Starting from Springer.Where did (or do) you plan to stop for the 1st night of sleep?
Donny
1st night camping spot?
system
#2
I stayed at Hawk Mt shelter. If I do it again I would hike on farther if the weather was nice. I seem to remember several choice campsites a mile or so beyond the shelter.
Big B
system
#3
Depends on how far you want to hike. Hawk Mtn Shelter, Sassafras Mtn (no water), Justus Creek, Gooch Shelter & Gooch Gap are all doable for most on their first day.
TwoCan
system
#4
In 2004 I stayed just off the road near Horse Gap (about 10 miles from Springer). In 05, I stopped early at Hawk Mtn. I wouldn’t try to go further than about 10 miles the first day, as Sassafrass is just after that and it’s tough for a day one ending…
Red Hat
system
#5
Regardless of where you decide to pull up. I would not suggest overdoing it the first day. Many hikers develop knee problems by pushing too hard in the begining of their journeys without acclumating themselves for hiking on hills. Take it easy for the first few weeks and you will most likely travel futher in that time period without the pain and rest stops associated with going too fast.:happy
Stealthblew
system
#6
After going up the approach trail in that first afternoon, the shelter afew tenths past the summit was a wonderful place to take it all in, with a meander back to the terminus by myself to “officially” start a thruhike…
fishngame
system
#7
(Godspeed to the CLASS OF '09!..you’re in for the 'ride of your life!..or, should i say, the ‘WALK’ of your life!)…on each of our hikes we started at amicalola at the top of the falls at mid-day or after, and ended at stover creek by supper easily…a mid-day hike is ‘hard on the nerves’, but ‘easy on the logistics’ (of getting there, getting weighed, getting pics, signing the register, etc)…but if you start in the morning, reaching gooch should be no problem…my HEART sentimentally says ‘stover creek’ (ahhhhh!..it’s GORGEOUS in the snow under the hemlocks!)…but, does anyone know if they’ve built a new shelter at stover?..we heard they were gonna tear down the old one :^( (…if you wanna have a look at stover creek, i believe we have pictures posted for each of our sojourns there on our ‘2006 maw-ee and paw-ee’ journal)…again, blessings to all the '09ers for a great hike (and WONDERFUL first night out, whether at hawk mtn, springer, gooch or some fabulous stealth camp!)
maw-ee
system
#8
Yes, stover creek has been demolished and a new stover creek shelter built at a different location and the trail relo’d. You can still hike to the old location - if you keep your eyes open you can still spot the old trail.
max patch