Originally Posted by
FLRider
If we skip the approach trail and start at Springer, our options change a bit.
The first day (Sunday), we can do a short hike to Three Forks campground (4.3 miles, mostly downhill), Hawk Mountain shelter (7.8 miles), or Justus Creek (13.8 miles). Personally, I'd vote for Hawk Mountain, just to get our legs under us and ensure that we have enough daylight after shuttling cars and such.
Assuming we start at Hawk Mountain, day two (Monday) has the options of Justus Creek (6 miles), Gooch Mountain (7.3 miles), Gooch Gap (8.7 miles), Woody Gap (12.3 miles), or Jarrard Gap (17.9 miles). Personally, I'd vote for Gooch Gap or one of the mountains directly thereafter (to avoid the traffic flowing through Woody Gap)--the issue is that my Pocket Profile is showing a stretch without water from Gooch Gap to Woody Gap. Don't know if you want to camp away from water or not.
Assuming we start at Gooch Gap on day three (Tuesday), we could hike to Woods Hole Shelter (10.5 miles), Slaughter Creek (11 miles), Blood Mountain Shelter (no water; 11.8 miles), Flatrock Gap (13.2 miles), or even Neels Gap (14.2 miles) itself.
Anyway, that's what it looks like right now. Thoughts?