The benton mackaye trail or bmt is a footpath nearly 300 miles 480 km in length in the appalachian mountains in the southeastern united states and is blazed by a white diamond, 5. He wrote a paper in 1921, which i read during my research for this post, titled an appalachian trail a project in regional planning throughout this post, ill be sharing direct quotes from mr. The benton mackaye winds its way through the area around blue ridge, ga, and on into tennessee. Now spanning 93 miles, the benton mackaye will soon become a threestate trail leading hikers 275 miles through the deep souths largest concentration of public land. Every section is detailed with description of terrain, water features, and overlooks. The guidebook is divided into 12 trail sections, each including a map. Johnny molloys book has nearly 30 pages dedicated to the benton mackaye trail and he provides detailed information on each of the eleven sections of the 90. He was the man who came up with the concept of the appalachian trail. Veteran hiker and nature writer tim homan guides fellow hikers and backpackers along the scenic, primitive benton mackaye trail, currently a ninetymile trail that extends from. In 2018 me and my friend will redbeard wood attempted to through hike the. Official website of the benton mackaye trail association. Hiking books benton mackaye trail we currently dont have any books listed for benton mackaye trail. Jan 09, 2019 in his 2002 book, long trails of the southeast, writer and avid hiker johnny molloy wrote that the benton mackaye trail is what i imagine the appalachian trail was like many decades agoa lesser tamed path, steep in places, rough in spots, and still evolving.
North of us 64, the bmt will continue through tennessees cherokee national forest, through a small portion of north carolinas nantahala national forest, then across the great. Heres a summary of what you can expect by hiking the benton mackaye trail. Sherpa guides georgia mountains the benton mackaye trail. A guide to the benton mackaye trail from georgias springer mountain to tennessees ocoee river paperback april 1, 2004. Being a regional planner, he dreamed of a longdistance trail that would challenge hiking proponents of his day. Apr 11, 2016 on april 9, 2016, i began my thruhike of the benton mackaye trail at springer mountain, georgia. Feel free to contact us and recommend a book for this section. To hike the benton mackaye trail, the following maps should be used. National geographic great smoky mountainsnational park trails illustrated topographic map number 229. From there i dropped down more than 4,000 feet to the bridge over big creek which is basically the end of the benton mackaye trail bmt. But back then no one was publishing a guidebook for the entire trail, only for the georgia section and that guidebook was way more than a thruhiker would want to carry. The hiking trail was created and is maintained by the benton mackaye trail association, and it is named for benton mackaye, the massachusetts forester and regional planner who first had the. Johnny molloys book has nearly 30 pages dedicated to the benton mackaye trail which shares nearly half of the thirty mile duncan ridge trail and he provides detailed information including directions to the trailhead, highslows of the hike, campsites, and tips for the hiker.
In 1979 the benton mackaye trail association was organized to build and maintain mackaye s chosen route along the western crest of the blue ridge mountains. A new long distance trail was created, honoring the memory of the father of the appalachian trail. Following are a few trailheads on the benton mackaye in fannin county. Georgia overlooking the georgia mountains from the appalachian trail near its junction with the benton mackaye trail. Oct 26, 2014 the benton mackaye trail is named after the new england conservationist and visionary, who in 1921 first put forward the idea of the appalachian trail. The trail then proceeds north, roughly parallel to the at, for nearly 300 miles through designated wilderness and the great smoky mountains national park before ending at davenport gap on the at. Baxter state park is home to maines highest peak, mt. His name is bestowed on nearly 300 miles of pristine appalachian wilderness hiking. Driving the effort was a desire to see opened for hiking benton mackaye s chosen route for his appalachian mountain trail. What youll find here is a listing of the benton mackaye trail with points to use to navigate your way along the trail and listings of known services that the long distance hiker normally needs in order to resupply, refit, and rest as needed when undertaking a long distance hike. I was hoping for some advice on a potential hiking i was thinking about doing either this weekend andor the following weekend. Appalachian trail conservancy each year, about a thousand people complete a thruhike on the appalachian trail, walking the 2,192 miles that run from springer mountain in georgia to mount katahdin in maine.
Description the benton mackaye is one of the wildest longdistance backpacking trails in the nation. Benton mckay springer mountain loop georgia alltrails. A guide to the benton mackaye trail from georgias springer mountain to tennessees ocoee river by homan, timapril 1, 2004 paperback paperback 1702. Mile is closest trail mile to lake, not necessarily the best access. I wanted to do the first portion of the bmt starting at springer. Benton mackaye trail hiking books benton mackaye trail we currently dont have any books listed for benton mackaye trail. Each section has directions to the trailhead, highslows of the hike, campsites, and tips for the hiker.
