Once more, the season you choose to hike in will figure out what equipment you will want. Equipment lists would appear just like what you’d pack for your Appalachian Trail.

I will even add that I discovered sections in the trail to generally be fairly overgrown. As being a lesser-acknowledged trail, It is far from likewise preserved as, say, the way more utilized Appalachian Trail. I don't forget a bit prior to hitting Fontana Dam headed northbound the place I couldn’t see the trail or the bottom due to large vegetation.

Nevertheless it absolutely was cold, the Sunshine was shining on Springer Mountain after we arrived. I took my time soaking in the Solar, the accomplishment of ending my fifteenth thru-hike, along with the contentment that permeates that mountain for me. 

We attained a hotel, drenched from walking a highway with the outer bands of a hurricane, and hunkered down for 2 days.

The rest of the BMT is principally on Nationwide Forest Land, exactly where cables won't be provided. In such a case, you should be ready to use a canister or dangle your food stuff from trees making use of guyline.

In the initial 7 miles heading northbound, you might cross the Appalachian Trail 4 situations and join the AT for any mile just after A few Forks, where you will note both of those diamond and rectangle blazes on trees, up right until the trails split at Extended Creek Falls.

Once i hiked a bit in mid-May I built my reservation a few days before and all but just one web-site had availability. Then Once i hiked the last segment in November I made the reservation the evening in advance of and only one other was at the positioning with me.

Our hike was to some degree interrupted by a late-time hurricane that forced us to double zero in Blue Ridge, Georgia, in a very hotel with no energy!

At 50L it could possibly maintain adequate meals for the 5-working day have, but it isn’t so floppy any time you’re carrying significantly less that it’s aggravating. Incorporating pockets towards the shoulder straps assists improve accessibility of snacks, telephone, together with other frequent-use items.

The Benton MacKaye Trail is marked by using a white diamond blaze on trees. Along with the BMTA’s guidebook, FarOut contains a tutorial You should utilize on the mobile phone. The only issues I'd with FarOut was when I achieved Springer heading Southbound about the BMT, because the icons were not incredibly crystal clear concerning where the BMT strike the AT in relation towards the summit of Springer as well as parking lot.

The two of us experienced hiked the AT prior, myself thrice, and so it was interesting to benton mackaye trail check out it from the new vantage. 

Our hike started which has a challenging climb up into the Smokies, reaching the trail’s highpoint –  Mount Sterling – at five,842 feet. We traveled lengthy ridgelines throughout the  park and appreciated frequent views with the Pisgah National Forest as well as the park's central spine, the place the AT operates.

White diamonds and signage make the BMT well marked, nevertheless maps and guidebooks remain a good idea.

The sole permit you may need for that Benton MacKaye Trail is for that ninety three-mile portion as a result of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You may make your backcountry reservation on the internet approximately thirty days ahead of time, or for those who’re like me, just a pair times before.