On March 15, IATNL Directors Arne Helgeland and Paul Wylezol visited the Appalachian Trail Basecamp in Amicalola Falls State Park near the southern terminus of the AT at Springer Mountain, Georgia. They took advantage of an opportunity to detour while traveling between New Orleans, LA and Tampa Bay, Florida.
Though Arne and Paul didn’t have time or weather to hike to the top of the 1,152 meter (3,782ft) mountain, they were able to tour the park’s Visitor Center which contains several panels related to the Appalachian Trail.
The Visitor Center serves as AT Basecamp and is the starting point for south to northbound treks of the Appalachian Trail from nearby Springer Mountain to Mount Katahdin in Maine, then onward along IAT North America through northern Maine, New Brunswick, Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec, PEI and Nova Scotia to Crow Head on the tip of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula. Hikers must register at the center
before passing through the gateway arch on their way to the official start of the AT at Springer Mountain
which is located 8.5 miles to the north.
The Visitor Center and Basecamp provides plenty of tips and reminders of best practices while hiking the AT.
And though Paul and Arne didn’t set out on a thru-hike or tackle Springer Mountain, they nonetheless enjoyed their visit and shamelessly ended their day as if they did!