A Dad (41) and Son (12) start NOBO section hike late October....need advice please

[sideshow11]

I think you have it about right. I hiked that same first section with my son when he was 13. I should have posted here back then, I waaaay overestimated the miles we should do. I planned that same hike as a 1-night, and got a late morning start. We were new at it, and our packs were kind of heavy, I was probably about 40lbs, my son probably about 20 lbs.
We did a little over 11 miles the first day, which was a little tough, mainly because of the stairs and our heavy packs. that left well over 17 for the next day, and that was a very long very hard day. 2 nights would have been a tough hike for both of us. 3 nights would have been pleasant.

yes, I definitely recommend pitching a tent near a shelter. Most shelters have good tent sites, and water nearby. Some have bear cables, saving you the hassle of doing your one bear-bag hanging. And, if the weather decides to drop a deluge on you like it did us, you can retreat to the shelter. We did it early August, and had the shelter (Stover Creek) to ourselves.

I don't know about the relative safety of shelters vs away-from-shelters. People or animal. Trade-offs both ways. I do know that almost everybody I've met on the trail is a good neighbor. As a father I understand your concern. For animal safety, bears are the only thing I worry about (but keep an eye open for snakes). For bears, be careful not to get food smells onto your bedding/pajamas/etc. And hang all the smelly stuff - including things a lot of people overlook like mint chapstick or deodorant or coffee - in a bear bag. The shelters that have the cables are awesome. Finding a suitable high-enough limb on a tree can be a challenge - especially in those poplar groves where the stupid tree just don't have branches low enough. A bear canister or odor-proof bag (bear certified) is another option, I've done the bear canister thing, and just make sure I put the canister well away from where I'm sleeping.

If you do pitch your tent away from a shelter, please use one of the existing tent sites - its part of "Leave No Trace", minimize your impact on the environment.

-Stubby, this was a super helpful post for me....you certainly were ambitious to do that as an overnighter....based on the info I have posted in my replies herein, do you think we would be OK doing the Approach to Woody? Thanks!

[sideshow11]

As for the shuttle... I'd probably arrange the shuttle on the front end... leave my car at the end, get shuttled, then hike to the car. If I get there early, its easy.

-I think we are leaning towards that...plus I stress about logistical things and this may be one less think to worry about once we are on the trail....thanks!

[sideshow11]

I am 42. My son is 13. Our first hike ever was from Springer to Woody Gap in April. We got a late start (6 p.m.) and didn't make it to Hawk Mountain (intended target for day 1) before dark. We camped somewhere between Three Forks and Hawk Mountain leaving about 15 miles for day 2--way too much for a couple of newbies. We had a late lunch at Gooch Mountain Shelter and then dropped our packs at USFS 42 in Gooch Gap to walk the last 3.6 miles to the car. We would not have made it with packs. I have no experience with the Approach Trail, but I have heard that it is challenging. I think your planned itinerary is sound. As I recall, Springer to Three Forks is incredibly easy, and you will make good time. Hawk Mountain should be easily attainable on day 2. Most of the hikers that we encountered at the Gooch Mountain Shelter had spent the previous night at Hawk Mountain. That only leaves you 5 miles for your final day. You could probably do more, but Woody Gap is a convenient place to exit the trail and offers some of the best views south of Blood Mountain. You could push for Neels, but, if you thrash yourselves to cover the miles, you won't enjoy it, and your son may decide that hiking isn't for him.

-Very helpful ElCid94.....curious- why did you decide not to do the Approcach? Are you still glad you skipped it?

-agree with your last comment, my thought was that if we are making really good time (and we didn't rush it) then we could drop our packs at Woody at our car, and then day pack the 11 miles to Neel and catch a shuttle back....what do you think about that option?

[sideshow11]

Not to change your plans but I'd strongly recommend a loop such as the standing Indian loop for a newbie as logistics are sooo much simpler and it is mostly AT miles...much prettier than Ga section. Very easy drive and access out of Franklin, NC..22 or 24 mile loop


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-Thanks Saltysack (ha, great name)....but part of our hike has to do with having a goal that we can continue to work on over a period of time ....we get to do other trips together and with the Scouts where we can do some pretty nice hikes/camps....

[rafe]

Just my pref, but given a choice I prefer to do the shuttle before the hike rather than after. Get the uncertainty (and waiting) out of the way first, so I don't have to dwell on it while hiking.

