The great outdoors is still being explored and enjoyed by members of a local hiking group.
The Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA), a nonprofit that hikes and helps maintain the Appalachian Trail’s sister pathway, plans to still conduct group hikes in trail areas that haven’t been closed by emergency orders.
“The BMTA normally schedules five or more hikes per month. Of course, these are not normal times. Nevertheless, because hiking in the outdoors is good for one’s mental and physical health, we encourage (our) members and others to continue hiking during this national health crisis and to do so safely. To that end, we are continuing our hiking program and welcome people to hike with us,” said Ken Cissna, group hike director.
“Of course, we’re not hiking on any trails that are closed, nor will we select trails to hike that are likely to be crowded. Under the circumstances, we don’t want to hike where there’s a whole lot of people. Our hike leaders are experienced, knowledgeable hikers and safety is our first priority.”
Cissna said the BMTA is using additional safe practices during its excursions including keeping increased distance between hikers and suspending carpooling.
“We had a conversation among the board on whether to continue this, drop it entirely or if we continue it, how (to do so). The (emergency) order from Gilmer County identifies hiking and walking as essential activities. We know how to do hiking well and we’ve figured out how to do it safely during this time,” Cissna said.
“We usually meet up at some place, like (a) park and ride. Say we were going to hike at Springer Mountain. We would meet at the park and ride, leave some people’s cars there and take a smaller number of cars to the trailhead. We’re not doing that now. We may still meet up somewhere, but we’ll caravan to the trailhead and stick to our own cars.”
Shuttle hikes, too, have been discontinued.
“A shuttle hike is where you drop a car at one end and drive back to the beginning, then hike down to the other car and drive back. We don’t do that anymore because it’s impossible to do without getting in someone else’s car,” Cissna explained. “Instead, we’re doing what we call in-and-out or down-and-back hikes where you hike a portion of a trail, then turn around and hike back to the starting place. Or we go on a loop hike, which is where you go around in a circle, then end up back at the beginning.”
The group is recommending anyone who plans on taking part in a group hike, but feels sick to err on the side of caution and stay home.
“A potential hiker who’s feeling ill, has traveled within the past 14 days to a location with a significant number of cases of COVID-19 or has been exposed within the past 14 days to a person who has been confirmed as, or is even suspected of having COVID-19 must not come on a hike,” Cissna noted. “If you’re feeling a tickle in your throat that wasn’t there last night or if your chest doesn’t feel quite right or you’re the slightest bit warm, there will be other hikes. Please stay home.”
All BMTA group hikes are being limited to a maximum 10 participants, he added.
“So far, we’ve had fewer than that, which is fine. Before, during and after a hike, participants must maintain an appropriate social distance from one another -— an absolute minimum of six feet, but 10 is desired. These rules are explained to prospective hikers in advance of the hike and again at the meeting place,” Cissna said. “The last time we had a hike, the thing about wearing masks in the grocery store and other places hadn’t come up. My guess is we won’t require people to wear masks on hikes because we’re outdoors and keep a nice distance apart.”
Last week, the U.S. Forest Service temporarily closed campgrounds, group recreation sites, picnic pavilions and restrooms, as well as several trails, dispersed recreation sites and roads in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest area. Those closings came on the heels of numerous Appalachian Trail access points and trailheads being shut down the previous week.
“The entire Appalachian Trail in Georgia is closed. I’m not sure if it’s closed if you head further north or they’re just requesting people stay off, but here you’ll find signs on every (closed) trailhead. In addition, all the connector trails to the AT are closed. Places like the Duncan Ridge Trail and the Aska Trails are closed. The Benton MacKaye Trail is also closed from Springer Mountain past the swinging bridge section and past the Fall Branch Falls section to Weaver Creek, which is just before the trail crosses Highway 515 between Ellijay and Blue Ridge,” Cissna said.
“I can’t read the minds of the forest service, but I think they’re trying to close the trails and trailheads they think are the most popular and most likely to draw crowds.”
Although some of the group’s planned excursions have been canceled due to those trail closures, parts of the MacKaye trail are still open to hikers.
“Our (schedule) has been changed considerably. All of these closures have had an effect on us, but there’s still lots of trails out there,” Cissna said. “We’ve had to drop some hikes because they’re in areas where the trails are closed and, in some cases, we’ve substituted other hikes on trails that aren’t closed.”
The group will not host any trail maintenance days for the foreseeable future, Cissna confirmed. BMTA work days are typically hosted once a month along the Georgia and Tennessee/North Carolina sections of the trail.
“When hiking, its pretty easy to keep your distance. Personally, I like it to be more than six feet (between people), but that’s a lot more difficult when you’re doing trail maintenance,” Cissna said.
April hikes scheduled
The following BMTA hikes are scheduled for the month of April:
﹣ Saturday, April 18. A moderate 5.7-mile hike on the Kimsey Highway to Thunder Rock Campground in Tennessee. Kimsey Highway is a historic Indian trail.
﹣ Saturday, April 25. A 5-mile moderate difficulty hike on the Wildcat Creek Loop beginning at Wildcat Creek Campground.
﹣ Monday, April 27. A moderate difficulty 6-mile hike on the BMT from Hudson Gap to McKinney Gap toward Fowler Mountain. Fields of trillium and other spring flowers can be viewed along the way.
﹣ Tuesday, April 28. A 6-mile moderate difficulty hike on the Towee Creek Loop with views of the Hiawassee River in Reliance, Tenn.
﹣ Wednesday, April 29. An easy-to-moderate 1.5-mile wildflower stroll and picnic lunch at Mulky Gap.
For more details about any of these group hikes, email HikeLeader@BMTAMail.org.