Planning to section hike springer to clingman’s dome starting around mid March. How many days should I set aside for this trip? How hard is this part of the AT? I figure if I can average 9-10 miles a day I can make it in 3 weeks. Would this be a reasonable goal or should I plan longer just in case?
Thanks for any info…
Mattheww
Mr. Hoch, at the Hike Inn, told me the average time to Fontana is
19-21 days.
He’s seen alot of hikers over the years, and thru-hiked himself.
Scamp
Scamp
Well, for what it’s worth, Amacolola Falls to Fontana took me 12 days. It took me another 3 days to get past Clingman’s. Granted, the only time off was about 1/2 day to whitewater at NOC on my way through.
Per Roland Mueser’s book, the average, based on a very limited survey, is 10 miles per day in Georgia and 12 miles per day in NC/TN.
How hard is this part of section of the AT? Consentious is much harder than the mid Atlantic states.
The other factor is that the trail is very high in this section. So, be prepared for cold weather.
Peaks
On our thru hike, we started 2/18 and started out of Fontana on 3/5, about 3 weeks. We had 1 full zero day in Fontana and a several low mile days here and there around Hiawasee. The 2 feet of snow that hit the Smokies the night of the 5th slowed us down a bit. Took us 10 hours to go 11 miles, breaking trail the whole time.
Hike time really depends on the weather you hit, your conditioning, and the weight of your gear. Pack for the conditions, but leave out the extras. WE traded out some heavy itmes along the way. We were in fairly good shape, but living in the Midwest doesn’t give you much opportunity for practicing backpacking up big hills. Or going STRAIGHT UP the hills like the trail does down South. I’d say 3 weeks is a good estimate.
Bramble 01
Planning is not an exact science. Many people hike faster than
the average, and many slower. I got to the Hike Inn on day 19
and most people I hiked with think I’m slow.
The hills ARE more challenging down south than in the mid-Atlantic.
Does anyone know if ‘Just Do It’, the ‘Carnival Girls’,
Badger and Mssr.Prevost finished?
Scamp
Scamp
Not sure if the whole group made it to Katahdin but Tall Tale summited the day before I did. I think she was running out of time and had to jump up to Monson from somewhere else. Also hiked with Just Do It for a few days along the Blue Ridge Parkway so I would be interested to find out when he finished.
Ganj
Congrats Ganj on your hike. I know Badger finished in late Sept. Flame and I finished on the 26th. I only heard that Just Do it did.
Papa Smurf
Thanks and congrats to you as well. Was it Aug or Sept 26th that you finished. Was wondering what days Giggles and Highwater (les Canucks), Crusader, Faceless, and Bucky finished. Hopefully this rings a bell for somebody.
Good to hear Just Do It finished!
Ganj
Sure wish there was a dedicated thread or some other unique section to this website that recapped thru-hiker completion dates…there are so many AT hikers I spent a day, a week or more and never found out if they finished
Jeff
There is such a site. At the top of this page, click “Trail Journals”, then select “2002 Appalachian Trail” for trekkers’ thru hike records.
Skinnhead