After last years thru hike of the A.T. i knew i was going to be doing more. Over the winter i came up with a list of hikes for 2012. My first was to return to Springer and head north...this time on the BMT. While planning my hikes my sister showed interest in joining me for a hike so i figured this would be a good introduction to hiking...after all my introduction was with the A.T. The BMT was a good choice because it would give us a chance to run into Nobos on the AT when we intersected it and give her a taste of the thru hikers world. Also it was a good time of year weather wise and "it"s only 300 miles" like i told her. In truth after hiking it i have to say it was more challenging than the southern 300 of the AT.
On March 24, 2012 my sister and I left Daytona Beach & rode up to GA to the Springer Mt parking lot. The ride itself was the beginning of the adventure, we headed out at noon for what should have been a 9hr ride with our friend Dan packed into Mom's Prius. At around midnight we found our way to Amicalola Falls then made our way thru the dirt roads, in the Prius (not build for off road, just saying) to the parking area. Seeing how it was 2am when we got there we opted to crash in the Prius like a can of sardines.
Sarah & I before we left home
Day #1 - 3-25-12 - BMT southern terminus to Creek past Big Stamp Gap - 2.2m (BMT) 8.9m (total)
Crawled out of the Prius at around 8:30am and headed out Nobo on the AT to Stover Creek shelter for breakfast and met a few AT nobos just starting. We then headed back and climbed Springer for what was a much better view than the day i finished the AT. We finally got to the southern terminus of the BMT at around 4pm, after hours of playing around. We only hiked 2.2m on the BMT when we found a nice spot for camp. I'm feeling good back out in the woods!
the Prius
ready...set....go...
missed my blazes
view from Springer Mt
me on Springer Mt
here we go....
at a lookout
our first snake sighting
chillin in a field having a snack
first camp site
Day #2 - 3-26-12 - Creek past Big Stamp Gap to stealth past Bryson Gap - 10.8m
Slept good and left out late. Got to hike on the AT for a bit and saw some AT Nobos. Lots of up and down today. Hung out at an overlook & had a 6' rattlesnake slide right down on the rock we were sitting on. Good day, beautiful weather, this is the life!
our new friend the white diamond blaze :)
view from a lookout before wildcat ridge
6' rattle snake slid right down on the rock we were sitting on
Day #3 - 3-27-12 - Stealth past Bryson Gap to Spring past Licklog Mt - 9.2m
Tuff day with lots of nice climbs. Saw a horse running loose on the trail, tried to get a ride but the horse wasn't having it. Stopped an rehabbed a few water sources. Saw some Army Rangers who were lost and had to get directions from us. Witnessed Sanchez "drop weight" and once we investigated we realized he had dumped a 50-60lbs sand bag full of rocks they had to carry. Another good day in the mountains!
horse running lose on trail...we tried for a ride but no dice
water source - yummy!
setting up camp and making dinner
Day #4 - 3-28-12 - Spring past Licklog Mt to Tipton Mt - 8.6m
Today was full of playing in water sources. We ended up at the last water source for 2hrs playing and building an oasis in the woods, complete with piped spring and foot bath. Climbed up on the mountain and had a big dinner and set up camp. Always nice to sleep above 3k.
old dwelling rotting away
Sarah enjoying the foot bath we made
campsite on Tipton Mt
a lil video clip of our piped spring/ foot bath project
Day #5 - 3-29-12 - Tipton Mt to North fork of Laurel Creek - 15.6m
Sarah pushed a good day today and cranked out 15+miles. Had to do some road walking that we weren't very fond of. She left her vitamin water at the store and about lost it. Stoped at the water falls for a bit and soaked the feet. Hiked into the night to get to somewhere to camp and ended up with a nice spot near the creek.
waterfalls we had a late break at
foot soaking
hiking into the night
Day #6 - 3-30-12 - North fork of Laurel Creek to Indian Rock shelter - 4.4m
Woke up to a dog "congo" who ran into our camp. Found his owner, Ken, at the road looking for him. Got a ride into town for a Mcdouble fest and small resupply. Did a lil road walking, saw a couple having "play time" in a hammock, and ended up calling it short at the shelter due to rain.
"Congo" ran into our camp lost...we found his owner Ken by the road
Sarah huffin down Mcdoubles...thanks for the ride Ken!
Indian Rock shelter
Sarah prepin firewood (was raining some so we kept it inside dry)
Day #7 - 3-31-12 - Indian Rock shelter to Hatley Gap - 9.6m
Late start today. Ended up doing more road walking today down a questionable road with lots of drunk redneck traffic. Watched some fly porn on the trail. Sarah was struggling with blister problems so i ended up carrying both our packs for awhile. Nice camp spot for the night.
fly porn
lil sister's feet hurt so i carried her pack for awhile
Day #8 - 4-1-12 - Hatley Gap to Bear branch - 14.3m
Nice day of hiking! Love being back here in the woods climbing mountains! Big day!
Hiker Trail...not everyone could read this!
Day #9 - 4-2-12 - Bear branch to Thunder Rock campground - 17.1m
Today was a long hard day. Crossed the state line into TN today followed by a nice 1400' climb in less than a 1/4mile, which we owned! Lots of nice views today! Played in more water sources. Then hiked into the night to get to the campground. Enjoyed cold showers and charged up.
