Official AT Shelters and Guthook Marked Campsites Northbound from Springer Mountain

Southern Terminus Springer Mountain Mile 0.0

Springer Mountain Shelter Mile 0.2
Stover Creek Shelter Mile 2.8
Hawk Mountain Campsite Mile 7.4
Hawk Mountain Shelter Mile 8.1
Devils Kitchen Campsite Mile 14.4
Gooch Mountain Shelter Mile 15.7
Stealth site we stayed at. Incredible and amazing view. Look for a little path on your right. Water is
across the AT on left.
Little spring in a swampy area. Mile 22.5
Lance Creek Restoration Area Campsites Mile 23.9
Woods Hole Shelter Mile 27.7
Blood Mountain Shelter (don’t stay here) Mile28.9
Neels Gap-Mountain Crossing Outfitters Mile 31.3
(cabins here for rent and campsites)
Bull Gap Campsites Mile 32.4
Baggs Creek Gap Campsites Mile 35.6
Whitley Gap Shelter Mile 38.0
Low Gap Shelter Mile 42.8
Poplar Stamp Gap Campsite Mile 44.1
Tentsite Mile 49.1
Blue Mountain Shelter Mile 50.1

Notes:
This is just to get you guys started. Do your own research using Guthooks App or maps.
I’m not going to travel plan for you all, and I know you do not want me to. That’s half the fun, and
experience.
You guys are on the right path in terms of prep. You can decide your own mileages based on above
published options….and then there is…walk…find a flat spot…camp.

Official AT Shelters are highlighted.

Shelters typically have water sources at or extremely near them. They are a nice option on rainy nights.
Some campsites have water…some not.

Plan water accordingly using known, whether seasonal or reliable, Guthook App marked water sources if
you want to stealth camp. Camping wherever the F you want to stop is awesome. Just carry enough
water in if it’s a known dry camp for the nights meal and enough to get you to next water source the
next day.
I am not going try and list water sources. Guthook does a great job of it, and it is important you all do
this yourselves. Its your hike and you must be in charge of and in tune with it. For your own safety.
There is a lot of water on the section of trail you guys will be on providing they have not had a drought.
Water sources can dictate your daily mileage a bit or at minimum can be a consideration. As in, camping
near one or stopping and loading up for a short walk into camp. It is a normal part of planning. Don’t be
afraid of it. All hikers do it. Food, you can miscalculate on a meal or two and deal with. Water is
important.

However far you make it…make sure you can get a shuttle at that point back to your vehicle. Shuttle
services pop up and die. They can usually get to most road crossings and gaps with roads.

Mountain Crossing Outfitters, which will surely be close to where you end up, will have a current list
closer to Sept. Or Google. Or Facebook. You get the idea.

I would recommend not camping at gaps that have roads. Only because of potential of a car being able
to pull up. Not worried about safety so much as…your back country by choice. Who needs car lights
lighting your tent up at 11PM.

I think your initial thoughts on 7 or so miles a day is very realistic. Might have to leg it out a bit further
on a day to hit a shelter or site with water. Or conversely, pull up short one day. All part of it.

Here is a copy and paste from an email from guy who does most of our hike planning…because he likes
it. Not the section you will be on. As you can see….do not worry about over thinking it. A plan is good.
We do not, actually, we rarely follow it to a fault…but it’s a mileage starting point. On this trip, 3 of us
ended up getting totally separated in mileage. There are no rules. You can wing it depending on how you
feel. In fact, be willing to go with the flow. A rigid thought process that you have to stay on plan will
deter from your fun. After your first mile, you will officially be hiker trash…hiker trash don’t give a shit.
There are a ton of stealth sites you guys will walk by on your section in the fall and think…damn…that’s a
nice campsite. Sometimes I just stop…..good view, sunset, sunrise, I’ve had enough for the day…you get
the drift.

Power Hikers (101.6 miles total)

June 6: Shuttle from Damascus to VA 601 trail crossing, hike 15.0 miles south to Hurricane
Mountain Shelter.
June 7: Hike 16 miles south to Thomas Knob Shelter
June 8: Hike 12.3 miles south to Lost Mountain Shelter
June 9: Hike 15.9 miles south to Damascus

Leisure Hikers (91.5 miles total)

June 6: Shuttle to Dickey Gap / Hurricane Campground, hike 10 miles south to Old Orchard
Shelter.
June 7: Hike 11.2 miles south to Thomas Knob Shelter (meet Power Hikers here)
June 8 & 9: Hike with Power Hikers. (The 15.9 miles into Damascus on the 9th will be a long
day for leisure hikers, but we will end in a hotel with no need to set up camp or prepare dinner,
and with some cold beer waiting.)

Both sets of hikers:

June 10: Shuttle south to US 321 near Hampton, TN. Hike north 15.7 miles to Iron Mountain
Shelter.
June 11: Hike north 16.2 miles to Abingdon Gap Shelter
June 12: Hike north 10.2 miles to Damascus.
An alternative for leisure hikers would be:
June 10: Hike from US 321 north 12.4 miles to a camp site.
June 11: Hike 10.6 miles north to Double Springs Shelter
June 12: Hike 8.2 miles north to Abingdon Gap Shelter
June 13: Hike 10.3 miles north to Damascus. (One more day on the trail.)