After all the recent events and added security and paranoia at airports Jen and I are not flying. The Gear situation alone would be a nightmare. We were going to take a train but that would take 2 days routing us to Virginia. So were going to rent a car.
Cross
Cross
Cross,
Regardless of what is happening in the world, flying is still safe and getting safer. Since September 11th, I have flown more than 15,000 miles. I have been in and out of Logan Airport in Boston, the place where half of the hijackers launched their vicious attack. I have been in and out of Dallas/Fort Worth, next to where I live. And, I am planning a hike or two next year that will depend very much on American Airlines and American Eagle.
Next year, I will hike in more than 5 states getting there by American Airlines, a coporate target of the terrorists. I will not let a terrorist stop my enjoyment of the trail nor rob me of one day of being on it. I plan to hike in New Mexico flying to Albuqerque, Sunport Airport, in CT along the AT flying to Hartford, Bradley Airport, in Maine flying to Boston, Logan Airport, Georgia, flying to Atlana, and North Carolina and Virgina flying to either Raleigh/Durham or to Greensboro, SC, and near San Diego, flying into Orange County Airport in Costa Mesa, CA.
The only thing I need to do is to ship my stove and mess kit to a maildrop location near the trail I will hike.
The rest of my gear will have no problem going through the process.
Flying is still a great way to get to the trail. In fact, I will do a few postings of these hikes to tell people what I had to go through to get to the trail and how wonderful the flight was.
Mr. Boo
How close will Amtrak take me to Amicalola SP?
It’s either that or get one of my buddies to ride down and
drive my car back to Delaware.
Ken J
Ken J
The train called the “Crescent” which runs from NYC to New Orleans does come into Atlanta and from there one is looking at some means to get to the southern terminus. That is the closest station to the AT I think. But it also comes into Gainsville, GA, which might be the same distance or slightly less.
I checked to see if the train came into Chattanooga, TN, since they list a stop for it on their website and found that they really run a bus to there from Atlanta, not a train. Small help. Rather, Greyhound runs a bus to Calhoun, GA, which places one closer to the trail in a decent sized city from which one might be able to find transportation up to the trailhead.
Mr. Boo
The ALDHA companion has some info on getting to Amicalola SP
from Atlanta.
Thanks for suggesting alternatives, like Chattanooga.
Ken J
Ken J
The train does stop at Gainsville. It leaves NYC at around 1:30 PM and gets into Gainsville at 8:30 AM. It’s a good place for a shuttle driver to pick you up. If you need a taxi, there were a number available the day I arrived.
Moose
Anyone know what types of stove equipment they won’t allow, white gas wise? I’m sure butane cans are a no no but if you pack an empty white gas bottle with the pump removed it would be fine. Or just the stove head? Anyone declare these and get through okay?
Bushwhack
In the next 60 days since President Bush sign the aiport security law, they are implementating a full inspection program at all airports on checked baggage. I have gotten stoves past the screeners over the last few years, but I think this will not be the case anymore.
Since the Value Jet crash in Florida a few years back, airlines have implementated a policy of no equipment allowed on the planes or in the baggage of products like wisperlites, coleman butane elements, etc, that use or contain accelerants ( butane, white gas, or any other fuel including alcohol ). This means that not only the fuel, but the bottle that contained it, and the stove that used it will not be allowed on any flight by any airline in the US.
The only way to get a stove and its components ( including your bic lighter ) is to use a maildrop.
The airline policy today is that they will confiscate your equipment and not return it to you if you try to ship it to the trail in your baggage. Hardly worth the trouble. Much better to ship it.
And, should anyone think that this policy will only affect the airlines, there is mounting pressure to issue the same rules for train and bus lines.
By the way, it will only cost about 4 or 5 bucks to ship it to a maildrop and in the end, since one is doing the whole trail, that is not so bad. And you can ship it to someone who has fuel and a ride to the trail too if you wish.
Mr. Boo
I just checked American Airlines website. It is a $250,000 fine if you try to ship something on the airline like the stove. Ouch!
I also just called and talked to American Airlines Cargo. It used to be prior to September 11th, that you could have the stove and equipment properly packed up properly and sent along with you on your flight.
So, really forget flying with the stove! Really!
That is no longer the case. In order to do it, you have to have security clearance and be a business partner doing business with American Airlines.
I would assume that it is the same with other airlines. I just happen to fly AA enough to know their policies and practices more closely.
Mr. Boo
It would seem that just the stove, like a wisperlite, is just a chunk of metal. It’s in the bag, you can’t get to it, there’s no fuel?? I guess. I’d be more paranoid about people with lighters. So if you’re going to some other country or say Nepal you may be s.o.l. We are resourceful though. Pepsi cans abound, no doubt about that. And when you go to England…Guinness cans!
Bushwhack
I don’t know what they use in their cans, but I have heard more than one person melting downa set of guiness cans. If you want a cool one go small with V8 cans.
SGT Rock
I definately dig the V8 stove that I used on the LT. Sgt. Rock has engineered a modified version of it. Have not tried his, but have found the original the smallest, lightest and simplest warm weather stove. I really don’t know why anybody would want to buy and carry a stove like the MSRs that weigh 28 times more. Also, you could make one new for pennies and carry it on the plane no problem since it would not have burned any fuel. Buy the denatured or whatever in Georgia and store it in a reused plastic water bottle. You’re good to go. Save the money you’d spend on shipping, buy more FOOD!
Sweeper
Three CHEERS for Mr.Boo. Altering our lives in ANY way since Sept. 11 gives the terrorists a victory. I took a bus from Bangor to Abingdon,Va. August 5-6 and will never do that again. I recently had to fly to San Jose for a funeral and will continue to fly as long as I can afford the air fare. Please do not let the terrorists win. Obey the posted rules of the airlines and you will have no problems. You’ll be refreshed and ready to enjoy your hike if you fly to get there.
Mother Nature’s Son
If you want to use the train, plan on coming in to Gainesville and getting shuttled to the Park. Gainesville is currently the closest ANY form of public transportation comes to the southern terminus of the AT. If you want a dependable and cheap shuttle to the trail from Gainesville, or for that matter, Atlanta or anywhere else in North Georgia or Tennessee or North Carolina, email me at the above address. We CAN work it out. I do network with other private shuttlers, so if I can’t get you there, I can hook you up with someone who can. References upon request.
Hacksaw
Hacksaw