THE APPALACHIAN APPROACH TRAIL: The Beginning
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Join me as I hike the Appalachian Approach trail and beyond in the state of Georgia. Come see what you’ll be up against as you start your attempted thru hike.
UPDATE: UPDATE: UPDATE:
You can access the stairs at around halfway point up thru a couple of access trails. I was misinformed by the staff at the visitor center. He told me they were shut down. The base of the stairs are and is, closed until April. But not all the stairs are closed. Thanks to the subscribers and the thru hikers that informed me of this. #appalachiantrailthruhike #appalachiantrail#appalachiantrail2023#appalachiantrail
BIGDAWG!!! Good to see your smile again!! TY for the fuel report and Ron's Service. Sad that I won't get to see the falls this year. I guess that means I'll have to go back for another visit sometime!! I think the night you stayed at Stover Creek Shelter was the night I stayed out at home in my shed. It was 16 when I got to the shed, 15 when I got settled in and 11 when I woke up. My boots were frozen to the floor...lolol!!! Stay safe out there!!! Peace Bro!! 😎👍✌
Thanks Frank! Glad to hear your enduring the cold successfully! You can still see the falls you just can’t hike up the stairs along side them
Good video. It is scary cold. Get a Heetsheet emergency blanket(its bigger, tougher, and quieter than mylar) and a Zippo Pocket Warmer(burns lighter fluid). Good Luck, Rick
Hello Rick! Great tips brother! I’m just taking it easy now and getting off at the hostels. I’m not suffering on this hike. I’m only here for a week. Just a quick Georgia hike.
So many memories flooding back, seeing Amicalola. Thanks for posting brother! Enjoy the hike and memories. And can't WAIT to see you at Shenandoah!
Can’t wait either!!
adding onto my old comment on my rewatch: thoroughly have been enjoying binge watching your channel because i love binge watching or reading anything because you cannot limit yourself when it comes to knowledge 👑👑👑 love your usage of wealth of information and just my opinion, the appalachian trail plaque, mouth cover, and flowers in the shoes. interesting choice of word, gassed 🤔 you've said it repeatedly in previous videos. only about a month ahead difference from a year ago when you began the trail to when you did this video, wow! 😲 excellent one 🙌
Thank you Pearl!!
Great video
Wow Big Willy back on trail!! Congrats looking forward to your video’s You Da Man!
Thank you Charles!!!! Just on temporarily. Good to hear from you again!
Greetings from the folks you met at Gainesville train station
Haha!!! Hey Tom!!! Great to see you! And thank you so much for commenting. I appreciated your kindness and friendliness at the train station!! Stay in touch and look forward to seeing you again!!
Sunday, January 21st: Good start. Sorry about missing the stairs. Water sources look good. Enjoy yourself is good. Trail legs will come. Glad the rain quit. Hidden Pond Hostel looks warm & comforting.
Hey Patrick and thanks for the kind words!! I’m definitely all comfy and cozy now. Appreciate your comment!
You're cracking me up except the cold part. I'm glad you spared your frozen condition. Love seeing you again. 😊
Always love seeing you too!!!
Thanks for clarifying about the stairs! My husband and I want to come down and catch those…but will wait until they’re open again. Good to see ya back on trail! Have missed your humor!
Flowerpower!! Great to see ya again! Just ton clarify, you can see the falls at its base, you just can’t hike up the stairs. When’s your start date?
We are sectioning the trail…but didn’t do the Approach Trail. Since we live close-ish, would be a fun weekend hike. We’ve made it to Daleville over the last 2 years…and are hoping to get more continuous mileage once my husband retires at the end of this year.
@@flowerpower1980 awesome! And congrats to your husband on retirement! I retired last year from law enforcement. That’s why I was able to thru hike the trail myself.
Actually flowerpower…evidently the staff may of told me wrong about the stairs. I heard from 2 people that there’s a way to access the stairs from the middle and walk up. I’ll call them tomorrow and see what they say.
Thanks!
Big Willy you be are an inspiration. Love your post . Stay safe & keep posting. 😊
Thanks Tom!! Your kind words are an inspiration to me always!! Thank you my brother as always !!!
Best of luck on your adventure! Be safe and smart!
Thank you Bill!! All safe now!
2023 AT hiker and Ron was the guy who dropped my son and I off. You are right, Ron is a legend and offered lots of advice during our drive up. He also had quite a bit of free stuff and fuel canisters if you needed one. He did weigh my pack (my son was only hiking 10-days) and at 27lbs he laughed and said I had to drop 5lbs. I laughed and then cried and then at Neel's Gap dropped 4lbs of useless junk I thought I needed. Spent a night at Hidden Pond as well and it was very nice. Through hiker couple run it and their attention and their hostel set a high bar for hostels. Best of luck to you. Odin sends.
