View Full Version : number of people on the trail
sparky2009
03-29-2010, 09:40
I'm planning a section hike from Fontana to Damascus starting on the April 30th. Will start with some buddies but they can only hike to Newfound gap. My wife is paranoid about me hiking by myself so just to give her some assurance, I'd like to get an idea of the number of folks that would be hiking that section. Any thoughts?
bigcranky
03-29-2010, 09:58
There will be anywhere from dozens to hundreds of hikers on that stretch of trail at that time. You'll be fine -- if anything happens another hiker will be along shortly to discover your remains....
There will be anywhere from dozens to hundreds of hikers on that stretch of trail at that time. You'll be fine -- if anything happens another hiker will be along shortly to discover your remains....
ahaahha. Good stuff. :D
drdewrag
03-29-2010, 15:06
I might be hiking from Hot Springs around the time you should be there. How many days are you planning to take to get to Hot Springs?
We might run into you. Me and 2 friends are doing the NOC to Newfound Gap roughly that same time frame. We'll be at Fontana May 3rd, after leaving the NOC 5/1. Plan on being at Newfound Gap 5/7 and staying that night at the Grand Prix in Gatlinburg before driving home. Stop by for a beer; we'll be in the big room.
Approximately 1,948,701. According to a rather dense paper describing a 2007 sampling of AT users. It can be found at this site:
http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/nrrt/nsre/IRISRec/IRISRec15rpt.pdf
but is nearly indigestible. Page 38 has some conclusions that can be read by mere mortals. There is also some interesting (to some) data on actual counts at the survey sites towards the back of this report.
Of note, this statistical count of total annual visitation is significantly below the number of visitors cited by many AT management organizations.
Have fun,
Cosmo
Plodderman
03-30-2010, 16:03
Should be quite a few hikers as there are many places to section hike over your planned hike. Have a great time and I personnally hiked most of that part of the trail and ran across many people both on the trail and in the shelters.
max patch
03-30-2010, 17:00
Bazillions
And..........don't plan on there being room for you at a shelter. Bring your own tent, tarp, or hammock.
Stir Fry
03-30-2010, 18:30
You will love going south agenst the flow. New group each night. I did Erwin to Davenport gap last year, and I almost liked better.
Stir Fry
03-30-2010, 18:33
Mayby Ill see you I'm doing Erwin to Domascus starting May 1.
sparky2009
04-04-2010, 20:57
I might be hiking from Hot Springs around the time you should be there. How many days are you planning to take to get to Hot Springs?
Planning on 10 days to get to Hot Springs (the 9th of May) but I'll be there just to grab my resupply package at the outfitters there. Planning on staying at Spring Mountain Shelter that evening. Hope that we can hook up.
SassyWindsor
04-05-2010, 00:40
Just finished walking a small section with friends attempting a thru-hike (ASP to Davenport Gap). You can tell the numbers are high by just smelling the sewage along this Ga section. Disgusting.
You will have a great trip. You will never feel alone. I have hiked all of that up to 19E and you will feel very safe. You've picked a great section hike. NO WORRIES. You'll probably be glad to get out of Smokies because of all the trail traffic and NPS rules.