January hike in GA

imported
#1

Hello all! Im wanting to hike the first 75 miles of the AT in GA this winter prob some time in January! I’d love any and all feed back!!! Tips, advice, whatever =) thanks!

Katherine

#2

I did 2 day hikes in January of this year, and the weather was beautiful. The coldest morning we encountered was 27 degrees, the morning we started at Unicoi Gap. The gloves came of within 30 minutes, and I removed a layer after about 2 miles. I was perfectly comfortable in a base layer and a fleece. And with the leaves down, the views are awesome.

Jeff

#3

Thank you so much! Any advice on supplies? Like tent and sleeping bag recommendations? Gotta know what to put on my Christmas wish list! Haha

Katherine

#4

Wait Jeff, I was at Springer for new years and it was NOT a low of 27 degrees!

I parked at Neels and hitched to Springer and hiked back to my truck and it was not as nice a weather as you make it sound. It was cold, wet, sleet, and hail. It’s not nearly as bad as some of my experiences but it was not nice late fall dry clear weather.

hellkat

#5

I started north on Jan 28th. There were comfortable warm days and 12 inches of snow on Blood Mt. I left Neel Gap wearing everything I was carrying. Prepare for the worst, wet, cold, and slippery. With luck you will be pleasantly surprised.

Grrrr

#6

Its cold in them thar hills in Jan

Virginian

#7

I live 15 mikes from Neels Gap…Be prepared for winter hiking…Cold, wet, and windy…Some tears have been plesent and some have been miserable…Temps can get in the single digits in the mountains here in January…

Mike

#8

I live in Murphy NC on a mountain. The mountains here are windy and slick. Cold and wet but great views when you are not IN the cloud. I hike here (GA NC TN) year round. Just be prepared with layers and proper footwear. Are you on the 2015 board?

Fiona

#9

Fiona, I have a blog for the AT in 2015 its trailjournals.com/katherinemcmichael

Katherine

#10

HI, I live in N AL. About an hour and a half from Springer Mtn. I hiked from Ocoee Tn to Springer Mtn GA. Started the hike on July the 5th. When we got to the top of BIg Frog Mtn GA, it was so cold, rainy and windy, that I could not get warm in my 20 degree goose down Marmot bag!! Now that is definitely not the norm but it just shows you how crazy the weather around here can be sometimes :slight_smile: Better to be safe than sorry :wink:

Wendy

#11

We started north from Springer on January 1, 2009. It was 9 degrees that morning, but crystal clear. By days end at Hawk Mtn it was t shirt weather. By Jan 20th it got so cold we had to get off the trail. We had all kinds of weather during those 20 days. Beautiful days down to zero at Wayah shelter. Snow, rain, clear. Be prepared for everything.

rocky & swamp fox