Thank you Odin for sharing such a great story. And Ron gave me a lighter cause I forgot mine. He’s a savior for sure. Hope to see you on the trail soon.
I wish I was with you BigWilly!
My brother Pat! You are always with me! When I hike these trails alone I can hear your voice calling for me!!
We will talk about what hike we will do this year.
I'm watching this a week late - but I live in North Georgia and last week was brutally cold for us. I can't imagine being out on the trail through those temps.
It sure was! Caught me by surprise for sure. Thanks for watching!
am glad you're enjoying yourself, being careful, resourceful, and smart. like amtrak, too, but use nj transit more for going to nyc. you're not overweight. it's healthy weight 😊 it's cold back home, too. spent it reading and drinking at home 😊 good advice video for the 2024 hikers, am sure they'll appreciate it 🙌
Thank you Pearl as always!! We still have to get together soon.
@@BigWillyDawg, okay 😊
You're BACK, even if it's for a bit, YOU'RE BACK!!!! Never thought after you summitted that you'd be standing under the arch again, but boy, I'm excited to follow for however long it's for. You have such experience now. Thanks for taking us fans along again. 😊
Hi Elizabeth!! And you are absolutely right! I never thought either. But it seems im addicted to the culture of the trail. Not so much the hiking..lol. But yes… I have the itch again so you’ll be seeing me again soon on more adventures! And thanks for your friendship!!
Pour through years of AT videos on youtube
Welcome back BWD !!
Thank you so much!! I’m so happy to be back. Minus the cold….lol. I’m still hiking Georgia so I’ll have another video in a couple days.
Man do bring back some good memories. When living Gainesville, Ga. some 30 years ago, I would drag my wife and kids on trail hikes all through the North Georgia Mountains. Some of the best trails in the world. AT just one of several. Stepping off and a little bushwhacking can make for exciting walks.
Thanks Mallard!! Funny thing, I just left on the train from Gainesville to go back home to the Jersey Shore. And thanks for sharing your great story
Happy Trails, looking forward to following, all the very best, health and happiness.
Thank you Wingman!!! All the best to you and your family also!!
Good info. Thanks. I'm planning my thru-hike for the end of February, so hopefully not nearly as cold. It's a bummer Amicalola Falls is closed, so I may start at the terminus.
Thanks for the comment Jeff!! And we’ll all be rooting you on! Keep us up to date!!
Also Jeff, I was misinformed by the welcome center. The stairs are open halfway up the stairs. You have to take a couple access trails to get there. But the bottom half of the trail is closed till April
Wishing you safe passage, good health and good fortune. May your equipment provide you safety and comfort. May you achieve the success you desire. Happy Trails!
Thank you Pete for such kind words!! I also wish you and your family such good fortunes!! Thank you!!
I climbed those stairs in November and concluded that as fatigued as I was walking those steps, I need to get the idea of a thru hike out of my head. It's a fantasy. But I can tell you sure are having fun!
Hey Jim! Don’t ever think that you couldn’t do. Cause when I went up the stars, I had the same exact thoughts as you! And those thoughts continued throughout my hike. It’s just a matter of not quitting and not getting hurt. And all of us would be rooting you on.
On trail again! I guess your totally afflicted--TULA
Just temporarily for now. But I’ll be doing other sections soon. I just have to work for like 2 months. Then I’ll be more active again. Looking forward to the trail life again.
Take care out there, BWD. The weather has been gnarly down south this January. The hostel looks like a hidden gem. Glad you chose warmth and safety in those cold temps.
Thank you Wendy!! Great to hear from you again!!
Good luck to you! Be careful, stay safe and enjoy your Hike 🙏 It's good to hear that you're putting your safety first.
Thanks Joan! All is well with me. And thanks for your kind words!
Be safe, stay warm ,enjoy the hike. Blessings
Thank you so much! And blessings to you and your family also!!
Love it Big Willy. Favorite line "better to spend money than die." Miss you brother! See you at Trail Days.
Love ya to brother!! I’m forever indebted to you for helping me finish the trail and giving me a ride to the airport. You’re the best!! Can’t wait to see you at Damascus!!
Hey BWD! Good to see you having a little trail time. Be safe!
Thank you SorStopsAlot!!
Big Willey, it's really great seeing you again. We watched every video last year, and it's always great seeing another video. Stay warm, Sir. Praying for your safe travels hiking. Have fun, sir. John and Patty 🎉
Thank you John and Patty!! Thank you so much for your kindness towards me!! It sparks positivity within me. And thank you so much for watching. I’ll always look forward to your comments to make my day!
