March test hike

imported
#1

Hello hikers,

Here is my chance! My wife gave me Rubin’s, “On the Beaten Path” for Christmas. After reding the book, telling her how much I enjoyed the book and how much I related to the author. She shared the second half of the surprise with me. She wants me to persue my dream of thru-hiking the AT.

She has began the process of helping me to research and plan. Part of the process will be hiking the Georgia section the last week of March and the first week of April 2005. I hope to learn from others on the trail, how to go forward with the plan of beggining a thru-hike in March of 2006.

Much planning needs to take place. I am 38 years old, have three kids and all that goes with family life. I just assumed that when we chose to persue family life that my window of opportunity to thru-hike was gone.

I am as surprised as many of you that my spouse would be willing to support me in taking six months off to deal with mid-life crisis. What can I say?

The test trip is to also see if we as a family can adjust to the idea of being apart for six plus months.

I need some help in getting started. If she drops me off at Amicola Falls and I hike to NC, what are your suggestions for where to get off of the trail for the best access to a pickup point that my wife can find easily? Our home is in Birmingham Al. Or will I get enough of a feel for what it is like to be on the trail From Springer Mt. to US 76 at Dicks Creek Gap?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Rehab

#2

Rehab

Your start to a future Thru-Hike is starting the same way mine did. I did the Ga. section the last week in march. After doing it I got the fever and Thru-hiked in 03. Starting at Amicalola is tough unless you have done allot of hiking before. I went SOBO from Dicks Creek Gap. (76) You can go north from there the 8 miles to the NC line and back to cover all of Ga. if you want. It would be easy for your wife to pick you up at Amicalola. You will be going against the stream of Thru-Hikers so you will meet allot of people. You will get a good feel for it but if you can go farther you would be better off. Just take it slow and listen to your body

I wish you the best on your hike

Subman 03

subman

#3

Read AWOL’s AT 2003 journal. He hiked while his wife and three young daughters met him occasionally on the trail.

Marcia

#4

Rehab, This sounds great and I hope it all works out for you. I think a section hike is a good way to test out your gear and also see how you like being out on the trail. If I recall, you can do the section from Springer to Dick’s Creek Gap in about 5 days. If you include the approach trail from Amicalola Falls, it could be done fairly comfortably in about a week, or longer if you are not in any hurry and just want to enjoy the time. Unless you just want to complete the GA section, you could end at Dick’s Creek for convenient pickup point. I assume you plan to do other hikes between April 2005 and when your thru hike starts in 2006. They say the best way to prepare for a hike is to hike. Do you have any of the trail books like the Data Book, Companion, Guidebooks, Wingfoot’s guide, maps, etc. I found them very helpful for planning.

I am also from Birmingham AL, and have done about 175 miles each of the last three years, two weeks each trip. The first year was Springer to Fontana Dam, then Fontana to Erwin, TN, and then Erwin to Partnership Shelter near Marion VA. Each was a great experience. Sections are different in many ways from thru hikes, but especially in that you are never very far away from a schedule since you need to finish and meet someone at a specific location on a certain day. You also don’t really have time to get into good “trail condition” because the trip ends as you are getting going. But I did send mail drops, resupply in town, filtered water, stayed in shelters, my tent, hostels, kept a journal, saw bears and snakes, hitch-hiked into town, met lots of people, spent nights alone and with other hikers, took zero days, took lots of pictures - much of the same experience as thru hikers. I have three journals here on trail journals, and you might find them helpful. I posted my complete gear and food list in a post hike entry at the end of my 2003 journal. I think I have an entry on going solo at the end of the 2002 journal. Somewhere there is an entry giving my thoughts on section hiking. The 2004 journal lists a few gear changes from that original 2003 list. You might find that helpful. I’m a little jealous since I can’t forsee doing a thru hike for a few years yet. Have a great time. If you have other questions or just want to chat about the hike, feel free to email back, or reply here or in my guestbook. It’s great to hear of another Birmingham hiker planning to enjoy the trail. CBiscuit

CBiscuit

#5

it is good to see a couple of other hikers from the b’ham area. i work in b’ham & live just south of there (chilton co.). in the past i have thru hiked 3 times, the last being in 91. but as for your question, the only way to prepare is to start out with a short hike (3 days)- then a week- then maybe 10 days. all this is for you to shakedown your gear, and being away from home, so as to be prepared. also if your family is ok & supportive of what you are about to do, GO FOR IT. you have to have the full support of your family to be able to enjoy the journey.
NECKBONE

NECKBONE

#6

Rehab,

Great idea to test hike. Although Georgia is some great hiking, I did my test hike in part of the Smokies. This is where I found out how my gear was really going to handle. Expecially boots. I came into Cades Cove took Eagle Creek trail right up to the AT. Plenty of lodging around the Cades Cove area to. Hiked to Newfound Gap. This is also very easy to get picked up or hitch hike into a town in case something (or gear) goes wrong. It’s a great hike, about 3-4 days depending how fast or how slow you want to hike. Good Luck!!!

Ficade