Am I planning too big? Neel's to Dick's Creek Gap

[cbrown73]

I and three other friends are planning to pick up hiking the AT where we last left off at Neel's Gap in Georgia. I want to make sure I am not planning a weekend trip that is too long. We are planning on hiking about 36 miles in three days.

Based on your experience, am I setting up a trip that will cause everyone to be miserable. From what I have read in the current guide books I feel like we can do it but would like a little advice from a more experienced hiker.

Here is a little background on the group and trip.
-Every hiker is in mid 30's
-Fitness ranges from very good (adventure racer) to ok shape.
-Starting in mid April on Thursday to Saturday.
-We will be using tents not shelters.

My plan is to break the trip up in the three sections.

Neel's Gap to Low Gap 10.5 miles
Low gap to Tray Mountain 15 miles
Tray Mountain to Dicks Creek Gap 11 miles

[excuses]

Easily doable. The only caveat is the trail conditions in a month. Two years ago I did that in 2 days during April. The weather was drier of course.

[white_russian]

very reasonable.

[jesse]

I did it SOBO in three days/two nights.

[bmwsmity]

I did the exact same start-stop points on my hike from Springer to NOC... it was almost all in 6" deep snow, and the only day that was really tough was the one from Low Gap to Tray... you climb Rocky Mtn comin out of Unicoi Gap, and then you hit Tray... two big climbs... but you should be fine considering i did it in the snow...

Have fun!

[blackbird04217]

I don't know how your first section to Neels Gap went, but I remember my legs were killing me. Course I was completely out of shape. That said, a 12 mile day that early on was about my limits and even that was pressing on. Day light wasn't an issue, so maybe some better planned breaks would have done the trick. i know later in my hike 15mile + a day was easy.

If you can make 4 days out of it, I'd say it would probably be more relaxing. If you can't then what you have setup is doable, but that 15 mile day will likely be a long one, and the 11 miles after will be as long. But if you all have legs ready for hiking, it will probably be doable, I am speaking from my 'trail initiation experience'. Hope that helps, and have a good trip!

[drdewrag]

No sweat at all. Have fun!

[Grinder]

As an unrepentant old guy, I gotta say it's challenging to to knock off 10+ mile day at the gitgo.

My second year hiking, I did the route you are planning in 4 1/2 days.
that includes a late start the first day.

My second day was 11+ miles from near Hogpen Gap to Blue Mountain shelter, but that included a lot of road walk on an abandoned CCC road.


there was plenty of hours to make 10+ miles per day, but I was far from in trail shape.

Just sharing MY experience.

[Ox97GaMe]

I have to agree with Grinder. Although the distances you list CAN be done by a lot of folks on this forum, that doesnt mean it can be done by anybody. I am most concerned about your second 15 mile day. You will be feeling the effects of your first day on the trail to your body, so that day should normally be slightly shorter. And that 15 miles will include several steep climbs and a couple long gradual climbs. Could make for a pretty miserable day, especially if it is either cold and rainy or hot and dry. You could easily see either of these conditions in GA in April.

The other two days are very manageable.
Day 1 will include the brutal climb between Tesnatee Gap and Hogpen Gap.
Day 2 will include a challenging stretch on both sides of Addis Gap.

Have a great hike.

[Egads]

Your "ok shape" hiking partner will suffer big time on days two & three. You should either start at Hog Pen or add a day to make it easier

[bigcranky]

The first day is going to be moderately hard, but that second day is a killer for an "ok shape" guy in his 30s. Low Gap Shelter to Unicoi Gap is pretty easy, but then you have two substantial climbs to get to the top of Tray Mountain. I find climbs at the end of the day much harder than climbs early in the morning. The third day has a couple of good climbs, too.

Not saying you shouldn't do it, but keep it in mind while you are planning.

[tlap]

It looks a bit long to me. When I was 30-ish and in OK shape, I think 24-30 miles would have been realistic 3-day hike.

Lay out an alternate schedule that is more conservative for days 2-3, and decide what version you are going to hike sometime on day 2. Having an option to get off the trail at fewer miles and shuttle to where you need to be is always a good thing.

[mweinstone]

on the way to tray, everybodys like, talkin up tray like everest. didnt know i was over it till i was told. its a bump.

[Two Speed]

Your "ok shape" hiking partner will suffer big time on days two & three. You should either start at Hog Pen or add a day to make it easier

Might consider having the stronger hikers to carry the heavier stuff.

[jesse]

Get out there and hike. If its too much, bail at Unicoi Gap. No big deal. You got a good itinerary. No need to listen to the naysayers.

[jesse]

The reason I did that section SOBO was because its better to leave a car at BRM parking area, or have someone pick you up at Neel, than out in the middle of nowhere Dick's Creek.

[jesse]

If you make it to the top of levelland, you'll do just fine.

[Blissful]

15 miles is too long for the terrain, imo. And tray mtn is a good climb and you're doing it at the end of the day. And there is a steep climb down one of those gaps - my knees were not good there.

[Praha4]

day 1 and day 3 are entirely doable. day 2 is no picnic. if you have an extra day, split the day 2 hike into 2 days:

a. low gap to blue mtn shelter

b. blue mtn shelter to tray mtn shelter

like others said, you have 2 tough climbs between low gap and tray mtn

[drdewrag]

One of the sneakiest big climbs is Kelly Knob - after Tray. It's a butt kicker - especially at the end of a day, but your itinerary has you climbing that one at the beginning of your last day.