Spring break hike GA AT

[Thomas Eyler]

My girlfriend and I are planning on doing the GA section March 23-29. We are capable of the miles and have a decent amount of 3-season backpacking experience. My question is, what kind of weather should we expect? I know it's pretty unpredictable, but what would you bring in late march?

I was planning on bringing:

Clothes:

Montbell UL Down Parka

100wt 1/4 polartec fleece

Capilene 2 L/S

MH Powerstretch gloves

Fleece pants

Supplex Nylon zip off pants

OR Helium 2

I have a merino beanie, but I was thinking about getting a polar buff or warmer beanie, thoughts?

Sleeping:

TT Double Rainbow with liner

Exped Synmat UL 7

I was thinking about bringing a torso size piece of reflectix for a boost if we get some cold nights, thoughts?

Thick wool socks

30 deg EE revelation

Nalgene for hot water if needed

Do you think this should be enough? Anything I missed would be appreciated.

[Ben C]

I think you are probably good with that. Expect cool and very wet that time of year. You'll probably also be in the surge of thru hikers, so don't expect solitude or empty shelters. I would check the weather report just to be sure that 30 degree quilt is enough. I think it probably is. If the 30 degree quilt is enough, you are probably good with just the Synmat, but I like a 1/8 foam add with me anyway.

[M B]

Between 50 thru hikers per day starting, and other section hikers, and spring breakers, expect to have around 100 people per day starting trail.

Shelters will overflow, campsites will overflow, and privies will overflow.

The trail simply cannot handle that number of people.

You will survive with the quilt by wearing your jacket, but you might need a heavier jacket for camp if you dont like wrapping up in quilt if needed. Cold feet is the most probable thing.

Weather could be mild and sunny, to wet and 33F, to 10 F and very cold, to 2 ft snow. Or all of the above. Most people just head to town if it gets too wet, snowy, or cold.

[Brad Rogers]

If you could I would either do the BMT in GA instead or go further north on the AT as the AT in GA that time of year will be a complete zoo. The BMT would be nice and not have many people.

Check the forecast as the weather can be volatile that time of year. I would expect wet, damp, and cold. The last time I hiked through there the thru hikers I was camping with had gotten rained on 11 out of 12 days. It can turn cold too as I have been through there after an ice storm pretty much closed the trail down. I was hiking up Trey mountain and had a dozen through hikers pass me going the wrong way saying it was impassible. I got through but only after belly crawling and pulling my pack behind me under the rhododendron with 6" of ice on them. Another trip around standing Indian (just past the nc/ga border) in April where it was 70* one day and the next day was post holing through snow drifts to my waist (about 14" of solid coverage).

[Jeff Jeff]

March is the snowiest month of the year. I did two spring break trips on the AT and got snowed on both times. I would definitely want warmer gloves. Keep in mind that it can easily get below freezing.

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