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Tell me all of the good things about the Georgia section.
Trail QuestionThat’s a good question . My initial answer was to say that my fear of other people in Georgia is irrational, and in a way it is. But in thinking about the difference between now and my last section hike, I think I might know the real reason. I had a traumatic experience with a dangerous person that has left me much more cautious about life in general. I thought I had processed all of that, but I wonder if my confidence is shaken because of that. Maybe that’s it. I can’t believe I had to write all of this out to figure that out. This is making more sense now. Thank you.
Edited to add that I’m so happy you are hiking with your baby! I wish I had done that.
It makes total sense that you're having this reaction now. I have the same pattern where rational stress will end up exacerbating irrational anxieties. You are so strong and so brave for getting out there and doing it anyway, which is how we push through those things we're afraid of. On the plus side: the solitude of the trail is a great place to think through things that you don't have the bandwidth to fully process in real life, and situational awareness only makes you safer. I've had nighttime anxiety, and what actually helps me is watching a dumb comedy. I used to feel like when I was in the woods I have to fully disconnect, but I've come around to the view that my time outside is my time however I choose to spend it, and watching something engaging and light helps break that anxiety spiral when little else can. And I've also left a place I planned to camp when I couldn't shake my discomfort. I'll never know if it was completely irrational, but in the end I was safe. To echo the other commenter, there are a lot of places to get off. When you're feeling anxious, ask yourself what's happened, what you know, and your other context (is there a group of campers at the shelter? Odds are it's much safer than camping alongside one other person). But if you get to a point that you feel that getting off at the next crossing is right for you, also fine! You can push yourself but also honor your current limitations. You're already there by planning this trip despite your trepidations.
This really means a lot to me. I needed the encouragement and it helped me reframe some of my thinking. Thank you.
👊 the trail is for all of us, and day hiking is still very much hiking
I've been there with having my sense of safety violated and having to re-acclimate. One thing you may look into is the women's only AT group on Facebook. You can post on there and often find a hiking buddy to walk with you.
Also, another great thing about GA is there are a lot of places to get off trail (except right at the NC/GA border) if you need to. Good cellphone coverage too. Happy trails!
Hi - normally I would say you need one but just for a safety blanket carry some bear spray. It’s good for all large mammals . Still scared? Ruger Lcr in 22 weighs about a lb, maybe.
if people can just show up on the trail going NOBO with zero experience and do it, i think you’ll be okay. georgia is like thruhiking with training wheels on for the rest of the AT
This is such a practical, common sense view, which is something I seemed to be missing tonight. Thank you so much!
Anxiety is a liar. She’s a bitch and tries to sabotage everything good.
Do it!! You’re gonna kill this. Good luck.
You are so right! I’m not letting anxiety ruin this for me. Thank you for the kind words!
Once you get out there a lot of the anxieties will fade. Clarity of purpose is your friend, all you gotta do is keep putting one foot in front of the other.
You got this shit, have fun!
I love this response, and I know you are right. Thank you.
Now that I’ve posted I can see that this is entirely too long.
TLDR: Scared to do Georgia section. Need cheerleaders.
I don’t think there are many people who consider Georgia harder than North Carolina. If you weren’t worried about NC, you are probably overthinking GA.
That was my suspicion as well. I’m forging ahead. Thanks!
Strange you weren't worried about bears in the sections you've previously hiked, but some shelters in that area are regularly closed due to bear activities.
I'm also a solo female hiker and sometimes get the scaries pre-hike or early on. But I remind myself more folks are killed by falling trees than animals or humans on trails. So don't fear. You've got this. -- and watch out for dead trees.
It is strange! I think my brain is grasping for things to freak out over, because I wasn’t scared of bears 5 days ago. I think my anxiety was just snowballing. Your point about the limbs put things into perspective. Thanks for the encouragement.
I read another one of your comments, and I think it's important to not beat yourself up about these emotions. Our brain tries to keep us safe, and you have recently not felt safe. So it makes complete sense that your brain is thinking of all the ways you could possibly be unsafe, so that you can be prepared. It might be helpful to let your body and brain know that you hear their concerns, and you'll be on the lookout for those potential dangers. And then try to enjoy your hike. Sometimes when I'm really nervous on a trail, I literally repeat out loud I can do hard things. It's helpful for me, even if a little bit embarrassing to put on Reddit.
These are all great suggestions. All of the responses have helped tremendously, but just writing my fears out in this post and rereading them has helped a lot, too. I regularly talk to myself out loud, so I’m going to be my own cheerleader on this hike, lol. Take care.
If you can do 30 miles you can do 85. Some can't even do that 30. I think you're reading too much into it. Is there someone that could go with you?
I really love being alone with my thoughts when I’m out there and I don’t want to let my nerves take that away from me. I think I will be fine once I set my feet on the trail. I think you are right that I can do 85. Thank you!
The pre-hike jitters are to be expected. When my wife dropped me off at the Springer trailhead, I was a mess. Especially since she did the short hike to the terminus, and I fell doing that!! By day two you should be golden. Good luck and enjoy your hike.
