Ga AT Slackpack

Have you a desire to test yourself for a weeklong hiking experience of doing D5 hikes almost every day?

Are you considering whether you would ever want to slackpack the AT or backpack a long trail?

Would you like to see how you might do on one of the AOC's D5 Adventure weeks?

This trip runs Sunday - Sunday,  Each day begins at a road crossing and ends at the next major road crossing which works for an end-to-end hike each day (rather than out-and-back) so we can keep adding daily miles northbound and complete the state in a week.

The full week entails 8.8 miles on the AT Approach from Amicalola, 78.2 miles on the AT to Bly Gap, and 3.2 miles returning to cars at Blue Ridge Gap.  That's 90 miles in 8 days -- an average of 11 miles per day (low D5 daily by that metric)

The combined daily elevation gain is 22,800 feet -- an average of 2850 feet per day (low-D5 daily by that metric),

Hiking D5s daily can be taxing.  Recent D5 experience is a MUST.

The difference betwwen a Slackpack and a Daypack is that you pack your normal Daypack (under Events on the AOC webpage) and add your overnight kit and a lighweight sleeping bag or blanket.  The plan is to stay in heated places with varying levels of bed covering and most will have laundry, shampoo, soap, and towels.  This is the 3rd annual hike for me and last time my full pack needed for 4 of the days was 11.5 pounds

I have stayed at most all of the places and/or heard good reviews.  I have included my suggested Plan A, B, and C for lodging in the below outine.

The outline and metrics for each of the 7 days is as follows:

Day 1 - Amicalola to Three Forks (Amicalola Falls) - 14 miles, 3340 feet, 2.1 mph, 7 hours

Lodging:  Above the Clouds Hostel or Barefoot Hills Hsstel or Dahlonega

Day 2 - Three Forks to Gooch Gap (Long Creek Falls) - 13 miles, 2700 feet, 2.2 mph, 6.5 hours

Lodging:  Above the Clouds Hostel or Barefoot Hills Hostel or Dahlonega

Day 3 - Gooch Gap to Neel Gap (Blood Mt.) - rugged - 18 miles, 3600 feet, 2.0 mph, 10 hours

Lodging:  Blood Moutain Cabins or Mountain Crossings Hostel or Above the Clouds Hostel

Day 4 - Neel Gap to Hogpen Gap (Cowrock Mt.) - 10 miles, 2300 feet, 1.7 mph, 6.5 hours

Lodging: Home in the Woods B&B or Blairsville 

Day 5 - Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap - rugged (Blue Mt.) - 17 miles, 2800 feet, 2.2 mph, 8 hours

Lodging:  Home in the Woods B&B or Helen

Day 6 - Unicoi Gap to Dicks Creek Gap (Tray Mt.) - rugged mid D6 - 17 miles, 5300 feet, 2.0 mph, 9 hours (if we are not feeling up to it, we can make this day an out-and-back to/fro Tray Mountain)

Lodging:  Around the Bend Hostel  or Home in the Woods B&B or Hiawassee

Day 7 - Dicks Creek Gap to Bly Gap to Blue Ridge Gap (the GA?NC state line) low D6, 11 miles, 4850 ft, 2.2 mph, 9 hours

 Day 8/9 - is a cushion should we decide to shorten the daily mileage or take a recovery day

 Day 1:  Amicalola Falls

Ask the desk for a section hiker registration, the iconic bag hangtag, and use of the long-term parking lot near the front entrance from the highway.  The annual state pass does not apply for the long-term lot.  

After huddling at the visitor center, we will proceed through the arch marking the gateway to the Appalachian Trail and take the trail to the stairs.

There is a $5 Park Fee per car good for a 2-week stay.

go north on Georgia 400 past the outlet Mall to GA 136.

Left on 136 till GA 52.

Right into the park entrance.

We will meet at the visitor's center.

Once we have finalized the roster, we will start conversations with proprietors in March and have more on costs.  We will be sure to ask

for the "hiker rate" wherever we go. 

I believe food, lodging, and shuttles, will total below $100 per day.

Please note that the $25 AOC fee is non-refundable.

In the event of a full day of rain, ice, or wet snow in the forecast, we will not hike. 

We will hike in an afternoon rain given we will have limited our exposure to 4 hours or less..