+ on bigcranky's comment on a bear vault. BUT remember to hang your food and do not keep any food inside your tents. There are a lot of bears in that section.
Yea I figure the pace won't be as fast as I'd like but I am willing to keep a slower pace and on stops I want to teach my son and wife knots, more detailed map reading skills, etc. Once they are used to hiking with a pack our next stretch will be more miles and less stopping. I think I will do that just pull up short and hike that whole section the last day.
Originally Posted by Preacher_68
Just make sure this doesn't become too much like boot camp. Remember, when the student is ready, the master will appear. It doesn't really work well the other way around.
The strategy of taking long breaks during the day works very well for my family.
Yeah I thought about that but then my son and wife asked me to show them to tie some useful knots and asked about map reading so we made a night out of both, it was a great time. Truth be told this is the first thing that everyone in my family is equally excited about and I feel like this could bring an already close family even closer, to not only one another but to God's magnificent creation.
That's awesome. Have a great hike. I have many fond memories of hiking with my daughter when she was that age.
Out of curisoity (I'm planning the same trip end of May/June and was researching myself) which parking areas did you decide on?
You could Park at Amacalola Falls State Park, and include the Approach Trail. Total 38 miles, very doable in 6 days. You could spend the first night at the lodge, eat a hardy buffet breakfast, then set out.
Its a standing debate, but IMO the falls on the approach are one of the highlights of GA and really shouldnt be missed, especially if you can catch them after a heavy rain when they are really flowing.
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Otherwise, not many views between springer and Neels until you get to top of Blood Mtn.
North of Neels is more scenic with more frequent views.
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Last edited by MuddyWaters; 05-04-2013 at 18:12.
I am going to park at Lake Winfield Scott where I will be camping for two days before beginning my hike on the third day. I will leave the car there and shuttle to Springer, hike back to my car, and drive to a Hotel after for some hanging out with the family before heading home. The reason I chose Winfield Scott was that with my Access Pass for National Parks it cost me 7.50 to camp and nothing to get in, and I can jump on two different trails off the AT and walk right in after our hike is over. Its 2.50 a day after I start my hike on Sunday, but the car is in an area where someone is there so I'm alright with that. There is a parking area also at 34.742031,-83.922686 just up the Road that is driven through by the Forest Service, I was told that it is a high traffic area during weekends but not to clear about during the week. Maybe will will run across each other out there sounds like we will be in the area about the same time. Sorry for the delayed response.
I might be in minority but I thought Hiker Hostel sucked. Got my ticket months in advance and was told I'd be included in a 3 hour window. Had to wait 5 hours. Then we waited another 2 hours for 1 last hiker. Landed in Atlanta at 10 AM and didn't get to hostel until 9 PM. Was never given an apology, explanation or discount. I know people rave about them, but I was not impressed compared to people doing the same stuff farther up the trail.
I hope you were informed about the wait and at least could spend the time at the airport. Hanging out at the Marta station for all that time would really suck.
I fly thru Atlanta all the time. Its one of the busiest airports in the country. When traffic problems hit another major hub somewhere, it spills over to atlanta too, in addition to its own weather issues. Chances are it was airlines that caused the issues, not the Hiker Hostel. They dont have the resources to provide you an individual pickup when they are also waiting on others. You probably wouldnt want to pay for it either.
When they shuttled me, my shuttle with other folks in the vehicle was darn near free, just a couple of bucks. More than fairly adjusted.
I've sent a lot of people to the HH, and I know they can't make any money if only 1 person is in the van, but if they promise a 3 hour window they need to suck it up and make it happen. No excuse to make anybody wait 7 hours.
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