appalachian trail ho blog graveyard the phlo

Appalachian trail ho blog graveyard the phlo how to#

Starting you hike via the Approach Trail lets you bypass the parking frustrations and focus on the beginning of your adventure. Almost all of them are competing for limited parking space at the Springer Mountain parking lot on Forest Service Road 42, and most then hike 0.9 miles to the summit and back, doubling impacts to the Trail and creating a bottleneck of hikers. Springer Mountain is a popular place not only for thru-hikers, but also spring breakers, section hikers, and day hikers from all around the Atlanta metro area.

Appalachian trail ho blog graveyard the phlo how to#

For those who choose to take a chance and hang your food, you can learn the best camping knots, how to make a successful throw, and the most effective way to hang your food bag. Learn what areas of the Trail have specific requirements for food storage, including where new regulations will be implemented. We always recommend using a bear-resistant food container on the A.T., as it is the most effective way to store food and keep you, black bears, and your food safe. Learn about food storage requirements and how to protect your food.

Either way, logging the official starting weight of your pack has become a thru-hiker tradition!Ħ. Maybe you weighed your pack at home, but maybe you’ve added or subtracted a few Snickers bars since then. Weigh your pack and record it in the register for hiker data and for posterity. A lighter pack may increase your chance of success and reduce your chance of injury - and hiking uphill will probably go a lot quicker, too! 5. Is your pack heavier than you’d like? Do you know you have too much stuff but just can’t figure out what to leave behind? Upon request, experienced hikers (an Appalachian Trail Conservancy ridgerunner or a Georgia Appalachian Trail Club Trail Ambassador) are available to evaluate your gear and help you identify unnecessary, impractical, or redundant items, as well as share some favorite long-distance hiker hacks. This also shows your commitment to environmentally sustainable practices and Leaving No Trace principles. backpacker tag to hang on your pack and identify you as a thru-hiker (or section-hiker tackling the whole trail). Thru-Hiker Backpack tag.Īfter you have registered your thru-hike online (you’ve done that already, right? If not, click here.) and check in at AFSP, you get your official A.T.

They’ve also got you covered with updates on local trail conditions and other things you need to know, including ways to help conserve the Trail during your thru-hike. Catch the ATC’s Thru-Hiker Orientation class.Įxperienced ridgerunners and trail ambassadors offer a brief #StartSmart class in the AFSP visitor center to help you get all the essential info for your hike, including gear selection and last-minute prep tips. The stone archway behind the visitor center is the perfect place to launch a thru-hike! 2.

Get a classic photo under the stone arch. Here are 14 reasons (one for each of the states the Trail passes through) why you might want to start your thru-hike under the iconic stone arch that marks the beginning of the 8.8-mile Approach Trail, which travels to the southern terminus of the A.T.

Justice, Equity, Diversity and InclusionĪppalachian Trail (A.T.) thru-hiker season is here! While Springer Mountain, Georgia is the best-known place to start a northbound thru-hike, in fact, more than half of “NOBOs” actually start at another location: Amicalola Falls State Park (AFSP).