The Approach Trail from Amicalola Falls to Springer Montain

[fgblueenohanger]

My son and I hike the Approach Trail from Amicalola Falls to Springer Mountain last weekend, April 11th and 12th. It was approximately 8.5 miles with a 3000 ft elevation gain. It was a good hike, a pretty tough hike and a gratifying hike. It was very cool to make it to the top of Springer Mountain, the Southern Terminus of the AT. We spent the night on Springer and had a great night's sleep in our hammocks. We hiked out Sunday morning and took the Hike Inn trail for a short break and some pound cake and lemonade at the Hike Inn. It added about a mile or so to our hike out, but it was worth it.2014-04-12 20.09.16.jpg100_1055.jpg2014-04-12 18.27.56.jpg100_1061.jpg2014-04-12 09.46.32.jpg

[Cchelm]

Nice hike - glad you had fun.

[gunner76]

Fun hike. Last time I did it the weather was 100 degrees. Made for one hot hike.

Glad you made it.

[Sweeper]

Years ago I kept trying to get this section in on a Friday/Saturday in November - I would go after work on a Friday (drive up from ATL) and then hike as far as I could prior to dark, then hang somewhere along the trail near Frosty Mountain. The goal was to get up to Springer and back before the college football games kicked off on Saturday afternoon, and I always seemed to run out of time. After 3 attempts, I finally got the timing right and did it. The approach trail is actually some of the toughest AT hiking in GA in my opinion, and I've done all of GA several times!

I wonder if Wade Chandler, aka "Catfish", is still running the Hike Inn. He dated my daughter when she was in high school.

[fgblueenohanger]

That's what I hear, Sweeper. I heard from several people that the Approach Trail is the toughest trail in the Georgia AT section and I believe it!