Updated Schedules with new dates, and food groups

Here are my new schedules, Plan A and Plan B. I have updated the dates and added food groups.

 

TRAIL HIKING PLAN A

NOTE: Flexibility is key for a hassle free hike.

The love of the hike and adventure, and not the schedule.

 

This is an aggressive hiking plan. Not sure I can do it in the Southern section of the AT called Southern Mountains. I have developed a Hiking plan B which doesn’t cover as many miles each day.

 

Total miles of trail: 2186.

Divided in three parts: Approximately 728.6 miles each.

Start March 11, 2016.

Section 1: Springer, Georgia to Daleville, VA. 727.8 miles. 8 weeks. Arrive First of May. Fly out of Richmond, VA.

Section 2: Daleville, VA. 727.8 miles to Kent, NY. 1467 miles. Fly out of JFK.

Section 3: Kent, NY., 1467 miles, to Katahdin, Maine. 2,186 miles.

 

Figure 18 miles a day. One day off a week. 108 miles a week. Note that the difficulty varies greatly along the trail. In some locations will do more miles, in others less. Total weeks will be 20 weeks = 5 months. Add 2 weeks for section 1 and 2 that makes the entire hike 6 months long. If I start the hike February 22, 2016 I will finish the end of August, 2016.

 

WEEK 1:

 

Day 1: Mar. 11, 2016. Friday. Drop off to Springer is 1 mile. Springer: N34.626705 W084.193848. Springer to Horse Gap parking 10.5 miles on trail. Horse Gap parking: N34.655613 W084.105659. Total day distance is 11.5 miles. The first week I am going to do less than 18 miles per day to get conditioned.

 

Day 2: Mar. 12. Lance Creek Restoration Area. N34.707863 W083.984970. 24.4 miles. 13.9 for day.

 

Day 3: Mar. 13. Sunday. Cowlick Mountain. N34.721588 W083.856453. 36.8 miles. 12.4 for day.

 

Day 4: Mar. 14. Blue Mountain shelter. N34.817234 W083.766769. 50.5 miles. 13.7 for day.

 

Day 5: Mar. 15. Addis Gap. 64.1 miles. N34.863258 W083.65029. 13.6 for today.

 

Day 6: Mar. 16. Dicks Creek Gap. 69.6 miles. N34.912163 W083.618896. 5.5 for day. .5 miles to Top of Georgia Hostel. Will spend two nights there in Hiawassee.

 

Day 7: Mar. 17. Zero day 1. Hiawassee, GA. Hiawassee Budget Inn. 193 South Main Street, 706 896-4121. PJ. Shuttle: 9, 11, 2 or 3, 5 or 6. Also Unicoi Gap. $40 cash, $45 CC. $10 box.

 

FOOD GROUP 2. days 8-16. 9 days.

 

WEEK 2:

 

Day 8: Mar. 18. Standing Indian Mountain. 87.9 miles. N35.035404 W083.538040. 18.3 for day. Want to make. Looks like great place to camp.

 

Day 9: Mar. 19, 2016. Fock Gap shelter. 106.0 miles. N35.091454 W083.523087. 18.1 for day.

 

Day 10: Mar. 20. Sunday. Wayah Shelter. 120.8 miles. N35.187855 W083.561966. 14.8 for day.

 

Day 11: Mar. 21. Nantahala Outdoor Center. 137.1 miles. N35.331223 W083.591896. 16.3 for day. Stay at hostel if available. Eat at restaurant.

 

Day 12: Mar. 22. Brown Fork Gap Shelter. 153.1 miles. N35.374058 W083.733849. 16 for day.

 

Day 13: Mar. 23. Birch Spring Tentsite. 171.9 miles. N35.502083 W083.814003. 18.8 for day.

 

Day 14: Mar. 24. Derrick Knob Shelter. 189.0 miles. N35.566532 W083.641823. 17.1 for day.

 

WEEK 3:

 

Day 15: Mar 25. Newfound Gap. 207.3 miles. N36.611187 W083.425255. 18.3 for day.

 

Day 16: Mar 26. Zero day 2. Gatlinburg, TN. or Cherokee, NC. Ship supplies to zero day city. App refers to Gatlinburg. Grand Prix Motel. 865 436-4561. Call for shuttle service. $30 from newfound gap. (Clingman’s Gap mile 201.1, before newfound gap) $40. 235 Ski Mountain Rd. Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Can mail packages there.

 

FOOD GROUP 3. Days 17-21. 5 days.

