Approach Trail

[max patch]

The original AT started at Mt Ogelthorpe, about 20 miles south of Springer. The terminus was changed to Springer in 1958 because of chicken farms and other development in the Mt Ogelthorpe area. Mt Ogelthorpe is in private hands and you can not (legally) go to the old summit anymore. The trail went from Mt Ogelthorpe to Amicalola State Park and on to Springer. The original trail went past the falls; Earl Schaffer made mention of this in his book. Except for relocations (the trail now skirts a couple mountains instead of going over them) the current approach trail is the original trail from Amicalola State Park to Springer.

[Mike Drinkuth]

I read somewhere that originally, the earliest design for the A.T. had it starting way down at Stone Mountain (about 65 miles south of springer)
Can you imagine that? Hiking over Kennesaw Mtn thru the civil war battlefields there past all the old cannons and historical markers.
That would be kinda cool!

[BiteBlaze]

I DON'T WANNA do the approach trail. It's TOO HARD.

[Grampie]

Do the approach trail. I did and I never regretted doing it. It was a great feeling to hike to the start of the AT. You can than spend your first night at Springer Shelter.
Grampie-N->2001

[BiteBlaze]

I DON'T WANNA do the approach trail. It's TOO HARD.
I DON'T WANNA do the approach trail. It's TOO HARD.
I DON'T WANNA do the approach trail. It's TOO HARD.
I DON'T WANNA do the approach trail. It's TOO HARD.
I DON'T WANNA do the approach trail. It's TOO HARD.
I DON'T WANNA do the approach trail. It's TOO HARD.
I DON'T WANNA do the approach trail. It's TOO HARD.
I DON'T WANNA do the approach trail. It's TOO HARD.
I DON'T WANNA do the approach trail. It's TOO HARD.

[Jack Tarlin]

Obviously, people can do whatever they choose, and as several folks have pointed out, the Approach Trail is not part of the official A.T.; by skipping it, you're not in any way "cheating" or dodging anything.

That being said, I think that first-timers should probably do the approach trail, for any number of reasons:

1. Springer is your first mountain, one of many hundreds that will follow. It'll mean more to you if you actually climb it, rather than drive around to the backside, and merely "tag" the summit.

2. Most folks who hike the Approach Trail finish their first day in the woods by camping on top of the mountain, usually at the Springer shelter or immediately adjacent to it. It's a great place to spend your first night, to watch the sun go down as you think about what lies ahead of you, and that way, you can start your trip early the next day from the summit.

3. As Wolf quite rightly pointed out, regrettably, most folks who start a thru-hike are not fated to complete it. What you've set out to do is tough, and the mental and physical obstacles are many; they also start right away. By hiking the Approach Trail, even if you technically don't have to, you're acknowledging how challenging your trip will actually be----to seek out "short cuts" or ways to cut corners (even legitimately) this early in the game sets a bad precedent. By setting out on a thru-hike, you're undertaking a pretty daunting challenge, and it's NOT going to be easy; if you start looking for the easy way out from day one, I think this hurts, rather than helps your chances; folks whose mindset involves looking for ways to "take the easy way out" are more likely, in my opinion, to eventually take the big easy way out, i.e., hanging it up and going home.

[Happy]

No it is not part of the trail...the general rule is if you have not hiked it before you should!

[flyfisher]

I hiked the approach trail on new year's eve a few weeks ago. It is a nice trail with interesting climbs. I enjoyed stopping in at the Hike Inn (1 mile off trail) for coffee.

Having never been to the summit before, it was an emotional few minutes to reach a spot which I had read of, dreamed of, and thought a lot about.

When I do my thru hike, I will start from ASP - despite the over-regulation. It is that nice a hike. It is also significantly easier to drive to the visitor center than Springer.

[Straydog]

I couldn't have said it better! I hiked it this past Saturday. Started at the visitor's center and ended at USFS 42. I stopped at the Springer Mtn. Shelter and left a note just to say hello. Nice shelter, by the way.

Being a novice hiker, this was a tough hike for me. My pack weight started out at 35 pounds, but gradually increased to 395 pounds by the end of the hike.

Would I recommend it to another novice hiker? Yes, but take along some Tylenol PM to help you sleep. Your aching legs will keep you up all night if you don't!

[Happy]

The approach trail is VERY hard but should be used by any thruhiker who has not done it before...just part of it!! Helps weed out people who should NOT be hiking the trail to begin with.