[sideshow11]

What if you cut the mileage down a little by dropping the approach trail. Park at Neels Gap, get a shuttle to Springer. Leave your packs in the woods near the trail head, walk up to the top of Springer, and back down, pick up your packs and start cruising. Take time to see the falls about 4 miles in. It's been a couple years, so I forget the name. Your stress will be so much lower, your hike will be nice, the views should be nice. Neels is a great place to stop, you can grab a drink and snack. 12 year olds are hard for others to judge on a forum post. Some have grown, and some have not. Some are more athletic. Only you can know best what you guys are capable of. I just think it would be better to finish a day earlier than planned if you are bored. It's always harder to try to finish when you have bitten off more than you can chew. To put it bluntly, it hurts, and it sucks. Keep the mileage doable, and you will have a hiking partner for life.

-Thanks Whack---you know, I am thinking of doing that....logistically it sounds a bit easier...may be three nicer nights on the trail....could also make my next section a bit easier from a logistical standpoint also.....on the flip side my son thinks the falls/stairs sounds cool and to him it is "all the AT" even it it technically isn't....but, I also don't want to "over do it" on the first night and have him struggle too much.....I posted above that he is 75lbs and skinny but he has good endurance and is a good hiker....but that is different then a taxing uphill grind....thoughts?

[sideshow11]

Just remember that life's a journey, not a destination. Just prepare as much as possible... then throw your plans (and an extra 5 lbs worth of stuff) out and have fun, your plans may change significantly. I would definitely just stay focused on him having a good time and let him set the pace. If its torture then he will dread going. Don't be focused on getting a certain number of miles or to the next shelter (I hiked with someone like that and it was terrible).

My husband and I are section hiking NOBO starting at Springer at the same time. Hope to see you out there!

-Totally agree - thanks for the reply - hope to see you out there....you should be able to figure out who we are!

[sideshow11]

Oh, and it's hunting season in GA at the end of October! Don't forget to pick up some blaze orange!

-Already?? I thought deer season always started around Thanksgiving....thanks for the heads up...I will look into that....

[sideshow11]

You can also have the hiker hostel @dahlonega slackpack you, or any combination thereof. Do a couple slack days , and a couple overnights.

Stay with them, and they will come pick you up at any rd crossing if you get behind as well, just have verizon phone .

-thinking of doing that to make it a bit easier....does Verizon have decent coverage in the section from AFSP and Neels? My wife would like to have us periodically check in via text....would also make me feel better in case of an emergency....

[Dan Roper]

Slideshow, I began section hiking in 2007 with my oldest son, who was then 12, and who was also a string bean. A few comments:

1. We did 39 miles (Amicalola to Neels Gap) in three full days in August (more daylight each day but very hot too). I think you and your son can comfortably manage 10 miles a day to perhaps as much as 15. The limiting factor probably will be the amount of daylight and the need to allow time to set up camp, cook, clean, etc. before dark.

2. The Approach Trail is tough, but memorable. It wanted to do it really badly. Do what means alot to you.

3. I weigh more than you. My pack in summer usually starts at 30-32 pounds. Your son at 75 pounds is pretty slender. I think you might shoot for 18 pounds if possible. If you can time your hike so that there's no chance of rain (that's common in Georgia in October after a cold front passes through), you can pack pretty light.

4. One post said that the Standing Indian loop is prettier than Georgia. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The Georgia section is remote and lush and gorgeous. My younger son (now 18) prefers Georgia. Me and my older son (now 21) prefer NC and Tenn. But it's all been great.

Have fun!

Dan Roper
Rome, GA

[MuddyWaters]

-thinking of doing that to make it a bit easier....does Verizon have decent coverage in the section from AFSP and Neels? My wife would like to have us periodically check in via text....would also make me feel better in case of an emergency....

I always had service when turned phone on. I keep it off so cant say its unbroken, but its pretty good throughout ga with.verizon.

[sideshow11]

I always had service when turned phone on. I keep it off so cant say its unbroken, but its pretty good throughout ga with.verizon.

-Great - thanks for the info

[Stubby]

-Stubby, this was a super helpful post for me....you certainly were ambitious to do that as an overnighter....based on the info I have posted in my replies herein, do you think we would be OK doing the Approach to Woody? Thanks!

Glad I could help!
It wasn't so much ambitious as poorly planned.

Yes, you should be great doing the Approach to Woody in that time. I wish we had spread it out better, we would have been able to see the sights and enjoy it more, the 2nd day would have been less like the Bataan death march... ok, it wasn't that bad but it could have been a lot better.

Luckily, it didn't turn my son off of hiking. We go 2 or 3 times each year since then, he's almost 20 now.

I wish for you two many years of memory-making, and that you will find the AT to be as awesome as we have.