The benton mackaye trail bmt begins on springer mountain 0. Spanning threequarters of a century, his long and productive career had a major impact on emerging movements in conservation, environmentalism, and regional planning. Veteran hiker and nature writer tim homan guides fellow hi. The benton mackaye trail starts on the top of springer mountain, georgia, 0. Without the vision of benton mackaye and the often abrasive tenacity of myron avery, the trail as we know it today would not exist. While the appalachian trail follows the eastern crest of the appalachian mountains, the benton mackaye trail bmt mostly follows the western crest.
Unfortunately, the waterfall is up near the top of the trail, so the full 5. The benton mckaye trail is marked with a white diamond blaze. This helpful book breaks down every section, including distances and access points. Trail guide series each guide gives details of the trail section by section, including trailhead directions, map, elevation guide, tips and more. Benton mackaye trail thruhike 2019 plugit in hikes. Using county roads for almost 5 miles, the benton mackaye leaves stanley creek road just past the falls branch bridge, beginning the climb to rocky mountain. Benton mackaye, myron avery, and the rivalry that built the appalachian trail, by jeffrey h. Benton mackaye trail association, cherry log, georgia. Veteran hiker and nature writer tim homan guides fellow hikers and back packers along the benton mackaye trail, currently a 90mile trail that.
Experience crystal coastlines, blue lakes, old growth forests, and outback desert. May 24, 20 my benton mackaye trail bmt thru hike posted on may 24, 20 by dnlangford well, i had another great send off from amicalola falls state park on thursday, april 18, 20 as i started my hike from the at approach trail up to the top of springer mountain. After leaving coker creek, cross the creek on a bridge, then follow the jmtbmt 0. The trail then proceeds north, roughly parallel to the at, for nearly 300 miles through designated wilderness and the great smoky mountains national. Engman aka sgt rock benton mackaye trail tipi walter at the quarry thruhikers guide 2011 edition approved for use by. Benton mackaye trail if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above.
Thats nearly 290 miles of trail and some road sections. A detailed, illustrated guidebook for novice and experienced hikers to hiking the scenic, primitive trail that runs along the western ridges of the blue ridge mountains. Apr 01, 2004 the benton mackaye winds its way through the area around blue ridge, ga, and on into tennessee. On october 14, 1989, many volunteers, along with a number of u.
Planner and originator of the appalachian trail and a cofounder of the wilderness society, benton mackaye 18791975 was a pioneer in linking the concepts of preservation and recreation. Benton mackaye trail fannin county chamber of commerce. Benton mackaye trail south to appalachian trail type. Hiking the benton mackaye trail by tim homan, paperback. The trail is named for benton mackaye, the forester, conservationist, and cofounder of the wilderness society who originally envisioned this route for the appalachian trail. In 1921 a man named benton mackaye introduced his proposal for a hiking trail that would traverse the appalachian mountain range. Since its completion in 1937, only an estimated 12,000 have hiked the entire length of the trail. Benton mackaye trail thruhikers guide 201718 guides now available in 1921, benton mackaye proposed a system of trails along the appalachian mountain range. Guthook guides hiking guides created by atlas guides.
This book should be required reading for anyone who wants to understand how such a complex project beginsand survives. The trail was finally finished in 2005 and was named for the man who started it, benton mackaye. The benton mackaye trail bmt runs from springer mt georgia to the baxter creek trailhead in the great smoky mountains national park. The southeastern serpentine trail sst is a 583 mile 938 km trek through the southern part of the appalachian mountains. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips. And the guide offers a great deal of information on logistics to help hikers prepare for their hike no matter the duration. The benton mackaye trail is managed and maintained by the benton mackaye trail association. I spent two additional days hiking north on the at before ending my hike in. Mackaye also envisioned a system of feeder trails that would bring hikers from across the region to hike. The association was organized in 1979 and began planning and making the trail in 1980. This hike will take you up to the summit of springer mountain, which is the southern terminus for the appalachian trail and the benton mackaye trails.
