Section Hike - June 1st - Springer

imported
#1

Hello,
I am planning a section hike starting at Springer Mountain and ending up at Uniocoi gap. This will be a 7-8 day trip for me, mostly as a prep for a future AT thru hike. I am pretty experienced with backpacking in the Allegheny Mountains, but I have little experience “down south” in the Appalachians. As a result, I am finding myself asking some questions, and this forum seems the most logical place to get answers:

  1. What is the weather situation going to be like in this section? I don’t really expect to see snow, but I wouldn’t rule out some 40-50 degree days and 30 degree nights. But experiences from others would be helpful information to have.

  2. What options do I have for a shuttle from Atlanta to the Trailhead at Amicola Falls?

  3. What options do I have for a shuttle BACK to Atlanta from Uniocoi gap / Route 75?

  4. Any outlooks for Water this season? Drought or not?

Thanks,
Greg

Greg

#2

Call Hacksaw !!

Here is a copy of his shuttle service notes:

Will do shuttles from any Public Transportation Terminal in Atlanta or Gainesville, or anywhere in the North Georgia area to Springer Mtn. by either Forest Service Road or to Amicalola Falls State Park.

Will also do shuttles to any point or from any point on the AT between Amicalola Falls State Park and Fontana Dam, NC.

Available most days and times January thru December

Advance Notice Requested (As much as possible) but
legitimate emergencies excepted.

Contact me:

joetallant@yahoo.com

Phone (706) 579-2400
(NO phone calls after 9 pm eastern, please)

             Snail Mail: 
             Joe Tallant 
             %Terrell 
             10162 Big Canoe 
             Jasper, Ga. 30143

will accept mail drops and ground shipped stoves/fuel bottles for booked shuttles with prior agreement. Please check before you ship.

Coleman Fuel and Denatured Alcohol(Methylated Spirits) Fill
ups included with shuttle.

Hacksaw is who I use and many others. Give him a call

Jim Deane, Rebel with a Cause !!

Jim Deane

#3

Greg,

Hiking from Springer to Unicoi could take only 5 days for you.

Weather should not be a problem. Water, maybe. Your shuttle driver will give you the skinny on where the water is.

I might suggest hiking south though which would give you more shuttle options at the end.

If you were to get a shuttle to Dick’s Creek Gap and go south 3 miles into Deep Gap Shelter, you would be looking at a nice hike south and getting some great views. After Deep Gap, you could do Tray Mtn ( great views! ), then Low Gap Shelter, Neel’s Gap ( great views! ), Gooch Gap, Springer ( great views! ), Amicola Falls. Average daily mileage would be 9 to 10 miles. And at the end, you would, worse case, be able to get a cab if you needed to.

Hope this helps, Mr. Boo, GA --> ME '99

Mr. Boo

#4

Hi Greg,

A couple of points about your proposed hike.

  1. Shuttle- I can handle you both ends, either direction, give me a call if you are interested. I am by no means your only option, though.

  2. Weather in June is going to be pretty warm and kinda’ humid. You definately don’t need to worry about snow! It doesn’t matter much which direction you hike, the climbs and shelters work out about the same as far as severity and spacing are concerned. By June first the canopy is pretty well filled out and you won’t get as many long range views or gentle forest breezes as you do earlier in the spring, but it’s still really nice. I wouldn’t postpone my trip any later in the summer, though, it gets pretty brutal in July and August, even in the mountains.

  3. Water should be no problem. Most springs in Georgia will be flowing well in June unless we don’t get any rain from now 'till then.

Hacksaw

Hacksaw