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Kirby
01-02-2008, 22:10
Does anyone know if there is anyother shelter on the Approach Trail, or nice spot to camp, that is not 6 miles in, but closer? I will be arriving at Amicalola Falls on the 29th, and I figures that since I was going to be camping that night anyway, I had might as well hike part of the Approach Trail.

Thanks,
Kirby

Kirby
01-02-2008, 22:12
Additional information requested:
Either the price of, or a link to the price of an over night at the Len Foote Hike Inn.

Thanks,
Kirby

Hikerhead
01-02-2008, 22:14
Google "Len Foote Hike Inn"

Kirby
01-02-2008, 22:16
Google "Len Foote Hike Inn"

Thanks, found that page.

Kirby

Pedaling Fool
01-02-2008, 22:16
Max Epperson Shelter is at Amicalola visitor center
Black Gap Shelter 7.3 miles (1.5 miles south of Springer Mountain).

Skidsteer
01-02-2008, 22:16
Additional information requested:
Either the price of, or a link to the price of an over night at the Len Foote Hike Inn.

Thanks,
Kirby
http://hike-inn.com/default.asp

There are nice camping sites nearly every mile.

SGT Rock
01-02-2008, 22:18
Does anyone know if there is anyother shelter on the Approach Trail, or nice spot to camp, that is not 6 miles in, but closer? I will be arriving at Amicalola Falls on the 29th, and I figures that since I was going to be camping that night anyway, I had might as well hike part of the Approach Trail.

Thanks,
Kirby
There are plenty of good campsites up the approach trail, just pick one. At the begining of the approach is the Max Epperson Shelter where there is water, showers, phones, soda machines, etc. At 4.8 miles up the trail there is a site with water on Frosty Mountain and then again at 6.2. At 7.3 there is the Black Gap Shelter. Past that you can stay at Springer Mountain Shelter which is 0.2 miles past the summit.

ChinMusic
01-02-2008, 22:19
Kirby - I KNOW you can get further than that on day 1.

Kirby
01-02-2008, 22:23
Kirby - I KNOW you can get further than that on day 1.

I plan on starting the trail the 1st, and I won't arrive on the 29th until sometime between 10-2, if I get there at 10, I will most certainly push to Summit Springer, and stay there, if I get there in the early afternoon, I want to cover some ground, but with early sun set I am not sure how far I could make it starting at 2, which is why I asked.

Right now, I am starting on the 1st from Amicalola, and going to the shelter 2 miles NOBO on the AT from Springer.

Kirby

Hikerhead
01-02-2008, 22:24
I'd rather do the trail to the Hike Inn anyway, even if I wasn't staying there. Better trail, more water and a nice place to take a break. Plus you'll be able to score some cheap leftovers. Do it.

Kirby
01-02-2008, 22:28
Is there camping in the vicinity of the Inn?

Kirby

A-Train
01-02-2008, 22:28
The Lodge at Amicalola has a great dinner buffet if I remember correctly. Spent a great last night in Civilization with my folks before driving up to Springer. If you're not looking to spend the money, I'd stealth somewhere nearby, go to the Epperson Shelter, or put in a couple miles. Would be a cool way to start the journey, in the evening after dinner!

Then again, I'd never hike the Approach Trail.

Good luck and don't forget to weigh your pack!

SGT Rock
01-02-2008, 22:29
Never heard of any prohibition against it. It's GA, not the Smokies or Baxter - less rules.

Lone Wolf
01-02-2008, 22:29
there's always a place to throw down. don't worry about it

rafe
01-02-2008, 22:31
IIRC, the AT in Georgia is very camp-able and the approach trail is no exception. Though I don't recall any water sources on the approach trail. Terrain-wise, no problem.

Kirby
01-02-2008, 22:31
I think I will try to hike in until I am tired, or I find a really cool campsite to spend the night at. I just feel it would be silly to camp at the start of the Approach when I can easily get some miles in the day before my "official" start.

Kirby

Skidsteer
01-02-2008, 22:34
I think I will try to hike in until I am tired, or I find a really cool campsite to spend the night at. I just feel it would be silly to camp at the start of the Approach when I can easily get some miles in the day before my "official" start.

Kirby

It takes me 3 1/2 hours to hike the approach trail and I'm old and broke down.

Stop worrying and enjoy your vacation.:)

SGT Rock
01-02-2008, 22:36
It takes me 3 1/2 hours to hike the approach trail and I'm old and broke down.

Stop worrying and enjoy your vacation.:)
Yes - 3 to 4 hours even for us over 40 guys. Young 16 year olds should be able to do it even if they get into town after 2.

