Who has hiked the Benton Mackaye Trail?

[Tha Wookie]

Dick Evans, of the Benton Mackaye Trail Association, gave an interesting talk at the SoRuck about the newly completed 290 mile BMT. His talk left many of us chomping at the bit to start a thru-hike ASAP.

One of the most particularly interesting things he mentioned was his estimate that in between 200 and 300 hikers (250 was his number) have ALREADY thru-hiked the BMT. I'm not sure where he got his numbers from, but as a trail monitor specialist I know these numbers are difficult to gather in such a short amount of time.

So I want to know: Have YOU thru-hiked the BMT? If not, have you hiked any of it? Or, do you plan to or not?

[MOWGLI]

I have hiked the first 93 miles of the trail - in April '03. I plan to hike the Smokys section this spring.

[Footslogger]

I've only done the section that loops off the AT just north of 3 Forks. Used to take a Boy Scout troop up in that area a lot and that allowed us to hike 3 Forks to Springer and back without it being a total out-and-back route.

Not much traffic on the Benton MacKaye back then though and that section was generally pretty overgrown.

'Slogger

[generoll]

Hammock Hangar hiked the original portion which ended at the Ocoee river. She completed that hike this Spring just before they opened the remainder. I don't know of anyone that has done the complete trail since they extended it.

[Dances with Mice]

... have you hiked any of it?

Just the bit between Springer & the Duncan Ridge intersection at Rhodes Mtn.

[Nean]

I'll double check but I believe Cornbread down @ neel gap has done most if not all of it.

[general]

I'll double check but I believe Cornbread down @ neel gap has done most if not all of it.

bread bailed somewhere on the fodderstack trail. get him to tell you the story. evidently that section is a bitch to navigate. no signs or blazes in wilderness areas with 9 trails intersecting the fodderstack. seems like it would be beneficial to do that secton south of 20 mile ranger station before the leaves set in.

[Sly]

Not much traffic on the Benton MacKaye back then though and that section was generally pretty overgrown.

As Dick explained the BMT is a primative trail. It's intention is not for a thoroughfare trail and/or your everyday hiker, but those wishing for more of a challenge. A little bushwacking and route finding is good for you.

Personally, I like the idea.

[Footslogger]

As Dick explained the BMT is a primative trail. It's intention is not for a thoroughfare trail and/or your everyday hiker, but those wishing for more of a challenge. A little bushwacking and route finding is good for you.

Personally, I like the idea.

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No whining intended Sly. Just thought I'd mention that so's it wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who hiked that section. For the record ...I kinda like bushwhacking myself. Get a lot of it out in this neck of the woods.

'Slogger

[halibut15]

I've hiked several sections in GA (around Springer, the Toccoa River area, Cherry Log section), did a trail run on the section descending to the Ocoee, and have hiked the short Ike Branch/Slickrock Creek Trail sections in NC, and the trail is simply amazing. It traverses some of the most rugged and beautiful areas of the Southern Apps., and I might even venture to say they rival or better some sections of the AT that I have completed. Part of the allure of the trail, though, is that it isn't as cut and dry as the AT, and that map skills and route finding are essential at some parts. That said, however, the trail isn't impossible to find if you read up on the areas it passes through and become familiar with the terrain. It's definitely a hidden treasure.

[Sly]

I know Slogger. I didn't think you were whinning!

I just wanted others to know the trail may not be for everyone and beyond their comfort level. Besides Springer Mountain, there's only two shelters, one constructed on private land which the trail passes, and the other in the Smokies.

According to Dick, there's also some some waist deep fords without a ferryman in sight.

[Footslogger]

[quote=halibut15]the short Ike Branch/Slickrock Creek Trail sections in NC, and the trail is simply amazing.
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Come to think of it I did that section too. Used to get up in the Kilmer Wilderness/Slick Rock area a lot and wandered north one weekend toward the river (Little Tennessee ??). That is a spectacular place to hike and explore.

'Slogger

[Hikerhead]

I' hiked the original 93 miles last year and will hike the middle section this year.

[halibut15]

Not that bears that much of anything to be worried about, does anyone know if they're still closing trails up around the Big Frog Wilderness where the BMK runs down to the Ocoee? I'd heard a while back that they were periodically having to close some trails in the area due to very excessive bear activity. Hmm...

[Tha Wookie]

Not that bears that much of anything to be worried about, does anyone know if they're still closing trails up around the Big Frog Wilderness where the BMK runs down to the Ocoee? I'd heard a while back that they were periodically having to close some trails in the area due to very excessive bear activity. Hmm...

Not sure about that, but I did see two bears the last time I was near the BMT, while I was fording Jacks River. If he wanted us, we were too slow in the creek to get away. But bear attacks are very rare in the Southeast, and this one followed suit: checked us out, and scrammed (just like what we did to him!).

[RockyTrail]

That swinging bridge in Section 2 is something else! I'm amazed that ATC got it built with the assistance of the gov't; in today's climate I doubt they would ever allow it (but then, what do I know?).

It's a neat feature, not exactly "natural", but where else can you stumble upon a 250 foot bridge in the middle of nowhere?

[MisterSweetie]

BMTA Link.

http://www.bmta.org/

I'm close enough to this trail that I feel dirty for not having hiked some of it.

[Almost There]

Hiked the section near Springer and went up a little where it leaves the ATand the Duncan Ridge starts, but nothing extensive...yet!

[PROFILE]

I would say we "thru-hiked" the BMT, Kinda of. We did it be fore the new sectioned opened . Was his # for the old and new or just the new?

Josh

[Ratbert]

I'd heard a while back that they were periodically having to close some trails in the area due to very excessive bear activity.

Several years ago I had a DNR ranger tell me that the state was using the Cohutta Wilderness for what he termed, "A reform school for bears." Seems that whenever there was a problem bear in North Georgia, it was trucked over to the Cohutta (and therefore Big Frog) and dumped. I'm not sure if this is / was true, but if so it would be grouping together a large number of bears that had lost their fear of people and would most likely equate hikers with food.

Does anybody know if the state authorities actually use this area for this practice?