TN state line
another water source we fixed up
Day #10 - 4-3-12 - Thunder Rock campground to Kimsey Mt. highway - 7m
Crash n dash! Hitched into town for a mail drop and got picked up by "bear paw" fellow hiker trash. Got ride back out from river boat guides and hung out with them on a mountain for awhile. Ended up hiking down some fire road for like 4miles before we realized we were going the wrong way, unfortunately the trail had one up a hill we couldn't see (poor marking!) So we added 8miles to our hike for the day and barely found a spot by dark.
thunder rock campground
scored a ride from fellow hiker trash "bear paw"
Jessica, Caleb, and Zed - river guides we hung out with
Kimsey Mt
Day #11 - 4-4-12 - Kimsey Mt. highway to Hiwassee Bridge - 10.9m
Today was an awesome day. We hiked out early and i found the best creek ever with nice rocks so i took advantage and stopped and built some of my greatest cairns ever! We made it to the Texaco by the Hiwassee bridge and met "moma bird" who hooked us up with a spot to camp across the river, she even weedeated the grass down for us. As if that wasn't enough she also gave us firewood and some homemade wine (best i ever tasted!)
Building cairns is my favorite past time
Hiwassee Bridge
Sarah enjoying "moma bird" homemade wine
So Way approved hooch
Day #12 - 4-5-12 - Hiwassee Bridge to Cantrell Top - 21.7m
Hitched into town and got Subway (packed out some 6" subs). Hiked thru some "trail closed" sections that were passable, questionable but passable. pushed hard today and got to the top of a beautiful mountain with an awesome campsite. Soon after dark the sky opened up and dumped a ton of rain on us and made sure to soak everything extra good.
closed trail??? i think not!
closed due to this lil washout...walk around...
Sarah enjoying some Subway we packed out
Day #13 - 4-6-12 - Cantrell Top to Campsite near Tellico -
Spent the morning hang drying our gear. We hiked our butts off and yet again got lost on some side trail due to the lack of blazes and signage. Ended up at some campsite where we met a family that fed us and ave us a ride to the closest trailhead where we found a free campground near a dam.
dry time
Day #14 - 4-7-12 - Campsite near Tellico to Fontana Dam - ?m
Woke up early and hung out with some bikers who camped next to us. Then crossed the dam and ended up having to road walk due to trail damage from a fire. Got back on trail and found our way to the AT intersection where we side tripped to the Fontana "Hilton". Met up with a bunch of AT Nobos some of who we met when we had started.
jumping on the AT for a few
Fontana Hilton
Day #14 & 15 - 4-8 & 4-9-12 - Fontana Dam Hilton -0m
Got our mail drop and decided to zero 2 days and hang out. Wiggles & Ava came to see me and brought some wine and snacks. Nice to see my girls! Nice group here! Had a lil party and Bam Bam & Rocketman showed up. nice few days off to get situated and let my sis' feet rest.
Ava playing
Day #16 - 4-10-12 - Fontana Dam Hilton to campsite 88 - 11m
Back at it today and had a really nice hike along the lake. Lots of old cars along the trail and really beautiful views. Love to be in the Smokeys!
Day #17 - 4-11-12 - Campsite 88 to Campsite 76 - 13.9m
Another day full of views and old cars and buildings along side the trail. Sharing a camp with a few couples out doing a section together. Had a big dinner and sat around the fire with them. Another wonderful day in the mountains!
Day #18 - 4-12-12 - Campsite 76 to Campsite 65 - 14m
Hiked along the lake more, this section was pretty nice. Went thru a crazy tunnel thru a mountain and i swear the center was some kinda vortex. The graffiti in the tunnel was lacking an good art and its a shame because it was an awesome canvas. Hitched into town on the "road to nowhere" and mcdoubled up and ran back out to camp at dark.
Day #19 - 4-13-12 - Campsite 65 to Campsite 56 - 10.6m
Today was river crossing day, not sure how many times we crossed rivers and creeks but it was a bunch. We both ended up wet from the waste down and shoes are soaked. Walked into the night and had to do some crossings in the dark including a few down tree crossings. Camped at a nice spot next to the river.
"another crossing really"
you can do it!
crossed rivers on fallen trees in the dark...fun stuff!
MST intersection
Day #20 - 4-14-12 - Campsite 56 to Smokemont campground (Newfound gap)- 12.6m
Pushed hard today to get to the campground to meet Wiggles and Ava. Ended up late and had to hitch to town due to no phone reception. They scooped us up and we went to Newfound Gap to crash behind some bathroom area. Bam Bam joined us and we had some beers and smores. Chillin under the stars...
Day #21 - 4-15-12 - Smokemont campground to Laural Gap shelter - 19.1m
Up early and played around with Wiggles and Ava for a bit then back to the trail to push hard to the shelter. Nice shelter, one of the best if not the best i ever slept in! hats off to the builders! had a good dinner with my sis and reflected back on what we had done....tomorrows the big finish day!
Wiggles & Ava
Day #22 - 4-16-12 - Laural Gap shelter to Northern terminus of BMT- 13.7m
Up early and up the mountain for a great view and climbed the firetower and took pics. nice day of hiking, loved the climb up and down both. the ending was anything but great, it was a disappointment compared to the AT ends, not even a sign. But aside from that happy to be done and lad to share the time with my sis. That night we "went from hiker to homeless under a bridge".
After a lovely night under the bridge we made our way to Standing Bear for the day and ended up hanging out with the AT nobos for the night.
The next day we made our way to the next exit to start hitching home. Unfortunately we had no luck with the hitch but we scored an awesome place to crash thanks to "lefty" the river boat guide who let us crash in the "you will fall inn" and even scored a pizza for dinner!
The next morning we woke up early and got our thumbs working, a thanks to the truck driver who picked us up and rode us out of his way to Asheville. This is when the 33hr bus ride from hell began... our greyhound bus ride was not fun! the people annoyed us and our only defense was to remove our shoes and share our hiker feet smell with them.
