Backpack the Benton Mackaye Trail - Hwy 64 to Hwy 68 (Sections 12-14b)

This is an advanced backpack and requires prior backpacking experience! If you do not have a history of D5 backpacks with the club, I will be contacting you to confirm you experience. In general, you will be a good fit for this trip if you if you meet one of the following criteria: 1. You have a history of multiple D5+. backpacks with the club 2. You can verify that you have recently completed a backpack involving at least one 13+ mile day 3. You are a former thru-hiker of a major trail 4. You are an endurance runner (half-marathon+) who also has done at least one backpack.

About the trip:

    This will be a point-to-point backpack on a section of the Benton Mackaye trail. The hike will start at the BMT-trailhead parking in the Thunderhead campground, just off of Hwy 64. About an hour will be required to shuttle at least one car to the end-point of the hike on Hwy 68. The Saturday hike will be ~15 miles to the camping along Lost Creek. There will be a long 1700' climb in the first four miles, with mostly descent the rest of the day.

  We will strive for an early start on Sunday morning in order to complete the remaining 18 miles in good time. The trail descends to the Hiwasee River crossing the river and following along it for several miles. This day will include one 500' climb and one 800' climb near the end. We will finish at Hwy 68, retrieve the cars from thunder rock, and return to Atlanta.

   Note: Garrett will be organizing the carpool at Busbee.

About The Trail:

The Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) is a footpath of nearly 300 miles through the Appalachian mountains of the southeastern United States. It is designed for foot travel in the tradition of the Appalachian Trail (AT).

Running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Big Creek Campground on the northern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the Smokies), the BMT passes through some of the most remote backcountry in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, including eight federally designated Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas.

 A listing of the BMT sections can be found here: http://www.bmta.org/FreeDownloads.htm). This hike will encompass sections 12-14b of the Benton Mackaye.

  From Ducktown, TN, take US Rt. 64 west for 7.4 miles to campground sign (TVA
Ocoee Powerhouse #3). Turn left at sign and proceed around powerhouse into the
campground. The trailhead parking is supposed to be near the entrance.