HELP! my plans have been foiled.

[dropsofskywater]

help please: so I made the big step and booked my trip to GA on 3/24/11 when I went to make my reservation at the hikers hostel I received a email saying they are all booked for the date! oh no! they had a thru-hikers deal that was $75 for:

• Shuttle from North Springs MARTA Station or Gainesville, GA to the hostel
• Overnight stay in one of our bunk rooms
• Breakfast
• 8 oz of white gas or denatured alcohol (additional fuel may be purchased by the ounce)*
• Shuttle to Amicalola Falls State Park or the Springer Mountain parking lot (0.9 miles north of Springer on USFS 42).

So now I dont know what to do I already booked my flight. any suggestions?

[dragoro]

There's a hotel at the base of the approach trail you can stay at. Nice hotel, but beware, the approach trail is a bitch.

[dropsofskywater]

do they take reservations?

[mweinstone]

trips over. ..........

[TheChop]

You can reserve through the Amicalola State Park site. It's a hotel built at the SP. As far as a shuttle there I would ask the Hiker Hostel how much a regular shuttle would be without stay.

[royalusa]

This post from yesterday may be of benefit to you:

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...?t=8530&page=2

See entry from Appalachian Adam as well as the article at the top.

Have a great hike!

[Sierra Echo]

Go to the hike inn!

http://hike-inn.com/default.asp

[dragoro]

do they take reservations?

Yep sure does, includes a great breakfast too.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Get a shuttle to the Park or USFS 42, camp for the night, and start hiking.

[Red Hat]

call and talk to them... you may have to stay at a motel in Dahlonega, but you may still be able to get a shuttle to Springer...

[bobtomaskovic]

there was a shelter right behind the visitors center and the bathrooms were open all night. you can always stop at the inn on top of the falls for breakfast.

[Blissful]

Just get a ride up and stay at the shelter behind the visitor center. In a few days you're at Neels Gap anyway.

As far the Approach being hard, uh, welcome to a thru hike of the AT.... Might as well get started.

[Blissful]

trips over. ..........

lol



Also welcome to the AT, blessed are the flexible...
Might as well learn that lesson too, happens all the time.

[Walkintom]

You're taking a tent and sleeping bag, right?

[Graywolf]

Just curious, hoe about call Mountain crossings? Sure they can help you out. At least you could get a shuttle to Springer and just start your hike..

Thats what I would do anyway..

Graywolf

[tirebiter]

You're taking a tent and sleeping bag, right?

Who needs a hotel anyway?

[njordan2]

trips over. ..........

That's the greatest!!!

[Sierra Echo]

That's the greatest!!!

Isnt it though!? I'm thinking about adopting mweinstone. he is great entertainment!

[weary]

There's a hotel at the base of the approach trail you can stay at. Nice hotel, but beware, the approach trail is a bitch.

Whatever. The approach is not a bitch, just an ordinary mountain trail.
If the hotel us full, just start off and camp a few miles up the approach trail. That's what I did.

[Grampie]

If you are going to thru-hike you have to learn to be more flexiable...
Fly into Atlanta, take the bus to the Amtrack station. Take the train to Gainsville. Walk up the hill from the station and stay at a motel. Call a cab in the morning for a ride to Amicalola Falls Park. Put your pack on your back and start walking up to Springer.
If you can't cope with doing that..maybe you shouldn't be thru-hiking...