GA 42 condition in early March

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#1

I’m planning a thru hike for 2011. I’m leaving Springer Thur. March 3, 9:00 AM. I’m getting a ride from my brother who lives in Atlanta. Do you know if GA 42 is passable with a regular car? Do you think we will need 4WD?

Dogfood

#2

I think you mean Forest Service Road 42. To answer your question: usually passable via cars but can be extremely rough at times in certain places. All depends on when the Army may have graded the road and how bad the weather happens to be at or just before you arrive.

Rockdawg69

#3

You’ll have to check weather conditions shortly before you’re to arrive. Weather can range from 70s and dry to teens and snow. FS 42 is usually passable by an auto, but I’d feel alot better in a pickup truck, even if it was 2wd.

In the event there is enough snow or ice to inhibit driving - something that happens infrequently even in the mountains - it usually clear from the main roads in just a day or two. So if FS 42 is impassable, you can probably get access to the trail via Georgia Highway 52, which passes the entrance to Amicalola Falls State Park. You may have to hike most or all of the approach trail in that event.

Good luck. Oh, and watch out for bugs and occasionally very hot conditions in the Georgia mountains in March. Sometimes we’ll get four or five days of temps in the 70s or even low 80s, and with no leaf cover the south-facing slopes can be brutally hot.

dan

#4

Why not hike the approach trail? It is part of the adventure or why would it have been blazed? Seems like most people start their Thru hike by taking a short cut. Doesn’t require 4WD and it is a nice introduction to the AT. I saw nothing wrong with that trail in 2003 and in 2004 when I did my thru hike. Why do people want to make it a shorter hike? It would seem that if this is something a hiker really wants to do he/she would want to make it longer not shorter. Just my 2 cents!

art

#5

I was just up there this weekend. All the roads in the area have recently been graded. Very smooth from what they had been. Bouncing off what others have said. With no snow, this road is easily passable in a car. Just take it slow and you will be fine. However, if it does snow, don’t try it! That time of year the snowfall will be light, but it will quickly ice over when the temp drops at night. Even 4WD won’t help you then. In this case, just wait a few days or start at Amicalola SP.

Gusty

#6

You are worrying too soon. Like everyone else said you will just have to wait and see. I agree, do the approach trail. After all you are hiking, so make it a part of your hiking experience.

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