The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Lao Tzu
Appalachian Trail #2 - Nantahala, NC to Iron Mountain Gap, TN
MAY 20 - 29, 2022
Location: Eastern United States
Length: 2,190 miles (3,540 km) Trailheads: Springer Mountain, GA and Mt Katahdin, ME Duration: 5-7 months Difficulty: Hard Challenges: weather, animal encounters, insects. Best season to Thru-Hike: Early spring The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail is about 2,200 miles (3,500 km) long. The trail passes through 14 states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. About 600-800 thru-hikers try AT every year with only 20% succeeding in the end. |
AT #2: Nantahala, NC to Iron Mountain Gap, TN Beside a good preparation and a great fitness, the key to success in a multi-day hiking adventure is mostly about the pack weight. A heavy pack will slow you down quickly, and your body will have a hard time recovering. That’s basically what happened to me last year during the 1st section. A lighter pack will make you faster on the trail, but you will have to make some choice or sacrifice about what not to bring. I decided to go light this year and not take my tent and sleeping bag. Because ultra-light gear can be very expensive, I decided to buy just an emergency bivy and a tube tent. I was a little nervous about that choice, but my pack base weight (without food and drink) was only 15lbs. Read more... AT #1: Mt Springer, GA to Nantahala, NC “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”, famously said Mike Tyson. That’s what happened to me at the end of Day 1 of my Appalachian Trail journey. I had planned 35 miles per day average and I felt good about this plan… while sitting on my couch. After an uneventful travel day from Boston, MA to Atlanta, GA to Amicalola Falls State Park, I settled in the campground and got everything ready for an early start the next day. Read more... |