Ryan amc books, 2017, available now from amc, as well as from other online and retail locations the decade since benton mackaye had first proposed the appalachian trail at in 1921 held little public conflict. In 2018 me and my friend will redbeard wood attempted to through hike the bmt, but after both of us became injured we made the decision to call it. Benton mackaye trail hiking project hiking trail maps. Probably the most noteworthy name on the list is myron avery, who alongside benton mackaye, devised a plan to bring the. The pinhoti trail is part of a 337mile trail system combining the pinhoti and benton mackaye trails to create a contiguous route to springer mountain, southern terminus of the appalachian trail. Like all of homans books, it is the best guide out there. Mackaye rhymes with sky, massachusetts forester and cofounder of the wilderness society, was the man whose vision inspired. Our guide offers regional hikes including the bibbulmun track, kepler track, and more. Veteran hiker and nature writer tim homan guides fellow hikers and backpackers along the benton mackaye trail, currently a 90mile trail that extends from springer mountain in georgia into southern tennessee. This is not a joke experienced hikers whohave thousands of miles on various trails have gotten off track on the bmt. Mackayes paper which illustrate his vision and how it. My benton mackaye trail bmt thru hike whitewaters long.
After 20 days hiking the remote, wild, rugged benton mackaye trail we. Driving the effort was a desire to see opened for hiking benton mackayes chosen route for his appalachian mountain trail. I took in the views from another old fire tower that still stands on its summit. In 1921, benton mackaye proposed a system of trails along the appalachian mountain range. It passes through four states and consists of a combination of the foothills, bartram and benton mackaye trails, along with the smokies section of read more. Hiking the benton mackaye trail in the smoky mountains. The benton mackaye trail association website contains uptodate information on trail conditions and links to other helpful resources. In good trail conditions i can average 1618 miles per day on short winter days.
Blazing ahead jeffrey ryan 396 pages appalachian mountain club books, 2017 many aspiring thruhikers from across the globe set foot to hike the appalachian trail each year. While the appalachian trail follows the eastern crest of the appalachian mountains, the benton mackaye follows the western crest. We are slowly working on hiking all the trails in the smokies so maybe one day our paths will cross. Named in honor of benton mackaye, who inspired the creation of. Forest service employees with whom they had worked jointly on the endeavor, celebrated the opening of the georgia section of the interesting and diverse benton mackaye pronounced maceye trail bmt. His idea eventually became what is todays appalachian trail. Many aspiring thruhikers from across the globe set foot to hike the appalachian trail each year. We currently dont have any books listed for benton mackaye trail. Best backpacking trails in all 50 states jeff ryan. The benton mackaye trail association bmta was organized in 1979 and incorporated in 1980 to build and maintain the bmt. Overview of the benton mackaye trail named for benton mackaye, the massachusetts foresterregional planner who proposed the appalachian trail, this trail features remarkable changes in terrain and too many modern intrusions.
Hiking the benton mackaye trail peachtree publishing company. Hearing that someone other than our mothers enjoyed our journals is heart warming. Sounds like you have exciting hiking stories of your own. Jun 03, 2015 heres a summary of what you can expect by hiking the benton mackaye trail. Named for benton mackaye, the massachusetts foresterregional planner who proposed the appalachian trail, this hiking trail near blue ridge, ga features remarkable changes in terrain and too many modern intrusions.
The southern terminus of the benton mackaye trail 0. Bmt thruhikers guide benton mackaye trail thruhikers. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The following excerpt has been abridged and condensed from blazing ahead. Benton mackaye trail is a 49 mile moderately trafficked pointtopoint trail located near blue ridge, georgia that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. Probably the most noteworthy name on the list is myron avery, who alongside benton mackaye, devised a plan to bring the appalachian trail to life. Bmt section maps benton mackaye trail thruhikers guide. Hiking guide for the benton mackaye trail in great smoky mountains national park. A guide to the benton mackaye trail from georgias springer mountain to tennessees ocoee river at. Products a handbook for hiking the appalachian trail. Oct 08, 2004 also included is an essay on the origins and history of the trail and the benton mackaye trail association, as well as a timetable for the development of the remainder of the proposed trail, information about the gelogy of the area, and a brief biography of founder benton mackaye.
Climbing 1400 to rocky mountain, the benton mackaye trail follows ridges to cherry log. The origin of this challenging trail, which can be. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. Benton mackaye trail hiking trail guide for the smokies. The hiking trail was created and is maintained by the benton mackaye trail association, and it is named for benton mackaye, the massachusetts forester and regional planner who first had the idea for the appalachian trail in 1921. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Blue ridge is the first town on the benton mackaye trail system, which traverses the county into the cohutta wilderness and then into tennessee. In 2018 me and my friend will redbeard wood attempted to through hike the bmt, but after both of us became injured we. Hiking the appalachian trail the complete guide for. When we drove the 4 hours from my parents house in tennessee to springer mountain in georgia it was a trip that brought back a lot of memories. The duncan ridge trail shares the footpath with the benton mackaye until shortly after.
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