I live just north of Atlanta and section/weekend hike the Georgia parts of the AT all the time and have for years. I've taken my young daughter with me on several hikes. Never once worried about other people or animals. Be smart about your bear hangs or however you go about keeping your food away from camp. There's plenty of water - especially in the springtime. I dont exercise regularly, so every weekend hike kicks my ass, but I've never not completed what I set out to do. It's like the first time out every time. Georgia is tough but not impossible.
This is the most genuine and reassuring answer right here
This makes me feel so much better. Thank you for such a thorough response.
It's over quick!! I was still high on AT adrenaline when I got into NC.
Good to know! I should still be floating by the end. Thank you!
It’s not flat.
Blood Mountain remains one of my favorite hikes along the GA portion. The sense of accomplishment after the multiple false summits, the incredible view, the store on the other side that sells ice cream…
Thank you for the reminder to pack ice cream money!
Georgia has some climbs, for sure, but they end. Georgia also has some of the best views on the whole trail. The view from Big Cedar Mountain is breathtaking and worth a long break.
The other thing about Georgia that I miss, miss, miss is when you are hiking IN the woods, not climbing a mountain, or on a ridge, or descending a mountain, but in the woods with as much forest below you as above you. I'm not articulate enough to draw a better picture than that, but most of the AT is either climbing, ridgewalking, or descending. In GA, the trail moves through the forest like a snake (oops!) and it's just the best feeling to be so inside the woods.
Besides Maine, GA is my favorite state to hike in, and you have nothing but beautiful hiking ahead of you. Enjoy!
I love this description! It gives me something to look forward to. Thank you!
You’re going to be fine. Six to seven days is plenty of time if you are in decent shape. I think GA gets the “tough” label because it’s where most ppl start on thrus and no one has trail legs yet. It’s not flat, but nothing crazy either. I have thru-hiked GA and do day trips fairly frequently. My family and I love the GA AT. DM me if you’d like to chat further- I’d be happy to chat and ease any anxieties. I also hike with me small children and don’t think much of it. Ages 8, 6 and 3.
Thank you for the reassurance, especially about my time frame. I’m feeling much more confident today and back to looking forward to my hike!
I wouldn't sweat how hard Georgia is, it's definetly a "harder" state compared to some like Maryland or Connecticut, but if you've done Rock to the NOC and the roans you aren't going to encounter anything you have not seen before. GA gets more of a reputation I think because it's at the start of most people's thruhikes and it's shorter than NC so you're hitting the hard sections closer to each other, but in terms of individual challenge there should not be anything you haven't done before.
GA is also an absolutely beautiful section with lots of interesting areas that you don't see a lot of later on the trail. Rhododendron filled valleys, walking along the sides of ridges vs. atop them, really interesting and well maintained shelters, logistical ease vs. some other sections, and the general level of maintenance from the GATC makes it a unique and fun section to hike.
And for what it's worth, GA is very safe people wise in my experience vs. in the mid-atlantic where the trail crosses a lot more densely populated areas.
It’s reassuring to hear that I can handle Georgia since I did fine in NC. You made a good point about Georgia being the beginning of thru hikes. Many of those people don’t have much to compare it to and some of them aren’t super prepared, so I should be ahead of the game. And thank you for reminding me to look forward to the rhododendron!
I sectioned hike GA portion of the AT when I was 18 alone, I had lived in Miami my whole life and always dreamed of being out on trail but had no experience or anyone to guide me. To me that section of the trail will forever be a home away from home I have learned so much. To comment on the things you fear,
- Bears, the closest I've ever been to a bear has been in GA on the AT. The bear was big but young, and more afraid of me than I was of him. I never had issues with bears while camping and haven't heard of many complaints. I also would sleep near the shelters but not in them. The shelters often had bear cables or bins to put your food in.
2.Snakes, not an issue lol that's just a mental fear. I slept on the top of mount laurel on one of my hikes and was told there were some copper heads living underneath a rock near where I was planning on camping. I located the snakes and set up my camp away from them and no issues.
- People and being a solo female on trail, growing up in a crazy city being out on trail has always "felt" safer. I can't say i've never had weird interactions it is the south at the end of the day. But I truly have never felt in danger. As a matter of fact when I went to blood mountain I started talking to one of the few people that were there and he was an instructor from my university. We ended up becoming good friends and couldn't believe what a small world it was.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Everyone has made me feel so much better. Your comment about it being a home away from home has me looking forward to the same experience.
I’ve done everything up to Punchbowl Overlook in VA, backwards. I just did the approach trail and springer up to NC. It was easy. Plus there are tons of shelters, hostels, and chances for resupplies.
I've done about half of the GA section on various weekend hikes. It's not bad at all. It gets a bad rap from all the NOBOs who get over blood mountain and call it a hike and tell everyone how hard it was.
That makes sense to me. My nerves are settling. Thank you.
What dates are you thinking of? I'm an RN and slow but need to lose a little more lbs. I'm always up for a Springer hike! I can go for a weekend if you'd like!
My SIL, (60, petite, but athletic) just returned from doing 2 weeks on the AT. She started in Georgia and hiked north. She said the worst part was a thunder & lightning storm that caused her to take a zero day. No snakes, no bears, friendly fellow hikers including a family with 2 preteens.