Lone Wolf
01-02-2008, 22:36
Go to The Lodge for the buffet lunch then hike on to Frosty Mtn. and camp

Ewker
01-02-2008, 22:42
It takes me 3 1/2 hours to hike the approach trail and I'm old and broke down.


don't let Skids kid you..he can hike for a long haired old man..wait he is a dang kid compared to me :p

Skidsteer
01-02-2008, 22:42
Go to The Lodge for the buffet lunch then hike on to Frosty Mtn. and camp

No kidding.

When I was 16 the only things I obsessed over were food and, well... you know.


Maybe I ain't so old and broke down after all.:D

greenm777
01-02-2008, 22:47
does any one know if the wood stove at spruce peak shelter out side of manchester,vt is still opperational.... has anyone been there recently?

Hikerhead
01-02-2008, 22:50
does any one know if the wood stove at spruce peak shelter out side of manchester,vt is still opperational.... has anyone been there recently?

Go to the Shelter Forum and start a new thread. Welcome to WB.

Montego
01-02-2008, 22:56
does any one know if the wood stove at spruce peak shelter out side of manchester,vt is still opperational.... has anyone been there recently?

Welcome to WhiteBlaze greenm777 :welcome

ChinMusic
01-02-2008, 22:58
I think I will try to hike in until I am tired, or I find a really cool campsite to spend the night at.
I think that is a good plan for day 2 thru day 150 as well.......:D

Kirby
01-02-2008, 23:02
I am thinking I will most likely take Wolf's advice and camp out on the summit of Frosty Mountain, after eaching lunch at Amicalola falls Lodge. Going by the profile map, the climb to Frosty does not seem all the difficult, with the two toughest parts, in contrast to the rest, being two different 700 foot climbs over the course of a mile(the first mile, and then the mile leading to Frosty).

Kirby

Lone Wolf
01-02-2008, 23:03
trust me, you'll find nothing difficult about the approach trail

AT-HITMAN2005
01-02-2008, 23:04
you will learn fairly quickly not to trust profiles, and more than likely learn to curse them quite well.

Kirby
01-02-2008, 23:06
you will learn fairly quickly not to trust profiles, and more than likely learn to curse them quite well.

Trying to keep positive as my start date nears:).

I have definitively learned to take the Maine AT profile maps with a grain of salt.

Kirby

Lone Wolf
01-02-2008, 23:07
yo kirby, keep an eye out for the blind fella that's supposed to start march 1st

Frosty
01-02-2008, 23:41
I am thinking I will most likely take Wolf's advice and camp out on the summit of Frosty Mountain, after eaching lunch at Amicalola falls Lodge. Going by the profile map, the climb to Frosty does not seem all the difficult, with the two toughest parts, in contrast to the rest, being two different 700 foot climbs over the course of a mile(the first mile, and then the mile leading to Frosty).There are some nice sites on that awesomely named mountain.

Nightwalker
01-03-2008, 01:38
Go to The Lodge for the buffet lunch then hike on to Frosty Mtn. and camp

Camp near the old concrete foundations. Downhill to the right is a reliable spring. The trail isn't marked, unfortunately, but it's an easy find.

Wolf and Rock are dead right on this one.

The Mechanical Man
01-03-2008, 01:58
yo kirby, keep an eye out for the blind fella that's supposed to start march 1st

This is how it all starts,............ one person says something, next thing you know, .......................YOU are made trail famous TOO.:banana




Any other celeb type folks I should keep an eye out for this year, L. Wolf?

Kirby
01-03-2008, 07:29
yo kirby, keep an eye out for the blind fella that's supposed to start march 1st

Thanks for the heads up.

Kirby

2 degrees in Portland

Lone Wolf
01-03-2008, 07:31
11 degrees in damascus

StarLyte
01-03-2008, 08:19
11 degrees in damascus

You have GOT to be kidding! Heck I didn't know Damascus ever got that cold.

It's 10 degrees here in Cleveland.

Lone Wolf
01-03-2008, 08:21
You have GOT to be kidding! Heck I didn't know Damascus ever got that cold.

It's 10 degrees here in Cleveland.

nope. not kiddin'. we're at 1900 feet. it's 9 deg. on whitetop. global warming

walkin' wally
01-03-2008, 09:18
It takes me 3 1/2 hours to hike the approach trail and I'm old and broke down.



This is great. I will plan for 2 days on the approach trail then :D

SGT Rock
01-03-2008, 10:14
It was 11 here this morning too.

Grandma
01-03-2008, 10:32
It was 16 here in Atlanta. Crazy weather!