Approach Trail???

[Dogwood]

Hey, Amicalola Falls is beautiful. Signing in, weighing your gear at the start, and walking under the stone arch is the signal to a prospective thru-hiker I'm locked and loaded, I'm on my way, the JOURNEY has begun! Reality check! When I went under that arch I had an ear to ear grin and a hole in my stomach at the same time. I was facing a lot of unknowns, just like ever hiker does. But, I knew that was part of the learning process. And, I also knew that if other people had hiked all the way to Mt. Katahdin I could too! I would learn a lot more before I reached my destination. As far as it being hard, it largely seems that way because a lot of thru-hikers starting out aren't optimally physically or mentally prepared for it. But, if other thru-hikers can start out that way and still manage to succeed by hiking to Mt. Katahdin other people can too! If U R contemplating skipping the Approach Trl simply because U hear it is so hard I'll tell U right now it certainly is not the hardest U R going to find it before the journey is over! At some pt. U R going to have to get started on increasing your physical conditioning. Why not start doing just that at Amicalola Falls? Just take it slow, especially at the start. U will, in all most likelyhood, get into better physical condition and stronger mental place IF U stick with it and find ways to enjoy the journey. Yeah, the Approach Trl miles don't count towards the official length of miles that encompass the AT from end to end, 2174.9, but neither will the miles U spend hiking into and out of resupply pts., traveling blue blazes, walking to/from water sources, going back/forth to shelters, getting lost, etc. And, even though the Approach Trl. is not included in the official length of the AT, I would caution U and ever other prospective thru-hiker that wants to hike the entire AT to get away from the thought of reducing miles, particularly before U even start, because it becomes habitual; it's addictive. U can easily start looking for ways and reasons to skip parts of the trail. I started to fall into those thought patterns and by the time I added up all my missed miles they added up to more than 180 which took me another 2 1/2 wks to go back and clean up all.

ENJOY the JOUNEY!

[Dogwood]

Im going to do the approach trail, but only because im hoping to score some abandoned gear. I dont think abandoned gear is as common as it was after "the Bryson effect" but as an experienced hiker 8 miles is nothing for the chance at free stuff. Perhaps another rush of unprepared hikers will hit with the economy as it is.

So I urge you all to hike the approach, and carry too much expensive stuff.

What a ridiculous reason to hike! Whew!

[Dogwood]

So, Roxy33X, what did you decide about hiking the Approach Trl.?

[roxy33x]

We are heading out on the approach trail on march 7th!

[grumpypickle]

Sgt Rock has the right idea; do the approach trail and stay at Stover the 1st night and Gooch the 2nd night. Stover is a great shelter with quite a few tent pads. Since it is only 2.5 miles from Springer, most people staying there are doing the approach trail.

[Ox97GaMe]

As stated, the approach trail will give you an idea of what you are really in for. I would suggest that you do the first mile from the visitor center to the lodge and then stay at the lodge overnight. the first mile is almost all uphill, about 1200 ft, I think. You will find out that your pack is probably heavier than you really want to be pulling hills like that.

That night at the lodge, you can re-assess your gear and identify things you can probably get rid of. If you start from the summit, your first opportunity for getting rid of excess gear will be 20 or 30 miles down the trail.

Getting a ride up to FS-42 can be somewhat tricky, unless you plan to stay at the hostel in Dahlonega. They offer free shuttle to either the visitor center or FS-42 with your stay.

As for staying at Hawk... There arent too many other options if you are hiking short distances (less than 10 miles/day). There is not much (if any) water between Hawk and Justus Creek. Staying at Hawk will set you up nicely to camp at either Justus or on over to Gooch Shelter the next day.

In either case, as was stated.. Hike Your Own Hike. Take your time early on and enjoy. As you get in shape, the terrain gets somewhat easier (in Virginia), and the days get longer, the mileage will pick up. A lot of the speed hikers (15-20 milers early) never make it past Damascus. They are burned out or get injured from all the stresses of hiking that sort of distance before your body is ready for it.

Have a great hike. See you up the trail.

[Lone Wolf]

go past stover shelter 1.5 or so and camp around three Forks. heck with the shelter

[DapperD]

My husband and I are begining our thru hike this March and we are having a hard time deciding whether or not to do the approach trail. We know that it is a tradition but we heard that it was physically grueling. We are not in the best physical condition and planning to take it slow so the trail can whip us into shape. Im concerned we might get hurt before we even start. Is it worth it?

I don't believe it is if you feel it may be too strenuous to begin your hike with. I felt the same and posted the thread "Skipping the approach trail". The approach trail was rerouted not very long ago supposedly due to excessive erosion, and 425 steps were constructed for the new one. The beginning thru-hiker must now ascend these right from the get-go(straight up the side of the falls) in order to reach the top. I learned of a better alternative(in my opinion) is to avoid these and still have the best of both worlds so to speak by having someone drive you to the park, spend some time there, then take the access road to the top of the falls, thereby successfully circumnavigating the 425 steps to the top, where bathrooms and soda machines await. From there pick up the approach trail which is located across the lot and proceed to Springer Mountain in a better way

[Frick Frack]

Hummmm.....I wonder how many sobo's do the approach trail? We had our family waiting at the gap to pick us up & walk the last .9 miles of our hike with us and it would have been too stressful to coordinate the approach into it. After 5 months of hiking and over 2175 miles of walking I really didn't care. We had done it before so we did not miss out but if you haven't done it I have to say it is beautiful. Try it or don't sweat it if you don't.

