Hello everyone. Wonder if I could pick your brains for a minute. I’m preparing an itinerary for inspection by the immigration officials when I come over. How long, roughly, might it take to hike from Springer to Damascus? Using the Companion, I’ve worked out 42 days (including layovers). I’m thinking that’s way off but not sure??? (Guess I’m neglecting the fact that I might be in good shape by then…hopefuly) Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks - Ross
Ross
might be about right averaging 12 miles a day. 38-42 days. somewhere in there.
grizzly adam
Or even faster if you hitch-hike and skip sections like grizzly adam. He has never finished anything he has ever started, so you might wantto get a second opinion.
Berry
I never knew it was a cardinal sin to hyoh.
At least grizzly adam freely and openly discussed the sections he skipped, instead of trying to falsely play it off as if he hiked the entire trail, as some people have.
I remember the best time I had on the trail was from Springer to Damascus, before I got to Trail Days and realized the amount of politics and CRAP that exist on the trail and in the community. I feel sorry for all those people that let themselves get caught up in it all.
nobody
Dave “nuge” Rinker did it in 16 days last summer. His feet were a bloody mess, but damn, 16 days…
I plan on 41 days ending with “The Man Test” which will be 50.4 miles in a day. We shall see…
Ben Reuschel
That sounds about right. That section between Laural Falls and Damascus is a great section. To me it was one of the easiest sections on the trail. Bob at Kencoria called it the “Tennessee Turnpike.” Great trail with soft bed, flat for miles and lots of good camping sites. There were three guys hiking with us that did the 50+ in under 24 hrs. Weasley and Michael (with dog Charlie) rested for a couple of days afterwards at Dave’s Place in Damascus.
Has anyone talked to Weasley (2002) lately. I saw him at Trail Days. If you have his address I would like to send him some pictures we took of him.
Papa Smurf
42 days to get to damascus and 42 days to get outta Virginia, ought to be right Ross…welcome to the wall!!!
Think I may buy a Disc player and the Wall again for that small Virginia section.
I guess with all yer miles Ross, if you were hiking alone, you’d do far better than 12 miles a day, but the group thing may pull you down to fewer miles per day or more Zero’s.
Zero’s can turn this 6 month adventure into It just didn’t turn out the way I expected.
But Like Grizzly, what do I know. I already have people to catch and I haven’t even left yet, well neither have they, maybe you’ll catch me before I leave Ross and we can go get that dark arm pit flavored beer and relive the glory days whilst the Hare drags a bolder past us to Katadyn! It could happen. hehehe lol and Bushwhack could shoot lightning bolts out his arse!
Burn
Ross, it took me 45 days total to go from Springer to Damascus. I had appx 8 days off. 4 days due to food poisoning in Hiawassee, so a couple of short days after that.
The other days were short into town days and out early the next day so not real zero days maybe only 4 miles for the day each.
I started the trail the day after my 53 birthday and in poor hiking shape. Lots of bad weather at the start so that also slowed me down a bit.
Anyway, an old man with a heavy pack in poor shape and sick for 4 days and a purist, made it to Damascus in 45 days. Hope this helps
Waterboy
Waterboy 99
I took 14 days to do Springer to Fontana in 2002, plus one zero day. Another 14 days to do Fontana to Erwin in 2003, plus one zero day - 30 days total so far. So, what should I expect for Erwin to Damascus? I’d like to do about another 175 miles this year, so I will go past Damascus. Is the trail tough or easier in that stretch compared to what I’ve hiked. Also, I’m thinking about resupplying once between Erwin and Damascus. Is there a good place to do a mail drop or visit a grocery store somewhere in between. I was thinking about around 19E, but have heard both good and bad about what to expect in that section. Advice appreciated.
CBiscuit
Resupply at Kincora hostel by maildrop or Bob will drive you to a grocery. Kincora is about 21 miles north of 19E.
Wolf
I would not recommend getting a hitch at 19E. There are many folks who do not feel all that friendly to AT hikers. I feel like a car swerved at me as I crossed a road crossing a mile after 19E. Resupply at Erwin, stay with Miss Janet, and when you reach Dennis Cove Road. Bob and Pat Peoples at Kincora will hold mail drops and will shuttle you into town.
Bankrobber
Ross, took me 40 days to get from springer to damascus, about 11 miles a day. Included were 3 zero days. Definately possible to do it a lot quicker, i really took my time. When you get to the mid-atlantic you’ll wish you were still in the south 
so take your time, enjoy the smokies, the humps and balds and max patch. Whats the point in doing a 50 mile day if you can’t remember what you walked thru? Savor every moment.
Nobody-why you so mad man??
A-Train
Not mad, I am just not in favor of people that criticize and judge others based on the way they hike their hike. There’s no point to it.
But, what can you do but get back out and hike?
nobody
At Dennis Cove road you can turn to the right and walk about 1/2 mile to a commercial establishemnt, Laural Creek Cabins,I think its called. You can resupply out of the small store there and eat a hot meal. You can also stay there for not too much plus they go into town also. You can get enough resupply to get to Damascus with out much problem there. My experience there was good but I also knew it is a business.
But, if you want the best best trail experience, turn left at Dennis Cove road and go Kincoria (msp). Having stayed at both places I would probably stay at Laural Creek Cabins if I go through there again. But one of my very best trail memories is of Kincoria but I like less crowded spots.
Waterboy 99
Ross,
Looks to me like the typical thru-hiker does Springer to Damascus in about 40 days. So, depending on what shape you are in, and how much time you spend off the trail, 42 days sounds like a reasonable estimate. (Myself, 33 days, but I took fewer days off than most, and did more miles per day than the average hiker).
Peaks