Choose your shelter in Georgia!

Depending on the weather, terrain and just how far I feel like hiking, there are plenty of shelters along the way.

After leaving Springer Shelter, the following shelters are along the way.

2.8 mile mark Stover Creek Shelter. An alternative if Springer shelter is packed.

   


8.1 mile mark is Hawk Mountain Shelter.



15.8 mile mark Gooch Mountain Shelter.


28.1 mile mark  Woods Hole Shelter  Requires a bear resistant canister to camp there.


29.3 mile mark Blood Mountain Shelter.  Requires a bear resistant canister to camp here.


Historical building from 1934.

38.4 mile mark Whitley Gap Shelter


43.2 mile mark  Low Gap Shelter  built  up to be level.   Notice the Georgia style..


50.5 mile marker Blue Mountain Shelter


58.6 mile marker Tray Mountain Shelter


66 mile mark Deep Gap Shelter


71.4 mile mark  Plumorchard Gap Shelter



 Sign..



These shelters will lead you onto North Carolina..  at the 78.5 mile mark.

Springer Mountain

Here is where it all begins.. Sign in at Springer Mountain, Georgia. 3780 ft.  Chattahoochee National Forrest  Originally called Penitentiary Mountain for unknown reasons. Part of the Blue Ridge Mountain range.





The Appalachian Trail runs through 80 miles of Georgia.  The highest point is on Blood Mountain 4,461 ft.  Lowest point is at Dicks Creek Gap 2,675 ft.  


Along those 80 miles are many shelters for those of us who choose to stay on the trail.

Starting with Springer Mountain Shelter, it's where I hope to tent in the meadow my first night on the trail.   I begin in the morning to trek those 80 miles.  Hopefully, within a weeks time.




View from Springer Mountain




From Wiki:
Springer Mountain Shelter is located on a spur trail leading about 70 yards east of the Appalachian Trail. Blue blazes mark the spur trail. The trail junction is about 800 feet north of the brass plaque marking the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The shelter has a raised first floor and a sleeping loft reached by a permanent ladder. Each level of the shelter can comfortably sleep four or five backpackers.
There is a fire circle and wooden picnic table in front (west) of the shelter. There is a three-walled privy down the hill directly behind the shelter. There is a piped spring about 30 yards (25 m) south of shelter. The spring has provided water even in recent drought years. There are two sturdy cables strung in trees near the shelter. Each is equipped with pulleys and hoisting lines for hauling backpacks and food bags out of reach of the local bears, raccoons and rodents.
There is a meadow with room for many tents near the intersection of the Appalachian Trail and the spur trail to the shelter. The meadow also has a fire circle.

It will be busy there the beginning of April.  I hope to get a tenting spot in the meadow that night.  My plan which will most likely change several times is to tent as much of the way as possible.  Hummingbird "tenting" the AT.. 

Georgia on my mind.. Amicalola Falls State Park

Welcome to Autumn!   It has been a very long while since I have written here.  It's getting close to the 6 month mark to take off!  I can't believe time has moved so quickly.  Yes, it will be here before I know it!

Good News!  I am now Ellie Baughman..  Rick and I have made that decision to become a married couple.  It's good.  The hike is still on and will have that added challenge of being apart.  A most difficult challenge.

Before I begin at Springer Mountain, I do plan to hike the Approach Trail in Amicalola Falls State Park. Named by the Cherokee meaning "tumbling waters".

The the Approach Trail includes the "Falls". Beginning at the Reflection Pond, with 604 staircase steps to the top of the Falls.  It's 8.5-miles to the Springer Mountain summit.   What a workout that will be to start on!  Ha.

I plan to spend the first night at the base of the Falls at the Max Epperson Shelter for thru hikers only.  That way, I can begin my hike early and get to the top of Springer Mountain to prepare for another early morning start. If I just can't make it to the top, there is the Black Gap Shelter 1.3 miles from Springer.

There is a visitor center for hikers to sign in and weigh their packs. There is also the "Arch" for that photo moment!

Named by the Cherokee people, it is the beginning of the "Trail of Tears" when they were driven away to live in the Ozarks.