 

Day 17: Mar 27. Sunday. Tri-Corner Knob Shelter. 222.9 miles. N35.693832 W083.256569. 15.6 for day.

 

Day 18: Mar 28. Davenport shelter. 237.7 miles. N35.769577 W083.123268. 14.8 for day. (NOTE: Very bad reviews for Standing Bear Farm. 241.0 miles. Don’t stay there.)

 

Day 19: Mar 29. Roaring Fork Shelter. 256.4 miles. N35.804882 W082.949707. 18.7 for day.

 

Day 20: Mar. 30. Hot Springs, NC. 274.6 miles. N35.892399 W082.828049. 18.2 for day.

 

Day 21: Mar. 31. Zero Day 3. Stay at Hot Springs, NC. Sunny Bank Inn. 828 622-7206. P.O. Box 233, 26 Walnut St. Hot Springs, NC. 28743. Call from Standing Bear Hostel to make reservations - mile 240.3. $25 for private room.

 

FOOD GROUP 4. Days 22-29. 8 Days.

 

WEEK 4:

 

Day 22: Apr. 1. Little Laurel Shelter. 294.0 miles. N36.015133 W082.735924. 19.4 for day. No place to camp before it. Mom’s Store for a treat at Allen Gap. 289.1 miles.

 

Day 23. Apr. 2. Flint Mountain Shelter. 307.2 miles. N36.034882 W082.596619. 13.2 for day.

 

Day 24. Apr. 3. Sunday. Bald Mountain Shelter. 326.1 miles. N36.000114 W082.478104. 18.9 for day.

 

Day 25. Apr. 4. Uncle Johnny’s Hostel. 343.0 miles. N36.105637 W082.448456. 16.9 for day.

 

Day 26. Apr. 5. Cherry Gap Shelter. 360.0 miles. N36.129288 W082.263870. 17 for day.

 

Day 27. Apr. 6. Roan High Knob Shelter. 377.5 miles. N36105076 W082.122231. 17.5 for day.

 

Day 28. Apr. 7. US 19E. 393.8 miles. N36.177357 W082.011642. 16.3 for day.

 

WEEK 5:

 

Day 29. Apr. 8. Zero day 4. Mountain Harbour Hostel, TN. .5 miles to west. City Roan Mountain, TN to west, Elk Park, NC to east. Mountain Harbour Hostel, TN. 423 772-9494. 9151 Highway 19-E, Roan Mountain, TN 37687. 3 rooms, 8 beds in hostel, tents in back and can use showers. Call in advance to make reservations. Fills up fast.

 

FOOD GROUP 5. Days 30-35. 6 days.

 

Day 30. Apr. 9. Moreland Gap Shelter. 412.2 miles. N36.220200 W082.088303. 18.4 for day.

 

Day 31. Apr. 10. Sunday. Watauga Lake Shelter. 429.0 miles. N36.313862 W082.129517. 16.8 for day. Check, may be closed because of bear activity. Was closed in 2015.

 

Day 32. Apr. 11. Iron Mountain Shelter. 443.0 miles. N36.435379 W081.990936. 14 for day.

 

Day 33. Apr. 12. Abingdon Gap Shelter. 458.9 miles. N36.580978 W081.901711. 15.9 for day.

 

Day 34. Apr. 13. Damascus, VA. 469.1 miles. N36.635025 W081.789215. 10.2 for day

 

Day 35. Apr. 14. Zero day 5. Damascus, VA. Hikers Inn. 276 475-3788. hikersinn@gmail.com. PO Box 396, 216 E. Laurel Ave., Damascus, VA 24236.

 

FOOD GROUP 6. Days 36-46. 10 Days.

 

WEEK 6:

 

Day 36. Apr. 15. Campsite. 487.5 miles. N36.639397 W081.638908. 18.4 for today.

 

Day 37. Apr. 16. Old Orchard Shelter. 508.5 miles. N36.683231 W081.510887. 21 for today.

 

Day 38. Apr. 17. Sunday. Campsites. two at 525.1 & 525.3. 525.1 miles. N36.772396 W081.488831. 16.6 for today.

 

Day 40. Apr. 18. Campsite. 544.5 miles. N36.904240 W081.371826. 19.4 for today.

 

Day 41. Apr. 19. Campsite. 562.7 miles. N37.031288 W081.422829. 18.2 for today.

 

Day 42. Apr. 20. Jenkins Shelter. 577.1 miles. N37.093422 W081.247658. 14.4 for today.

