not nearly the number of hikers that are found on the AT so you are mostly tenting at night. The trail is
harder to follow, less traveled, more rugged, more stream crossings, but certainly very doable. You can easily search for the BMT website for more
info.
Here are my questions for you all:
1) what do you think about the dates? I've spent many summers in the big woods of the south and it can get hot but there are plenty of streams to swim in
and mornings and nights can still be surprisingly chilly and wet so I'm cautiously ok with the dates - - I think that earlier in the spring or early fall would be
optimal but this timing suits my schedule perfectly.
2) What general comments do you have regarding this thru-hike? I haven't done my homework on re-supply too much. For what it's worth, I've hiked the AT thru
and as a long distance section hiker. I've also done the Long Trail in Vermont. I'm not a newbie but if you have any specific tips regarding resupply on the BMT, I'd appreciate it.
3) Finally, would you or anyone you know like to go with me? It's a pretty remote trail. If and when I do the AT again (thru) I know I can go solo and meet tons of people -
maybe more than I want to. The BMT is different - - much more remote - - a partner would be fun. Like I said, I'm a capable and experienced hiker and can easily do 18 mile
days on the AT - - I'd like to start the BMT at a 12 mile per day pace for a few days but quickly get to the 18 -20 mile per day or so pace - - hoping to average around 16 miles per day plus over the course of the trip so any partner would need to be somewhat experienced and trail-fit.
that's about it. Please respond. Thanks!
Papa D