I love to visit the hiker boxes for the first 4 days of the trail !!!

[Zzzzdyd]

I agree with Lone Wolf and smoky. If you have someone dropping you off do the USFS 42 early in the AM has you can manage, and let your drop off person(s) hike back to Springer with you. I let my almost ex-wife go with me once to Springer and it healed some stuff for us. I don't think any of the old time A.T hikers would ever give a hoot one way or the other about a approach trail. If they could have got to USFS 42 I am sure they either did or would have.

To thy ownself be true.

I will only do the approach trail if USFS 42 is closed and it will not make 2 cents difference one way or the other if I make it to Katahdin.

If you think you will feel somehow inferior because you don't do the approach trail then hike it. I am like smoky I might wonder all over the darn place. Hiking is nothing more than a extended walk for pleasure or exercise. I think I will get all I need of both in the 2,174.1 miles from Springer Mtn. to Katahdin. I plan on doing lots more than just white blazes along the way. I sure ani't going to worry about some approach trail. After all "approach" pretty much defines its self does it not ? it's not the trail, it's the approach to the trail...

Probably take almost ex-wife to Amicalola Park and buy her a cool shirt or something. Do the weigh the pack thing so I can brag to the newbies about how light it is... Then go to USFS and the AT and start "my" hike.

good luck and have some "pleasure" on your journey

[oyvay]

I did the approach in 2000 and drove a friend to 42 the next year. We both "tagged" the top of Springer before heading back down, to collect her pack and head North. I liked the excitement of the other hikers(& my) attitudes on the approach, the anticipation of getting to Springer helped carry me up the trail (at least mentally). Of course it was a jaw-dropping moment when I was told about the parking lot .9 miles north of Springer The road to the parking lot is not easy, a camry can get through but you have to watch the road there are a few places that cut it close. Any vehicle lower won't make it and conditions can change depending on the winter/spring.

[Newb]

In one week I"m going to stop at Springer on my way to home from Florida to Virginia. I will hike the approach trail and spend the night then hike back to my car. This way, when I finally do my thru in a couple of years, I won't have to hike it again

[Oracle]

I may see you there, Newb. Next Saturday myself and a couple of friends are doing the Approach Trail spending the night on Springer or maybe further on down, depending on how far we get, then backtracking the next day by way of the trail that goes by the Hike Inn (making a partial loop). Should make a nice hike for the weekend. I've already done the "hike up and tag Springer, then hike back down and hit the rest of the trail" thing, but I haven't done the Approach Trail, so that's why we're doing it.

[DMA, 2000]

It meant a lot to me to spend a moment on Springer and hike the first mile with my parents, sister, and niece. A much better goodbye than Amicolola would have been

[alanthealan]

Hiking up the approach stopping for B-fast at the lodge is a great way to start a hike.

[neighbor dave]

we took the benton mckaye trail up to springer from the east! i felt like we should at least climb the first mountain on the trail.it was 1 1/2 to 2 miles of really nice quiet hiking. it drops you on the trail about .2 north of the start of the A.T. plus we payed our respects to benton mckaye for all that he did for the trail.

as for the approach trail,do what you feel you have to do to start off on track,we didn't hike it cause we didn't feel the need to climb over the mountains before springer,and didn't want to get into the crowds any earlier than we had to!

[Frosty]

Hiking up the approach stopping for B-fast at the lodge is a great way to start a hike.

Do you know off-hand when breakfastis erved there? In a couple weeks I'll be in GA and may do the approach trail, at least from lodge to summit. Woukld like to start as early as possible.

[Rain Man]

Do you know off-hand when breakfastis erved there? In a couple weeks I'll be in GA and may do the approach trail, at least from lodge to summit. Woukld like to start as early as possible.

Frosty, my family and I spent the night there at the Amicalola lodge and had the breakfast before Grass and and my Azerbajanii exchange student son hiked the Approach Trail. But I'd be afraid to guess what the breakfast hours were exactly.... seemed pretty standard hours to me.

However, as I recall, the Georgia State Parks systems has a good web site, and Amicalola is prominently on it. You might find the hours there, or at least an 800 number or email address. Just an idea.

RainMan

.

[Youngblood]

Hiking up the approach stopping for B-fast at the lodge is a great way to start a hike.

There isn't a regular type resturaunt there. Can you just stop by for breakfast? I would have thought that the meals were for the lodge guests and maybe for a few drop-ins on the occassions when they had enough food.