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  1. #81
    Kyle & Betsy Oleskool's Avatar
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    Will be doing it in the morning, going to walk up Katahdin, might as well walk up springer.
    "I may not find pleasant things, I shall find new things"
    -Candide

  2. #82
    Registered User Thatguy's Avatar
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    Default Enjoyed Approach Trail

    Last year when I started I wanted the whole "AT Experience."

    I stayed at the Amicalola Lodge and really enjoyed talking to the other hikers and looking at the beautiful views. I did the approach trail and walked through the arch. I did the steps and took manyy picutures of the falls. I had injured my back that morning at a friend's house, which took me off the trail later. I was too excited to acknowledge the pain I was feeling. I kept hoping it would go away, but it didn't.

    I can honestly say I met some absolutely fantastic people on the approach trail. A man I met told me he didn't just want to hike the trail...he wanted to experience it...all of it. He finished and I'm glad we still keep in touch.
    THE LONGER YOU LIVE THE OLDER YOU GET

  3. #83
    PCT, Sheltowee, Pinhoti, LT , BMT, AT, SHT, CDT, TRT 10-K's Avatar
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    I'm doing a BMT thru hike in April and had briefly considered doing the approach trail then since both the BMT and AT start at the same place.

    I quickly came to my senses and am going to start on top of Springer now...

    The approach trail is not the AT *or* the BMT, why bother?

  4. #84
    Kyle & Betsy Oleskool's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 10-K View Post

    The approach trail is not the AT *or* the BMT, why bother?

    Because you love hiking? And a 8mile trail is a great excuse to stay outside just that much longer?
    "I may not find pleasant things, I shall find new things"
    -Candide

  5. #85

    Default Approach trail - approach it later

    I didn't do it - and it was fun to come back a couple of years later after my thru-hike and do it then. You relive the experience and get to see something new

  6. #86
    PCT, Sheltowee, Pinhoti, LT , BMT, AT, SHT, CDT, TRT 10-K's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oleskool View Post
    Because you love hiking? And a 8mile trail is a great excuse to stay outside just that much longer?


    Get back with me after you hike a few hundred miles.....

  7. #87
    jersey joe jersey joe's Avatar
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    I see both sides of it, it isn't the AT, so if you are setting out to hike the AT as 10-k says, why hike the approach trail? Then again, another 8 miles isn't a big deal. Especially if it is at the beginning of a long thru hike.

    For me I had to hike the approach trail after reading about it in "A Walk In the Woods". If it weren't for Bryson's book, I likely wouldn't have hiked the approach trail. Plus it made a really good drop off point when my brother brought me to the trail head. You can weigh your pack and get some good pictures going through the arch.

  8. #88
    Registered User Jelly-Bean's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 10-K View Post
    I'm doing a BMT thru hike in April and had briefly considered doing the approach trail then since both the BMT and AT start at the same place.

    I quickly came to my senses and am going to start on top of Springer now...

    The approach trail is not the AT *or* the BMT, why bother?
    I agree! I hike multiple trails in Alabama, I see beautiful waterfalls. I can't wait to get on the actual trail and hike the AT. I can hike here the week before I leave for Springer on any trail. I don't want to delay my hike any further by doing the approach trail.
    "You just have to tell them that you have a hunger and a thirst. And you may not sit at the same banquet table as them, but you have a hunger and a thirst. So they shouldn't judge you."

  9. #89
    Kyle & Betsy Oleskool's Avatar
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    [QUOTE=10-K;1115947]

    Get back with me after you hike a few hundred miles.....[/QUOTE


    I have, looking forward to more and more and more. Its a hobby, its fun, I love it. Ill take it in 8 mile, 50 mile or 2000 mile chunks.

    We more often regret the things we didn't do not the things we did.
    "I may not find pleasant things, I shall find new things"
    -Candide

  10. #90
    Kyle & Betsy Oleskool's Avatar
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    But that's just me. HYOY. The less people hike the approach trail, the better the trail is for those who do.
    "I may not find pleasant things, I shall find new things"
    -Candide

  11. #91
    Registered User Attila's Avatar
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    This is what I found at Black Gap Shelter:http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=38519&catid=member&orderby=title&d irection=ASC&imageuser=24923&cutoffdate=-1[/IMG]

  12. #92
    Registered User Attila's Avatar
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    Sorry, Let me try to attach my picture again.

  13. #93
    Registered User Attila's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Praha4 View Post
    I've hiked the approach trail 3 time... in Aug-o9, April-10, and July-10.

    the difficulty really depended on the heat and humidity, with the summer months being the worst. The falls are beautiful, you can stay a night at the lodge before starting ur hike, log in at the visitor center, weigh ur pack at visitor center, get a picture at the "arch" behind the visitor center....

    and I just find hiking the 9 mile approach trail preferrable to backtracking up to Springer Mtn terminus from Big Stamp Gap.

    u also never know what kind of gear you will find laying along the approach trail from new hikers struggling with too much pack weight.
    This is what I found at Black Gap Shelter:

  14. #94
    Registered User Attila's Avatar
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  15. #95
    Registered User Attila's Avatar
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    I give up... How do I attach pictures to Reply?

  16. #96

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    I'm doing the approach trail just to get a real early sense of just how physically unprepared I am.

  17. #97
    Digger takethisbread's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tirebiter View Post
    I'm doing the approach trail just to get a real early sense of just how physically unprepared I am.
    I've seen quitters on the approach. It's a 4 hour hike, people over do it though with toughness. It's no harder than what follows.
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  18. #98
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    Quote Originally Posted by takethisbread View Post
    I've seen quitters on the approach. It's a 4 hour hike, people over do it though with toughness. It's no harder than what follows.
    I did not do it last year on my thru and I regretted it, thankfully I am able to have a 2nd chance and I am definately going to do it. My ATeam last year had a saying which I will always remember.
    APOTE = A part of the experience. We used it a lot.
    Just do it you may not get another chance.

  19. #99
    Getting out as much as I can..which is never enough. :) Mags's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oleskool View Post
    Because you love hiking? And a 8mile trail is a great excuse to stay outside just that much longer?
    That's why I did the approach trail when I did the BMT.

    Quote Originally Posted by 10-K View Post


    Get back with me after you hike a few hundred miles.....

    How about a few thousand?

    In fairness, coming from CO, I did not know when I'd be back to the southern Apps. To me, the approach trail to Springer Mtn is part of the AT lore. Figured a BMT hike was a great time to see it.

    It was nothing that spectacular, but it was nice. And, it made the logistics of starting easier.

    FWIW, I did not find the approach trail hard at all. Thought it was fairly mellow.
    Last edited by Mags; 02-17-2011 at 20:49.
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  20. #100
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    perfectly said. You actually changed my mind with this.

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