Western Passage

[Youngblood]

Are any pilgrims planning on using the newly opened Western Passage (Benton MacKaye Trail) as part of a long distance hike this year along the southern Appalachians? For those of you not familiar, it generally runs west of the AT between Springer Mountain (the AT's southern terminus) and Davenport Gap (the north end of the Smokies). Here is some info: http://www.bmta.org/ .

Someone will have to be the first to include it in a long distance Appalachian hike between Springer and Kathadin, don't know that anyone has gotten 'round to it yet.

[MOWGLI]

At the grand opening ceremony for the BMT in July, Morgan Sommerville of the ATC was one of the speakers. He said that he hoped that 2000-miler status would be granted for those that choose to take the BMT route inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That's a longer route than the AT. Its also signficantly more difficult (greater elevation gain & loss) while generally traversing lower terrain. In other words, unlike the AT, this is not a ridge walk. It also contains only 1 shelter, so those that prefer to camp (legally) might want to choose this option.