I was beginning to think that mid April wouldn’t get here fast enough for me. I’ve been really looking forward to getting back out on a trail somewhere. I’m planning to start my Benton MacKaye thru hike next Thursday at Amicalola Falls State Park which is also the approach trail for the Appalachian Trail. Shortly after the summit of Springer Mountain, the Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) forks away from the Appalachian Trail. The BMT runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Davenport Gap on the northern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The BMT claims to pass through some of the most remote backcountry in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
During my hike, I plan to use the map above to mark my general progress along the trail with the use of this little guy 
to mark my approximate location. Right now, my little guy, looks like he wants to head out on the Appalachian Trail, I’ll have to make sure he doesn’t go that way. I may not be able to do a post update along the way and may have to wait until I return from Trail Days in Damascus, VA. I will keep current my trail stats, my general location map above and the Follow Me link on the right margin of my blog along the way.
Mary (aka Mrs. Whitewater) will drop me off at the approach trail, pick me up for a night in Blue Ridge, and she and my dad hope to join me along the way and spend an evening camping out near Ducktown, TN at Thunder Rock campground next to one of my favorite rivers, the Ocoee. My son, Bill, will picking me up in either Hot Springs, NC or Erwin, TN and we’ll head on to Trail Days 2013 from there.
Can’t wait to be back on a trail…I’m ready!!
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Whitewater's Long Distance Trail Journeys 
I know your feet are “HAPPY”, Good Luck for your hike……..
Thanks Hal!
Dave Have a wonderful time. The Benton MacKaye Trail should be beautiful this time of year.
Enjoy and know we will be thinking of you. I’m happy to see that Mary and your Dad will be spending a night on the trail. Have fun at Trail Days 2013.
Ed D
Ed…Thanks! All is going well!
David–all the best. In case you just keep walking and wind up in Kent, give me a call!! Mike
Mike, I don’t think I making that far this year…but Thanks! Hope to see you down in OB Memorial Day weekend.
David
We will be watching as before!!!
Thanks Jim!
Hope you’re having a great hike. I don’t know if you got my message but I won’t be able to meet you at Trail Days this year. My wife, Lorri, had two surgeries last month. The last one was a major one. With all of the added expensives I don’t feel I can. I hope you great success on the PCT. I read a book about it and had to laugh. Be careful. Keep a good supply of water. Enjoy. God bless.
RC Slowpoke
Happy trails 🙂 I will be hitting the Springer Mtn approach trail on Thursday. Will be completing the BMT in July. Super excited! Looking forward to following your hike.