Some people ask me, what is it like hiking the trail in the winter? I tell them, don’t try it unless you are prepared for the worst that could happen; do not underestimate those trail mountains in north Georgia, they will test even the most prepared hiker. Now that the cold weather is here there will be those hikers that want to hike the trail to see the winter sights because the trail around this time of year is beautiful. You will see sights that you will want to remember forever.
One thing for sure though, it will be very cold and even colder at night. And it that is not enough, the wind will blow across those mountains like there is no end. With all the grasses and bush gone and the leaves from the trees all gone there is nothing to slow that wind. The wind is cold and it blows at some very high speeds sometimes all day and all night. You might think that a storm is coming; the wind is just that way. But rest assured it’s just the winter blowing in and through and it hardly lets up.
Your water will freeze, most of the trails water sources will freeze. This past year a lot of water sources were reported to be dried up, combine that with the coming winter freeze over and you will have very scarce water on the trail. If you use polar pure and do not somehow insulate your bottle prepare to replace it at Neel’s Gap because the water in it will freeze and the bottle breaks. If you use a water pump your lines will freeze and the pump inside will freeze.
You will be using fire to unthaw not only your toes and fingers but also your equipment like those items. So be prepared to use fire a lot this time of year. If you take a tent you might want to also bring along some ear plugs because the wind will be so bad that your tent will become like a tarp in the wind. A flapping tent all night is a great way to NOT sleep. If you think you will just be able to eat the snow and stay hydrated then think again.
Every year hikers make it as far as Neel’s Gap coming north bound, by the time they get to the center a lot of them are in bad shape. They are either infected with a virus that you can get from eating dirty snow and/or they are hypo-thermic from lowering their internal body temperature to dangerous levels from eating the snow. Now if you use the snow and melt it in a small pan and boil it before you fill your water bottles with it then it will be fine.
But most northbound hikers know that Neel’s Gap is just right over Blood Mountain and they cannot wait to get there. So they will just scoop up some snow and eat it as they go along. Make sure you carry a zero degree sleeping bag and a sleeping mat to insulate the ground between you and the bag. The ground will zap the heat from a body faster than you can imagine. Even sleeping in the AT shelters in the south part of the trail will not protect you because they are just three sided with boards on the floor.
The shelter floor boards usually have spaces in them because they are old shelters and the wind comes right up between them. So make sure you are prepared. Make sure to dress in layers and keep your socks changed to prevent cold toes. As you hike your feet sweat, your feet will freeze if you do not keep them dry. Although the winter may be harsh for hiking it is also a great time to hike, so enjoy winter hiking on the Appalachian Trail but be ready for ole man winter.