 

WEEK 7:

 

Day 43. Apr. 21. Campsite. 594.0 miles. Last water at 581.9. N37.128155 W081.074455. 16.9 for today.

 

Day 44. Apr. 22. Campsite. 610.7 miles. N37.188522 W080.892365. 16.7 for today.

 

Day 45. Apr. 23. Woods Hole Hostel. 623.9 miles. N37.253540 W080.847420. 13.2 for today.

 

Day 46. Apr. 24. Sunday. Pearisburg, VA. 634.9 miles. N37.333065 W080.750381. 11 for today.

 

Day 46. Apr. 25. Zero day 6. Pearisburg, VA. Plaza Motel. 540 921-2591. 415 N Main St. Pearisburg, VA. 24134. Talked to Landa - okay to ship food box to.

 

FOOD GROUP 7. Days 47-52. 6 Days.

 

Day 48. Apr. 26. Pine Swamp Branch Shelter. 654.4 miles. N37.422119 W080.608467. 19.5 for today.

 

Day 49. Apr. 27. Laurel Creek Shelter. 672.9 miles. N37.358986 W080.420959. 18.5 for today.

 

WEEK 8:

 

Day 50. Apr. 28. Campsite. 687.7 miles. N37.375809 W0-80.247757. 14.8 for today.

 

Day 51. Apr. 29. Johns Spring Shelter. 702.1 miles. N37.365959 W080.152870. 14.4 of today. Get a shuttle to Roanoke, VA to get a transportation to Richmond, VA to fly home. OR if push on and go to Johns Spring Shelter. 709.0 miles. N37.385204 W080.073860. 21.3 for today.

 

Day 52. Apr. 30. Daleville. 727.8 miles. N37.393829 W079.906586. 18.8 for today. Spend night. 14.0 miles per day (including break days).

 

Day 53. May 1. Sunday. Travel to Roanoke and on to Richmond.

 

Day 54. May 2. Fly home.

 

TRAIL HIKING PLAN B

NOTE: Flexibility is key for a hassle free hike.

The love of the hike and adventure, and not the schedule.

 

Hiking plan A is built to complete 1/3 of the miles, 728.6 miles, by the middle of April. I do not believe I will be able to accomplish that. I have come up with a plan B. Plan B will be based on hiking 7 to 8 hours a day. I will try to keep it closer to 7 hours a day. The length will depend on where there is water and camping areas. In this plan the first week will be the same as plan A as it isn’t that difficult. I will also still plan to average a zero day every week. If necessary I might give up a zero day to try and get closer to 1/3 the miles before the middle of April. What ever my location is on the trail I will plan to head home around April 15th, 2016.

 

Total miles of trail: 2186. Note that the app shows 2189.2 miles. Official quotes state it as 2186 miles.

Divided in three parts: Approximately 728.6 miles.

Start March 11, 2016.

Section 1: Springer, Georgia to Pearisburg, 634.9 miles.

Section 2: Pearisburg, 634.9 miles, to Kent, NY. 1467 miles. Fly out of JFK.

Section 3: Kent, NY., 1467 miles, to Baxter Peak, Katahdin, Maine, 2,189.2 miles.

 

Figure 14 miles a day. At 7 hours that is 2 miles an hour. One day off a week. 84 miles a week. With hiking at this slower rate I will finish in September, 2016.

 

WEEK 1:

 

FOOD GROUP 1. Days 1-7. 7 days. Includes zero day at end.

 

Day 1: Mar. 11, 2016. Friday. Drop off to Springer is 1 mile. Springer: N34.626705 W084.193848. Springer to Horse Gap parking 10.5 miles on trail. Horse Gap parking: N34.655613 W084.105659. Total day distance is 11.5 miles. The first week I am going to do less than 18 miles per day to get conditioned.

 

Day 2: Mar. 12. Lance Creek Restoration Area. N34.707863 W083.984970. 24.4 miles. 13.9 for day.

 

Day 3: Mar. 13. Sunday. Cowlick Mountain. N34.721588 W083.856453. 36.8 miles. 12.4 for day.

 

Day 4: Mar. 14. Blue Mountain shelter. N34.817234 W083.766769. 50.5 miles. 13.7 for day.

 

Day 5: Mar. 15. Addis Gap. 64.1 miles. N34.863258 W083.65029. 13.6 for today.

