[at-l] georgia AT springer to hawk mtn - according to pittsburgh

[Richard Mann]

miles (rounded) - location
>information
/footpath features/
0.00 (0.0) - SPRINGER MOUNTAIN
> vista west
> no tenting allowed
/easy descent/
0.15 (0.2) - SPRINGER MOUNTAIN SHELTER
> tenting, privy 140 paces east on rolling BB - /easy rolling footpath/
> shelter 120 paces further on rolling BB - /easy rolling footpath/
> water 95 paces further on rolling BB - /easy rolling footpath/
> second privy within sight just beyond shelter - /moderate descent/
/easy descent/
0.24 (0.2) - southern terminus BMT
> the white diamond blazed Benton Mackaye Trail heads east
> the BMT is an alternate footpath from here through the Great Smoky Mtn NP
/moderatly difficult descent due to rocks and roots - watch your step/
0.98 (1.0) - USFS42
> cross unpaved road to parking area
> tenting possible here if you show up late
/rolling footpath/
1.31 (1.3) - cross BMT
/easy descent/
1.61 (1.6) - cross stream
/easy rolling footpath/
1.94 (1.9) - cross BMT
/easy rolling footpath, then easy descent/
2.67 (2.7) - cross wooden bridge over stream
/mostly easy descent, some easy rolling footpath/
2.80 (2.8) - THE NEW STOVER CREEK SHELTER
> shelter/tenting 125 paces east BB - /easy ascent/
> seasonal water 115 paces further BB - /easy descent/
> privy?
/easy descent/
2.89 (2.9) - cross Stover Creek
> you will be hiking roughly parallel to Stover Creek from here to Three Forks
/easy ascent/
2.93 (2.9) - attain old road
> this "old road" will be your footpath from here to Long Creek Falls
/easy descent/
3.42 (3.4) - cross creek
/easy descent/
3.55 (3.6) - cross seasonal creek
/easy descent/
3.84 (3.8) - STOVER CREEK
> cross creek on wooden footbridge
> tenting 70 paces west on old road - /easy rolling footpath/
> old road west to unknown destination
/easy rolling footpath/
3.90 (3.9) - tentsite trailside
/easy descent/
4.28 (4.3) - BMT junction
> diamond blazed BMT east
> BMT shares the AT footpath from here to Long Creek Falls
/easy descent/
4.38 (4.4) - THREE FORKS, USFS58
> tenting west along unmarked short paths before and after bridge - do not tent east
> this area is called Three Forks because three creeks (Stover Creek, Long Creek and Chester Creek) meet to form Noontootla Creek
/easy ascent/
4.68 (4.7) - tentsite trailside
/easy ascent/
4.85 (4.9) - tentsite trailside
/easy ascent/
5.26 (5.3) - LONG CREEK FALLS, BMT/DRT junction
> tentsite 70 paces west BB - /easy rolling footpath/
> tentsite/water and "must see" Long Creek Falls 150 paces further - /easy rolling footpath/
> the diamond blazed BMT heads north, roughly paralleling the AT from here through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park
> southern terminus BB DRT (Duncan Ridge Trail), which follows along with the BMT for a while, roughly paralleling the AT from here until it rejoins the AT near the summit of Blood Mountain
> GET WATER HERE - next water NB is 2.7 miles. If you have any concerns that you may poop out before getting to Hawk Mountain Shelter, get water here. If you have intentions of spending the night at Hickory Flatts, get water here
>  please take the time to visit the scenic cascading Long Creek Falls waterfall. This is the first (or last, if hiking south) premier viewpoint along the AT, and should not be missed. The water is very cold, so be wary of soaking your weary feet
> if you wish to hike the old AT from here to Hickory Flatts, head north on the BMT/DRT a short distance, then stay straight when the BMT/DRT turn left. You will need to navigate over/around some blowdowns, but stay on the unmaintained footpath for about a mile until you attain the FS. Then turn right and keep looking right for the Hickory Flatts church facility
/easy ascent/
5.60 (5.6) - cross old road
/easy ascent/
6.14 (6.1) - end ascent
/easy rolling footpath/
6.28 (6.3) - HICKORY FLATTS PAVILION AND CEMETERY("LOGGING ROAD" IN DATABOOK)
> tenting/shelter/privy and really nifty unspooky cemetery west 300 paces on almost level forest service road
> no water available
> Hikers are welcome at Hickory Flatts, a remote church run facility with open-sided pavilion, ample space for tenting, 4-holer pit privy and unspooky cemetery. Non-hikers may also be present (church folk, hunters, teenagers in cars). Please leave area cleaner than when you arrived
> CAUTION - AT formerly was along opposite side of church facility, and previous guidebooks asked you to turn east to get to facility. Make sure you turn west to get to facility
/easy ascent/
6.42 (6.4) - gap
/moderate ascent/
6.52 (6.5) - end ascent
/easy rolling footpath/
6.62 (6.6) - gap
/easy ascent/
6.71 (6.7) - begin moderate ascent
/moderate ascent/
6.89 (6.9) - end ascent
/easy descent/
7.41 (7.4) - gap
/easy rolling footpath/
7.98 (8.0) - cross small stream
> get water here (next water source is 6.4 miles north). If the pools of water near AT are low, descend alongside stream a short distance to seek out deeper pools. The water source at Hawk Mountain Shelter will always be running, but it is a quarter mile descent from the AT to that water source
/easy rolling footpath/
8.13 (8.1) - HAWK MOUNTAIN SHELTER
> tenting trailside
> shelter/tenting 240 paces west BB - /easy descent/
> water 300 paces furhter BB - /easy descent/
> privy in vicinity of shelter
>Hawk Mountain Shelter is reportedly the most used (overused) shelter on the AT. Please consider tenting north or south of here
> CAUTION - Don't be surprised if a bunch of camouflaged jack-booted rambo-types (Army Rangers) ambush you during dinner!!!