Only way to see views like this? You gotta get out there. Thanks for sharing… from East Tennessee
Thanks papajeff!!!
Man, oh man! Stay safe out there!
Thank you! But don’t you worry. All is safe. I’m in a hostel now.
Luckily we (GA) got a lot of rain in the last couple of weeks. This past Summer and Autumn all the water sources were bone dry. I've never seen it that dry. Locals (myself and others) were dropping water caches for the SOBOS. Ron is a legend. There are so many great shuttle drivers in GA. I'm glad you got out before the brutal cold came in. I've heard amazing things about Hidden Pond. Stay safe. Happy Trails.
Wow! What a drought!! And thank you so much for providing water for all the hikers! You are unsung hero’s! And thank you for the comment!!!
@BigWillyDawg Hopefully, I'll be out there in a year or two with my AT attempt!! Happy Hiking! 💚
@@zenkathikes thank you keep us up to date!
@@BigWillyDawg absolutely
Good Stuff! We have Ron's booked to pick us up from Dawsonville, looking forward to it!
We've done the stairs so if they aren't open it will be a little disheartening, but having done them once we will live with it. Can't wait to see Part 2
Thank you so much. And glad you got to do the stairs. And can’t wait to see your journey!
I'm glad you made it to the Arch and approach trail. Thanks for the great information. Since I won't be starting until late April, I might be able to do the stairs and falls, and then I'll stay at the Lodge and then start. You're the man braving those cold temps! You have a great sense of humor! I'm glad you decided to stay at the hostel. I am looking forward to the rest of your adventure.
Thanks Danny! The stairs should be done by then. Can’t wait to follow your journey. And as always, thanks for your kind words. Always appreciate you!
Thank you for turning the camera lol. You have good manners. I think you have a new calling for your retirement. You’re a great storyteller with a funny sense of humor and that nice soft Paul Simon voice. Thank goodness you got to the hostel and stayed safe.😊❤
Haha! Paul Simon!! Love it. And thank you Sue as always! Always love to hear from you. Paul Simon…have to say, no one ever told me that before. I’m gonna have to listen to his music now and compare.
Way back on one of your thru hike videos I mentioned it. Of course I don’t expect you to remember lol. I love his concert with Garfunkel in Central Park UA-cam.It’s bittersweet seeing you going through the southern terminus again. How exciting for you!
@@sulj3373 I do seem to remember you saying that actually. And I do remember the Central Park concert too!! And it is kind of exciting. No pressure, just have fun.
Great video!
Thank you Allison!!!
Thursday, January 25th: thanks for your video and the info. Brought back memories.
Thank you Patrick!!
Enjoy your videos! Still buying my gear but one day ….I’ll be out there too!
Thank you Leslie!! And I look forward to that day to cheer you on!!!
Smiles over miles...
For now on….Always!!! lol.
Happy Trails!
Thank you Donna!!
Excellent info, take care.
We’re enjoying your videos! 64 days until we step off! 🥾 See you up trail.
Doogie!!!!!!! What’s up my friend!!! Can’t wait for your journey. Vegas and I will be cheering you both on! And keep me up to date!!!
I agree! Going to Springer is what you want to do. You can get those 8 hard miles directly on the AT.
You certainly can and will!! lol. And thank you Mary for commenting. Look forward to hearing from you again!!
Thanks so much BWD for taking one for the team! Sure appreciate your sacrifice. Hopefully it warms up by late February- I don’t have the gear for -11 either or even 0 for that matter haha. Take care- I hope you get better weather soon.
Thank so much! Always appreciate your kindness. Looking forward to your start. How’s your editing skills evolving?
Haha, I am getting there - it’s a process! I hope to get a lot of practice on the AT! Evolving was a good word to use. You know how long it takes, in nature, for small changes to occur - thousands of years! That’s about how my editing skills are “evolving” too haha. Stay warm out there BWD - slow and steady wins the race.
@TeaParty45 glad you’re getting better. Looking forward to those videos !!
You can get your tag in Damascus VA!
Great point Johnny!! I didn’t even think of that. I’ll put that out on my next video. Thank you!
Yay - you are out there again! - so cool - can I suggest a warmer hat? Omg I get cold just watching the cap LOL - stay safe ❤
Hi Lena!! And no worries. I had a better hat for sleeping. I’m home now safe and warm. Good to see you again!!
Great video, stay warm as you can. I hope we cross pathes someday out there on the trail.
Would love to meet you on trail also! We’d have a great time for sure. Keep me up to date on your whereabouts. We have some reunion hikes coming up I believe and our next one is in Virginia and your always invited
Great videos BigWillyDawg, enjoyig them!
And I enjoy your comments!! And thank you so much!!!
