I’ve been hearing rumors that starting in’07 the southern terminus of the AT will be Amicalola Falls rather than Springer. Any truth to this?
STICK CHICK
?new southern terminus
system
#2
There’s no way, no how, they are going to move the southern terminus. This rumor goes around every year that it is going to move there or to Alabama where the Appalachians actually begin.
Not going to happen.
nrkybill
system
#3
They moved it once already, from Mt Ogelthorpe…not gonna move it again, no doubt.
Doggone/GA
system
#4
Wingfoot discusses this issue in an interview last May:
"Well, in fact, the Appalachian Trail was originally meant to be what’s called a trunk trail. It was set up to go…first Mount Oglethorpe, Georgia, and to Katahdin, and it was later modified from Mount Oglethorpe to Springer Mountain. And Congress officially set the termini at Springer and Katahdin. So that is the extent of the Appalachian Trail.
However, there will be many trails connecting in to it, and the Pinhoti system and the Benton Mackaye and a number of other trails will connect into the Appalachian Trail. And in some cases allow continuous hiking, such as the International Appalachian Trail will allow you to hike on up into Canada. But they’re not part of the Appalachian Trail, they’re just spur trails, or side trails in a sense, off of the main trunk trail. And I would be surprised if there’s any addition to the Appalachian Trail, it’s pretty set. In fact, Congress would have to change the termini."
Pacer
system
#5
actually, as orignally envisioned, the southern terminous was to be mount mitchell, nc…tallest peak in the south to tallest peak in the north (appaplachians) mt. washington. the trail gets no closer than about 20 miles from mt. mitchell…, and ends 300 miles south! (by foot!)
it could move very easily…why not, the only thing that stays the same is everything changes…
Big Dee
system
#6
Pacer said: “the Pinhoti system and the Benton Mackaye (BMT) and a number of other trails will connect into the Appalachian Trail.”
The Pinhoti Trail System and the Benton Mackaye (BMT) DO in fact connect to the AT now but the Pinhoti still has some road walk. See this years Thru-Hiker journal
He started on the Alabama Pinhoti Trail (APT) February 13, 2006 and he plans to hike the entire Appalachian Chain from Bulls Gap Alabama to Point Gaspésie, Quebec … some 3200 miles?
He is still going and on 27Apr 2006 was at mile 894.2 going north.
The Pinhoti (Al & GA Pinhoti is about 275 miles but still has some road walk) connects to the Benton Mackaye Trail at about mile BMT-68 or so going north which is a couple miles south of Watson Gap and BMT - mile 71.7 going north. You can turn south to Springer Mt (68 miles or so ) or continue north on the Benton Mackaye Trail to Davenport Gap, GSMNP (232 miles or so). The Benton Mackaye Trail from Springer Mt to Davenport Gap is about 300 miles.
gardenville
system
#7
The Alabama Pinhoti has just added an 18 mile new section from Bull Gap to Porters Gap :). That is the current southern end of the Pinhoti. I understand that there may be more added in the future :D. There are no roadwalks from Bull Gap to the Alabama - Georgia state line. However there are some in the state of Georgia. Alabama has had the advantage that most of the trail goes through National Forests and Wilderness areas. The last section leading to Georgia is a negotiated purchase and donated land of about 10 miles in length.
BCM