Hiking Trip Reports :: Hiking Blog » Appalachian Trail

Damascus, Virginia :: Trail Town USA

Scott — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:46:34 +0000

Recently Damascus, Virginia found its way in front of me several times so I think it’s appropriate to showcase this friendly little town that helps thru-hikers on the AT. Even if you’re not thru hiking this is a great little town to visit and support. They’ve helped hikers so let’s return the love to them with our support and thanks.

Appalachian Trail Hiking Video

Scott — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:07:20 +0000

This video runs for over seven minutes and contains great pictures of one thru-hikers hike on the AT.

Appalachian Trail License Plate

Scott — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:57:21 +0000

You can support the Appalachian Trail Conservancy by purchasing an Appalachian Trail license plate for your state (if it’s participating). Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina currently are offering AT license plates and the ATC has received approval for Georgia plates and is taking orders. I’m submitting my application for a plate first thing Monday morning.

Hogpen to Unicoi – North Georgia Hiking Trip

Scott — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:11:31 +0000

There are over 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. Each section offers unique and beautiful valleys and mountains with breathtaking views. One of my favorite sections starts at Hogpen Gap and ends at Unicoi Gap. This 14 miles section starts on Hwy 348 of the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway and ends about ten miles north of Helen on Hwy 17/75 of the Unicoi Turnpike.

This trail is best hiked from south to north as the grade is easier. I’ve hiked south from Unicoi before making the first two miles steep and rocky. Starting from Hogpen Gap is not only beautiful but offers a slower start with more gentle climbs. The most difficult uphill section of this is the section between Chattahoochee Gap and the Blue Mountain Shelter. After that it’s mostly downhill.

There are two shelters (at Low Gap & Blue Mountain) as well as numerous camping spots. There are plenty of creeks and springs so you shouldn’t have to carry more than a quart of water at one time for this section. Your water should be treated or filtered of course.

The Hike 13.8 Miles
START Hogpen Gap Hwy 348 Richard B. Russell Scenic Hwy
Low gap Shelter at 4.4 miles
Blue Mountain Shelter at 7.2 miles
END at Unicoi Gap Hwy 17/75 (north of Helen)

Karl Meltzer Starts 47 Day A.T. Quest Aug 5th

Scott — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:11:06 +0000

Uber Athlete Karl Meltzer will begin his quest tomorrow (August 5^th) to complete the entire Appalachian Trail in 47 days. This will be an amazing achievement as the current record is 47 days and 13 hours. Hiking Trip Reports wishes Karl the best and will be watching closely. Currently it’s raining like a big dog in Maine and this will definitely be an obstacle so Karl needs all your good thoughts, prayers, and best wishes. Here are some links for those interested in learning more and keeping up with Karl:
WheresKarl.com – Track Karl’s progress day by day on the trail
karlmeltzer.com – Karl Meltzer’s personal Blog
Where’s Karl T-shirts – These shirts from Backcountry.com are limited and will probably sell out fast

Man Will Attempt to Hike Entire A.T. in 47 Days

Scott — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:08:19 +0000

Extreme hiker and athlete Karl Meltzer is attempting to hike the entire Appalachian Trail in 47 days. This will be quite a feat as it takes most hikers six months (180+ days) to complete the trail, if they complete it at all. Starting August 5th this Utah native will get to experience East Coast humidity as well as the rolling hills of the A.T.
You can keep up with Karl Meltzer and his record breaking attempt at www.WheresKarl.com and view photos at his flickr site. It’s a long way from Maine to Georgia so this is going to be a lot of fun to watch.
Good luck Karl. We’ll be watching.

Photo of Karl in Training by Tommy Chandler

Florida Couple Completes Appalachian Trail Hike

Scott — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:51:42 +0000

I love stories about people that go into nature and learn about themselves while beating self-doubt and perceived physical limitations. This story is about a married couple from Florida who decided to hike the Appalachian Trail after watching the PBS documentary Appalachian Impressions.
Neither had ever hiked for more than one day at a time and they set off to hike for six months to complete the 2000 plus miles of the trail. Congratulations to the Hencoskis for a job well done.

Read more about this AT adventure then chime in with your Appalachian Trail experience.

63 Year Old Hikes 2000 mile Appalachian Trail

Scott — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:44:10 +0000

The Baby Boomers are the first generation to prove that you don’t have to get old just because you’ve seen a few too many calendars. Sixty-three year old Bobby Yerike just finished hiking the Appalachian Trail for the second time. Instead of playing shuffleboard in a resort community in Fort Myers he’s accomplishing feats that most twenty year olds can’t. Read more about Buffalo Bobby and his 2000 mile walk through the woods (full story from app.com)