She lost 7 pounds despite eating everything and anything, but didn’t feel weak or anything. She didn’t think Georgia was difficult, but then again she mainly hikes Maine (100 mile wilderness) and New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
You got this!
This is super encouraging. Now that you mention it, the worst part of my last two hikes was thunderstorms, too. I’m going to think about the fact that I made it through those just fine, and they were much more dangerous than the things I was worried about. Thank you for helping me.
If you need a hostel. Above the clouds has amazing people that are extremely helpful.
I've done the entire GA section multiple times, both north and south. You don't have anything to worry about. There will be plenty of people on the trail this time of year and chances are you'll run into another person at least once an hour. And they will be friendly and not dangerous.
I wouldn't worry about bears either. There has never been a recorded bear attack on a human in the state of GA. Do you really think you're lucky enough to be the first?
And I know a nurse who told me that nearly all venomous snakebites she treats are from two types of incidents:
- People who are gardening and reach their hand somewhere they can't see and get bit. She said this is by far the most common.
- People who see a snake and fuck with it - trying to move it, trying to kill it, etc, and they get bit.
It's extremely rare for a hiker to get bit by a venomous snake. And even if you do, it's probably not a big deal - you're never more than 5 or so miles from a road on the AT in GA and it's easy to get help. As long as you're treated within a few hours you'll be fine. The number of deaths from snake bites is so low that there's a wikipedia page that has a list of them and it's not a very long list.
I mentioned in another comment that I like statistics, so this was very helpful. I’m definitely not lucky enough to be the first bear attack. That made me laugh. Thank you!
I live in Georgia, I have solo hiked and camped all over the AT here and have never had a negative experience with anything other than weather. Wildlife is something you really don’t need to stress about. Only two people have died from a snake bite in Georgia in the last 5 years. Less than one person a year dies from black bears. They really aren’t a concern especially if you practice bear safety.
As for people, only 13 people have been murdered in the entirety of the AT in like 50 years. And of those 13 a good handful of those come from the same case, so in reality it’s around 6 murder cases in 50 years.
So statistically, it is completely irrational to have a fear about either of these in the woods. As far as people go, the truth is that hardly anybody is going into the wilderness in hopes of committing a crime. They are most likely hanging out in a city to do so.
I like statistics. Facts over feelings. Thank you for helping me to refocus!
If pepper spray is legal in Georgia, which I believe it to be, just pick some up if you are so worried!
It’s not Virginia.
My SIL, (60, petite, but athletic) just returned from doing 2 weeks on the AT. She started in Georgia and hiked north. She said the worst part was a thunder & lightning storm that caused her to take a zero day. No snakes, no bears, friendly fellow hikers including a family with 2 preteens.
She lost 7 pounds despite eating everything and anything, but didn’t feel weak or anything. She didn’t think Georgia was difficult, but then again she mainly hikes Maine (100 mile wilderness) and New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
You got this!
My SIL, (60, petite, but athletic) just returned from doing 2 weeks on the AT. She started in Georgia and hiked north. She said the worst part was a thunder & lightning storm that caused her to take a zero day. No snakes, no bears, friendly fellow hikers including a family with 2 preteens.
She lost 7 pounds despite eating everything and anything, but didn’t feel weak or anything. She didn’t think Georgia was difficult, but then again she mainly hikes Maine (100 mile wilderness) and New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
You got this!
Three forks is absolutely beautiful
Take it from a guy that completed the GA section NOBO last year never hiked in my life live in FL where we have nothing close to GA mountains but I felt the calling of the woods and I had exactly same fears but once I got there and the went btw I did had a bear encounter (far away) but it ran away when it heard me coming and that’s when I realized all my fears of the wild and overnight camping were baseless.Good luck you got this
oh and as far as the human being you will meet the nicest people ever
GA kicked my butt because I didn't have trail legs and had hardly backpacked before. However, that doesn't sound like that will be an issue for you. I ended up doing a LASH from Springer to McAfee Knob (starting end of Feb), but a few great things about GA:
- Great views
- Best trail magic
- Some great hostels
- You'll see snakes, but they move away pretty quickly. I only saw one bear (in TN)...for about 2 seconds, because he ran as soon as he heard me.
Obviously, you know to respect GA, but I don't think there's any reason to fear it. For a state that is mainly acclaimed as being the start of the AT for NOBOers, it really does have some beautiful hiking.
Oh, I'm 61 and I fell three times in GA. You got this!
If it helps, I regularly hike stretches in GA alone with my 5 month old baby. I don't say that to brag, just to encourage you that if my postpartum self (definitely not in peak hiking shape) can do it, you'll be fine. Plan for slightly lower daily mileage if you're worried and work into it.
Curious why Georgia gives you more pause on the other people front? Never run into any human issues, the bears are basically big raccoons, and the snakes don't want to be near you anymore than you want to be near them. The trail maintainers work really hard in GA to keep the trail pristine. People are generally friendly and the shelters are pretty nice (all with bear boxes). Lots of water sources and pretty views.