I'm planning a week-long section hike of the AT from Springer to Dick's Creek Gap. How safe is it to leave a vehicle there for a week? Thanks!
I'm planning a week-long section hike of the AT from Springer to Dick's Creek Gap. How safe is it to leave a vehicle there for a week? Thanks!
I’ve heard there have been a number of issues there since its on main highway, I left my vehicle there for a couple nights before without a problem. Might be better to find a place in blairsville and hitch to it when you finish.
There have been a number of auto converter thefts further up the trail at the Winding Stair and Tellico Gap trailheads in NC in the last few months. I have heard of recent issues at the Unicoi Gap parking area too. I have always felt Dick's Creek Gap parking was safe and personally, had no issues in the past. Just a heads up and something to be aware of. Good luck.
What I have done in the past is get a shuttle driver to take me to the place where I start my hike, leaving my car parked at the shuttle driver's place, and then tell them what time/day (or call them from the trail) to come pick me up. I just think my car is worth something. . . don't want to risk having to call home and explain that I will have to have someone come pick me up (from another state away) because my car has been vandalized or stolen. Shuttle drivers are a bargain. Overnight might be OK, but a week is an invitation.
Thanks for the info, everyone! All good info.
Wish I had seen this earlier, but Dicks Creek Gap is the one just up the road from the former Top of Georgia hostel. I went through there in April 2017 and we arrived at that lot during a pouring rain waiting for a pickup and noticed about 6 cars with their windows broken out. Thankfully some good Samaritan put trash bags up over the broken windows.
It is what it is.