[Dogwood]

As stated, the approach trail will give you an idea of what you are really in for. I would suggest that you do the first mile from the visitor center to the lodge and then stay at the lodge overnight. the first mile is almost all uphill, about 1200 ft, I think. You will find out that your pack is probably heavier than you really want to be pulling hills like that.

That night at the lodge, you can re-assess your gear and identify things you can probably get rid of. If you start from the summit, your first opportunity for getting rid of excess gear will be 20 or 30 miles down the trail.

Some good advice! I'm not sure if I would go about lowering pack wt exactly this way, but it is one way to go about, and certainly a good suggestion in principal. I don't know how you are planning to get to the TH or what your pre-hike plans are, but if you are coming from Ohio I think it can make a lot of sense to consider Josh and Leigh Saint's Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega. You can recuperate after the flight, train, car, or bus ride, get picked up from wherever public transportation from Ohio leaves you, get a meal that will ready you for your AT start, get some savy last minute pre-hike info, get a ride to the TH, and have someone at the hostel look at your gear. When I went through the Hiker Hostel Pilgrim was there. He offered to look at what everyone was carrying. I saw him reduce the wt of one prospective thru-hikers pack by TWELVE (12) lbs. Most of it in excess food wt or packaging. That can make a difference!
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In either case, as was stated.. Hike Your Own Hike. Take your time early on and enjoy. As you get in shape, the terrain gets somewhat easier (in Virginia), and the days get longer, the mileage will pick up. A lot of the speed hikers (15-20 milers early) never make it past Damascus. They are burned out or get injured from all the stresses of hiking that sort of distance before your body is ready for it.

Good advice! I also witness this quite often. It often happens with those obsessed with speed, which is common with younger thru-hikers, but certainly is not confied to that group. I have been to hotels in Franklin that could more aptly be described as thru-hiker hospitals largely because of thru-hikers going out too hard too fast too early. You will most likely hike yourself into better shape. Take it slower at the start. ENJOY the Journey!

Have a great hike. See you up the trail.

Enjoy!

[Nest]

go past stover shelter 1.5 or so and camp around three Forks. heck with the shelter

Isn't that the nice flat area next to the creek with the real tall pine trees?

[Lone Wolf]

Isn't that the nice flat area next to the creek with the real tall pine trees?

yes it is. much nicer than a crowded, dirty wooden box

[SGT Rock]

Go another 0.8 past that and camp beside a real waterfall. Long Creek Falls has some great campsites.

[Lilred]

I don't believe it is if you feel it may be too strenuous to begin your hike with. I felt the same and posted the thread "Skipping the approach trail". The approach trail was rerouted not very long ago supposedly due to excessive erosion, and 425 steps were constructed for the new one. The beginning thru-hiker must now ascend these right from the get-go(straight up the side of the falls) in order to reach the top. I learned of a better alternative(in my opinion) is to avoid these and still have the best of both worlds so to speak by having someone drive you to the park, spend some time there, then take the access road to the top of the falls, thereby successfully circumnavigating the 425 steps to the top, where bathrooms and soda machines await. From there pick up the approach trail which is located across the lot and proceed to Springer Mountain in a better way

I did the approach trail last year and didn't climb those stairs. I think I took the old approach trail. It's still there, just not blazed. Goes behind that shelter by the visitor center.

[Rockhound]

Ya that approach trail is tough. Skip it. The next 2175 miles after that is just a cakewalk.

[Adriana]

go past stover shelter 1.5 or so and camp around three Forks. heck with the shelter

Three Forks is beautiful!

[JetLag]

Enjoying discussion on Approach Trail. A mind-numbingly, inane question I have is whether the wannabe thru hiker can "register" and get a "launch number" without going to Amicalola Park?

[jj2044]

Shoot, skip them both. If you wanna shelter go to Stover Creek the first night instead of Springer Mountain - it is a much nicer shelter. Then the next day skip Hawk and go on to Gooch Mtn. Shelter.

I would do this, except dont stay at Gooch, stay at Justice Creek there are some really nice campsites, its a pretty neat little spot, and only a little less then a miles before Gooch shelter.

[mountain squid]

Enjoying discussion on Approach Trail. A mind-numbingly, inane question I have is whether the wannabe thru hiker can "register" and get a "launch number" without going to Amicalola Park?

No, not really. It would be difficult to even come up with a 'best guess' since not every hiker goes to the park. The parks number will never be 100% accurate.

I suppose you could count all the Springer Mountain log book entries prior to your own for a 'best guess', but even then everyone doesn't sign the log book.

See you on the trail,
mt squid

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[max patch]

I would do this, except dont stay at Gooch, stay at Justice Creek there are some really nice campsites, its a pretty neat little spot, and only a little less then a miles before Gooch shelter.

Or hike past Gooch and camp at Gooch Gap. Good water and its where the shelter used to be if that means anything.