 

Day 6: Mar. 16. Dicks Creek Gap. 69.6 miles. N34.912163 W083.618896. 5.5 for day. .5 miles to Top of Georgia Hostel. Will spend two nights there in Hiawassee.

 

Day 7: Mar. 17. Zero day 1. Visit Hiawassee. Hiawassee Budget Inn. 193 South Main Street, 706 896-4121. PJ. Shuttle: 9, 11, 2 or 3, 5 or 6. Also Unicoi Gap. $40 cash, $45 CC. $10 box.

 

FOOD GROUP 2. days 8-18. 11 days.

 

WEEK 2:

 

Day 8: Mar. 18. Muskrat Creek Shelter. 81.4 miles. N35.020706 W083.581444. 11.8 for today.

 

Day 9: Mar. 19, 2016. Betty Creek Gap. 97.6 miles. N35.028320 W083.478477. 16.2 for day.

 

Day 10: Mar. 20. Sunday. Tent site & stream. 110.8 miles. N35.122677 W083.556824. 13.2 for day.

 

Day 11: Mar. 21. Cold Spring Shelter. 125.6 miles. N35.231323 W083.559677. 14.8 for day.

 

Day 12: Mar. 22. Nantahala Outdoor Center. 137.1 miles. N35.331223 W083.591896. 11.5 for day. Stay at hostel if available. Eat at restaurant. (This stop is one day behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 11.)

 

Day 13: Mar. 23. Brown Fork Gap Shelter. 153.1 miles. N35.374058 W083.733849. 16 for day. (This was day 12 on plan A.)

 

Day 14: Mar. 24. Fontana Dam Shelter. 165.6 miles. N35.448494 W083.794128. 12.5 for day.

 

WEEK 3:

 

Day 15: Mar 25. Russell Field Shelter. 179.8 miles. N35.561657 W083.766464. 14.2 for day.

 

Day 16: Mar 26. Siler’s Bald Shelter. 194.8 miles. N35.5644274 W083.568153. 15 for day.

 

Day 17: Mar 27. Sunday. Newfound Gap. 207.3 miles. N36.611187 W083.425255. 12.5 for day. (This stop is two days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 15.)

 

Day 18: Mar 28. Zero day 2. Gatlinburg, TN. or Cherokee, NC. Ship supplies to zero day city. App refers to Gatlinburg. (This was day 16 on plan A.) Grand Prix Motel. 865 436-4561. Call for shuttle service. $30 from newfound gap. (Clingman’s Gap mile 201.1, before newfound gap) $40. 235 Ski Mountain Rd. Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Can mail packages there.

 

FOOD GROUP 3. Days 19-24. 6 days.

 

Day 19: Mar 29. Tri-Corner Knob Shelter. 222.9 miles. N35.693832 W083.256569. 15.6 for day. (This stop is two days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 17.)

 

Day 20: Mar. 30. Davenport shelter. 237.7 miles. N35.769577 W083.123268. 14.8 for day. (This stop is two days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 18.)

 

Day 21: Mar. 31. Ground Creek Shelter. 248.3 miles. N35.781689 W083.026230. 10.6 for day.

 

WEEK 4:

 

Day 22: Apr. 1. Cat pen Gap. 262.8 miles. N35.837231 W082.919937 14.5 for day.

 

Day 23: Apr. 2. Hot Springs, NC. 274.6 miles. N35.892399 W082.828049. 11.8 for day. (This stop is three days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 20.)

 

Day 24: Apr. 3. Sunday. Zero Day 3. Stay at Hot Springs. (This was day 21 on plan A.) Sunny Bank Inn. 828 622-7206. 26 Walnut St. P.O. Box, Hot Springs, NC. 28743. Call from Standing Bear Hostel to make reservations - mile 240.3. $25 for private room.

 

FOOD GROUP 4. Days 25-33. 9 Days.

 

Day 25. Apr. 4. Spring Mountain Shelter. 285.4 miles. N35.951790 W082.790001. 10.8 for day.

 

Day 26. Apr. 5. Jerry’s Cabin shelter. 300.8 miles. N36.056606 W082.657120. 15.4 for day.

 

Day 27. Apr. 6. Hogback Ridge Shelter. 316.0 miles. N35.964081 W082.587128. 15.2 for day.

 

Day 28. Apr. 7. Whistling Gap. 329.5 miles. N36.018631 W082.436859. 13.5 for day.

