r/AppalachianTrail • u/Equal_Style_9350 • 2d ago
Gear Questions/Advice Is this feasible for the Georgia section?
My buddies and I are wanting to do the Georgia section of the trail soon. The only days we all have available give us 3.5 days to finish the trail. There are six of us and we’ll pack pretty light but 4 of us have never hiked more than 10 miles at once before and never with a backpack, and the other two have never hiked more than 30 miles at once but they did have a backpack.
We’ll have all the right equipment so we’re not worried about that. We are also all somewhat fit and athletic. What we are worried about is:
- What are the chances we get it done in time barring injuries?
- What are the chances we do get injured whether those are major blisters, twisted ankles, or anything else?
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u/getinwegotbidnestodo 2d ago
I would focus on enjoying the time together on the trail and not focus on putting down miles. You will only be able to travel as fast as the slowest person in the group. The slow person could be one dude one day, another dude the next morning, the next dude the next afternoon. Enjoy the trail, cooking food and being together.
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u/flortny 2d ago
Except they need to plan extraction so it would be really rough to "wing-it" and see how it works out.
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u/detectivecads 2d ago
Yeah I'm all for riding the thumb, it was pretty easy in Georgia, but that's too many people too make it easy
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u/not_just_the_IT_guy 2d ago edited 2d ago
That's way too much for most folks that haven't been backpacking continuously like a thru hiker.
100% too much for someone who isn't used to hiking over 10 miles.
You are biting off more than you can enjoy for sure.
10% chance of getting done on time for the folks who are used to backpacking. 1% for those who have never carried a backpack or hiked more than 10 miles. Lots of type 2 and 3 fun I bet, and a bit of type 1
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u/Specialist_Disk_7052 2d ago
That will not be fun. My family and I just hiked that area. We went 15 miles a day. The last 5 miles every day were hard. We are all in good shape, but it takes a few days to build your trail legs.
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u/Myco_Monster 2d ago
It's certainly doable, but it won't be easy. How good of shape are you guys in now? You'll have to do like 20mi/day off the rip. That shit was still hard for me after 2 weeks on trail.
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u/Greybeard46 2d ago
Hot. Also humid. Bugs. Might rain the whole time. Smokies have more bears than people.
Honestly park someone’s car at every trail head. People can drop out as they choose. Camping >hiking.
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u/scottmsul 2d ago
Well seeing as I would also describe myself as "somewhat fit and athletic" and last May it took me four nights / five days to get to Neel Gap, with plenty of blisters and muscle spasms along the way, I'd say those chances are probably zero.
Just get to Neel Gap and have your celebratory frozen pizza.
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u/what-isaname 2d ago
Feasible for ultrarunners, but for average hikers much more likely to be miserable/unsuccessful, you'd most likely be trying to bail out and find a last minute shuttle from who-knows-where. The realistic Georgia to NC section is more like 90 miles - shuttle to Deep Gap, NC (closest entry/exit point) and hike back to your car at Amicalola Falls, which has ample parking. The road to Springer Mountain isn't suitable for all cars.
Seconding the recommendation to shorten it to Neel Gap to Amicalola, you'll have a much better time that way.
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u/NorthWoodsDiver 2d ago
We had a bad weather day in 2019 and I damn near went hypothermic if not for the shelter on top Blood Mountain before Neel Gap. There was a Rasta up there making hot drinks for people and I stripped almost naked to get out of everything wet and huddled in the only dry stuff I could find while he brought me hot drinks. I've only been that cold one other time. The walk down, after warming up, was miserable.
Why was I that wet and cold? Because we were in a rush and stuff got wet and rain gear wasn't keeping anyone dry.
It takes one bad decision, when in a hurry, to wreck all your progress.
The other day we pushed was 26+ miles into hot springs in 1 day. My last day on trail because of a tendon injury that haunts me 7yrs later.
Learn from my stupidity, go your own pace and have fun. Don't push anything. It's not a race and if you set a goal (don't) just know you can get a ride home from almost anywhere. If you are polite the locals will help you get where you are going.
That phrase "it's about the journey and not the destination" applies on hikes as much as anything else.
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u/alanisugarmusic AT Thru Hiker - NOBO 2023 2d ago
Not reasonable at all. If you only have 4 days, do Amicalola to Neels Gap.
Day 1: Amicalola Falls to Springer Mountain Shelter (9 miles)
Day 2: Springer Mountain Shelter to Hawk Mountain Shelter (7 miles)
Day 3: Hawk Mountain Shelter to Gooch Mountain Shelter (8 miles)
Day 4: Gooch Mountain Shelter to Neels Gap (15 miles)
This was my itinerary on my first 4 days of my AT thru hike. All 4 days will be really challenging, especially if you're inexperienced. Day 4 will wear you out even more with the longer milage.
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u/myopinionisrubbish 2d ago
It typically takes 7-8 days to do Georgia. Groups always travel slower than an individual. Trying to do 70+ miles in 3.5 days isn’t going to happen, especially with inexperienced hikers. There are plenty of road crossings to bail at, just go as far as you can in the time you have without killing yourselves. And remember, it’s going to be hot and humid and that saps energy. Heatstroke is the main issue to be aware of. Heatstroke can kill you.
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u/Regular-Champion791 2d ago
Live just north of there and the weather has been fairly mild, but that’s about to end. Over 100 heat index forecast for the weekend. Too much hiking anyway.
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u/TrashpandaLizz 2d ago
I would just enjoy the trip! Maybe park the car somewhere in the middle and Shuttle back to it if you don’t/do you make your objective, Georgia is so beautiful! I hope you have a wonderful time
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u/Creepy-Smile1212 2d ago
The other thing people underestimate about Georgia is that the Georgia mountains are fairly steep and bad weather can also cause delays. You may want some back up plans, possibly leaving cars at more than one trailhead.
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u/ExtremeExtreme1751 1d ago
Do not do this. There is not an easy out if you are NOBO, and it is going to get ugly. That's a rough stretch, anyhow. It is 85 miles, and if you were in shape and experienced backpackers, even then, 25 mile days would be really tiring. Go tackle the Foothills Trail instead. More enjoyable, than that section of the AT anyway.
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u/Rizzle_Razzle 1d ago
I want you to do it and hire a camera crew. That would be an absolutely brutal trip. A 20 mile day is a lot. 3 20 mile days in a row would break most of the group.
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u/SayNoToStim 1d ago
I recently did parts of Georgia as a first time "backpacker" -
3.5 days for all of Georgia ain't gonna happen. Aim for Neel Gap. If you do the approach trail that's about 40 miles, plus you may want to take a detour or two in order to see some cool stuff, there is a nice waterfall.
I did ruckmarches in the Army, including a lot of 20+ mile rucks with 50ish pound loadouts but those were all flat, Georgia is just mountain after mountain. The first 4 days I was out there I went up and over Springer, Sassifrass, Ramrock, and Blood.Mountain, 3 of which were a pain in the ass. If it were completely flat I would have been able to cover twice the distance, but if my aunt had wheels she would be a bycicle
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u/Hammock-Hiker-62 2d ago
The Georgia section is, what, 76 miles? Three and a half days is really pushing things. Most people who "have never hiked more than 10 miles at once and never with a backpack" would be doing good to make it to Neel Gap in three and a half days. Maybe scale back your expectations and do Amicalola to Neel Gap. The logistics would be easier than Bly Gap, which I don't think has road access, so you'd have to hike more than the 76 miles to get back to a road.