AT Segment: Sassafras Mountain

Imagine you are a thru hiker trekking from Springer.  This is the first major mountain you reach with your backpack and you cannont believe how far you have to go to build trail legs and cardio.  But the reward is the first major view from the AT.  Guess what:  Springer is not much of a view so the treat awaits on Sassafras.  Come join us and encourage the thru hikers as the season has begun!

 

For the Sassafras hike, we will climb 1347 feet  during the 5.7 mile first half and then turnaround at Justus Creek and climb 1637 feet during the 5.7 mile second half.  With total climbing of 2984 feet and hiking 11.4 miles, these measures make this a D5 trek, hikes which are characterized as difficult, a challenging climb, and a faster pace.

As a D5, we will require recent Difficult experience for your enjoyment as well as the crew's pleasure of hiking together at a faster pace.  The crew will be supported by one Team Leader taking point and the other taking sweeper in alternation.

D5 experience is required along with the ability to maintain a Pace in the Fast End of Moderate.  If these qualifiations are not evident in your profile, we will contact you to request additional background on your qualification.  We do this to be sure we have a group hike meeting the group's expectations.

While this hike may be characterized as a ridgewalk, we will climb two mountains, Sassafras Mountain and Justus Mountain.  Be sure to bring your lunch for a quick mountaintop picnic.  The trail will pass a large old growth oak, take a nearly unrelenting climb of Sassafras, and will pass several towering rock outcrops as it winds through sharp switchbacks.