I love this! Smooth trails, fella. I will follow on YT with interest!
Thank you John!! Great to have you in the trail with me!! Smooth trails forever!!
BWD good first day. Nice you can take your time. Stay safe
Hey Dennis!! Great to see you again!
Stay safe!!! I'll be following!
Thank you Becky! Good to hear from you again!
Congrats on starting the long journey! Sure sounded cold. I'd stay in a hostel too when it's that cold. Nice hot shower, warm bed and hot meal. I'm enjoying watching all the first starters. Take care!
Hi Judy and thanks for the kind comments. But I thru hiked the trail last year. I just sectioned hike the Georgia AT section to show the upcoming hikers what to expect. I may do other sections in the future.
I am Scribes Aunt Kim. I love following all the people that he wàs with. I think he's in Texas. I usually see him every summer at Myrtle Beach. Hey l will follow your journey.
Hi Kim. And thank you so much!! Scribe is one of my favorite friends!! Did you watch our Maryland reunion hike? We were together a couple months ago. He fell on the mountain and cut his head. lol. And thank you so much for following me.
@@BigWillyDawg l watched the Maryland reunion hike. I told him to go to the hospital but no. I also told him that he went 1800 miles without an injury and goes on another trail and falls.
@kimsieminski9857 I was his doctor on trail. So have no worries. Lol
Great Video! Can’t believe you’re out there in January! I’m watching your tips video now and your out “hunting”…hope your friends didn’t work you over too bad!😳😂
Come to think about it…..they haven’t talked to me in a while. Lol. And thank you so much!!!!
Only the lower half of the stairs is closed. You can cross the street and take the creek trail up to West Ridge which takes you to the viewing platform in the middle of the falls then take the rest of the stairs from there. The ATC has a map posted showing that route.
Hi Clover. I’m just hearing about this now. A hiker I’m with just told me about this. The guy in the visitor center told me it was closed completely. Then I called them and she told me the stairs were closed. So I was relying on them when I put out this info. Evidently they were wrong. I’ll make the correction on the next video. I’ll research the ATC map. Thank you so much for the correction. I’m gonna call them tomorrow again let’s see what they say to me.
Thank you clover! I put the corrections in the description.
Good stuff, Big Willy!
Thanks OZONE!!!!
Great video laughing my ass off stay safe have a great time
Thanks Joe!! I’m in a hostel now snug as a bug and happy as can be! And thank you for your kind words!
I call the approach trail the "meet and greet" trail. Good vibes your way, Crackerjack.
Absolutely is!! And thank you so much!! Good vibes being echoed back to you!!
Are you thinking about sharing your train ride with us??
We enjoy seeing what you are experiencing.
I sure will. On my way home I’ll post my train ride. I posted my ride down in a UA-cam short I believe. But my mind is old and I can’t remember anything anymore. lol. Good to hear from you again!!
I hope the weather changes for you by the weekend. At least you have water on the AT as opposed to the CT where you look for water bottle caches and drink cow water.
Hi John and thank you! Plenty of water for sure here in Georgia. And the weather has warmed up a bit and is actually raining. Thankful not to be drinking cow water!! lol.
Great video! I will follow your journey. New follower here. Crow
Thank you Crow!! And great to meet you! I just subscribed to your channel and looking forward to watching your videos!!
Good show - the weather should be improving.
Gonna be warming up for sure. I think it may rain a little. But definitely improving
Good Luck
Thank you Willie!!
Hike your own hike. to approach or not approach....in the grand scheme of things, does it even really matter?
Nope..doesn’t matter at all. Just wanted to show the trail and my thoughts
Already on the trail I'm jealous
Come on out!! Looking forward to meeting you!
Would you recommend getting to the start by train from the PA/NJ area or some other way (plane, bus)? Your advice on the most economical way to get to the start of the A.T. would be very helpful. Thank you.
Good morning Dennis. I think the most economical and convenient way to get to the A.T. Is definitely by plane. Very cheap flights go out of Trenton to Atlanta daily. But transportation from Atlanta to the trail seems a bit inconvenient and maybe pricey for a shuttle from there. So maybe it evens out financially but…16 hour train ride is a long time. I was recreating my steps from my thru hike last year as to why I took the train. The train ride was $133 one way. The shuttle from Gainesville to Amicoloa is about $80. But with the train you don’t have to worry about what’s in your bag like fuel and lighters and such. So that’s a nice convenience
Are you hiking the whole AT again?
Hi John. I’m just hiking Georgia. Then I have to go back home to work. I had some time off and figured what the heck. So I came down to retrace my steps from last year.
👍👍👍
watch your head going under the archway- it doesn't look very high
lol!!! I wish I was that tall!!