 

WEEK 5:

 

Day 29. Apr. 8. Uncle Johnny’s Hostel. 343.0 miles. N36.105637 W082.448456. 13.5 for day. (This stop is four days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 25.)

 

Day 30. Apr. 9. Cherry Gap Shelter. 360.0 miles. N36.129288 W082.263870. 17 for day. (This stop is four days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 26.)

 

Day 31. Apr. 10. Sunday. Ash Gap. 375.7 miles. N36.114784 W082.135323. 15.7 for today.

 

Day 32. Apr. 11. US 19E. 393.8 miles. N36.177357 W082.011642. 18.1 for day. (This stop is four days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 28.)

 

Day 33. Apr. 12. Zero day 4. Mountain Harbour Hostel, TN. .5 miles to west. City Roan Mountain, TN to west, Elk Park, NC to east. (This stop is four days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 29.) Mountain Harbour Hostel, TN. 423 772-9494. 9151 Highway 19-E, Roan Mountain, TN 37687.3 rooms, 8 beds in hostel, tents in back and can use showers. Call in advance to make reservations. Fills up fast.

 

FOOD GROUP 5. Days 34-40. 6 days.

 

Day 34. Apr. 13. Tent site. 409.8 miles. N36.217285 W082.058411. 16 for day.

 

Day 35. Apr. 14. Pond Flats. 424.2 miles. N36.282429 W082.118690. 14.4 for today.

 

WEEK 6:

 

Day 36. Apr. 15. Tent site & Spring. 440.1 miles. N36.406227 W082.018616. 15.9 for today.

 

Day 37. Apr. 16. Abingdon Gap Shelter. 458.9 miles. N36.580978 W081.901711. 18.8 for day. (This stop is four days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 33.) Maybe stop at Queens Knob Shelter. 457.5 miles.

 

Day 38. Apr. 17. Sunday. Damascus, VA. 469.1 miles. N36.635025 W081.789215. 10.2 for day. (This stop is four days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 34.)

 

Day 39. Apr. 18. Zero day 5. Damascus, VA. (This stop is four days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 35.) Hikers Inn. 276 475-3788. hikersinn@gmail.com. PO Box 396, 216 E. Laurel Ave., Damascus, VA 24236.

 

FOOD GROUP 6. Days 41-51. 11 Days.

 

Day 40. Apr. 19. Lost Mountain Shelter. 484.9 miles. N36.644394 W081.655876. 15.8 for day.

 

Day 41. Apr. 20. Many Camp sites. 498.2 N36.656414 W081.524246. 13.3 for today. Get water at Thomas Knob Shelter. 497.3 miles, .9 miles before camp.

 

WEEK 7:

 

Day 42. Apr. 21. Hurricane Shelter or Hurricane Shelter tenting. 512.6 miles. N36.714287 W081.509911. 14.4 for today.

 

Day 43. Apr. 22. Partnership Shelter. 531.5 miles. N36.809525 W081.422371. 18.9 for today.

 

Day 44. Apr. 23. Campsite. 544.5 miles. N36.904220 W081.371826. 13 for today. (This stop is five days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 40.)

 

Day 45. Apr. 24. Sunday. Campsite. 562.7 miles. N37.031288 W081.422829. 18.2 for today. Water .2 miles ahead at 562.9 miles. (This stop is five days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 41.)

 

Day 46. Apr. 25. Jenkins Shelter. 577.1 miles. N37.093422 W081.247658. 14.4 for today. (This stop is five days behind plan A hike. On plan A was here on Day 42.)

 

Day 47. Apr. 26. Halves Mill Shelter. 592.4 miles. N37.130795 W081.102989. 15.3 for today.

 

Day 48. Apr. 27. Campsite. 606.3 miles. N37.160221 W080.924622. 13.9 for today.

 

WEEK 8:

 

Day 49. Apr. 28. Tent site. 621.1 miles. N37.245800 W080.850098. 14.8 for today.

 

Day 50. Apr. 29. Pearisburg: 634.9 miles. N37.333065 W080.750381. 13.8 for today. Stay at Plaza Motel. 540 921-2591. For trip: 12.449 miles/day, including zero days.

 

Day 51. Apr. 30. Travel to Richmond.

 

Day 52. May 1. Sunday. Fly home.

______________________________________

 

On Hike Plan A: 92.9 more miles than Hike Plan B.: Plan A: Day 51. Apr. 30. Daleville. 727.8 miles. N37.393829 W079.906586. 18.8 for today. Spend night. For trip: 14.0 miles/day, including zero days.