BMTA
PO Box 6
Cherry Log, GA  30522

Contact Us

Current Officers

President:

David Blount

Vice President:

Darcy Douglas

Treasurer:

Margaret Evans

Secretary:

Sara Bland

GA Maintenance:

Tom Keene

TN/NC Maintenance:

Ernie Engman

Smokies Coordinator:

Bob Ruby

Trail Construction:

Bill Hodge

Hiking:

Ralph Heller

Membership:

Vic Fredlund

Publicity:

Marge Heller

Newsletter Editor:

Gene Nix

Conservation:

George Owen

Past Pres.:

Dick Evans

State Rep. - GA:

Steve Bayliss

State Rep. - TN:

Rick Harris

State Rep. - NC:

Vacant

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.

Association bylaws revised on 08-Nov-2008

Want to help the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, but not ready to join? Consider making a Donation instead. All donations are deductible to the degree permitted by law, and all donations are used directly for Trail Support, not administrative expenses. You can donate by sending a personal check to the address above or using a credit or debit card thru Paypal.

Home page photo, the BMT along Tennessee/North Carolina state line as seen from Whigg Meadow in Spring, courtesy of Alleen Davis.

	Attention Members
	New Burns on Georgia BMT - Late April, May The U.S. Forest Service has recently completed a controlled burn from the Benton MacKaye Trail southward east of Wilscot Gap. Now a new controlled burn, one of at least two planned, is expected any day between Wilscot Gap westward over Brawley Mountain to Garland Gap from the BMT southward. Hikers should be on notice that their hikes could be delayed or even canceled for a brief time through this area in the weeks ahead. For further information if planning the hike this area soon, contact the Forest Service at 706-745-6928. Noland Creek Trail Closure The Noland Creek section of the Benton MacKaye Trail in the Great Smokies National Park will be closed to all foot and horse traffic thru May 2nd, 2013, from the parking area on Lakeview Drive (Road to Nowhere) to Campsite 64. This closure will make a thru-hike on that that section during that time frame impossible, and there is no good alternate. Best suggestion if you are contemplating such a hike then, look at the Park Trail Map for other trail choices. There was a landslide in the area, and the closure is necessary to repair the damage. The new Trail Standards Card for Trail Maintainers can be found here: Trail Standards Quick Reference Card.

The Trail

The Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) is a footpath of nearly 300 miles (480 km) through the Appalachian mountains of the southeastern United States. It is designed for foot travel in the tradition of the Appalachian Trail (AT).

Running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Davenport Gap on the northern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the Smokies), the BMT passes through some of the most remote backcountry in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, including eight federally designated Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas. For further information on the trail, visit the BMT Vital Info page.

For Hikers

There are numerous access points and trailheads along the BMT route creating many options for one-way and loop hikes, and several more in combination with local trails. Longer hikes are possible on the BMT by doing a partial or full thru-hike. And the longest walks are done by also using the three major intersecting trails, the Pinhoti, the AT, and the 900-plus mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Because the BMT intersects the AT at each terminus and in the middle, three large hikable loops are formed in a figure 8: a lower circle of 364 miles, an upper Smokies-only walk of 158 miles, and 'The BMT Loop' - a complete circuit hike of over 500 miles. The Georgia Loop, "toughest hike in Georgia", is a 55-mile triangle of the BMT, the AT and the Duncan Ridge Trail. In the Eastern Continental Trail; the 4400-plus mile route from Key West, Florida to Cape Gaspe, Quebec, Canada; the BMT connects the Pinhoti and Appalachian Trails. For more hiker information, check the Hiker Resources page.

The Association

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA) was organized in 1979 and incorporated in 1980 to build and maintain the BMT. Driving the effort was a desire to see opened for hiking Benton MacKaye's chosen route for his Appalachian mountain trail. MacKaye (rhymes with sky), Massachusetts forester and co-founder of The Wilderness Society, was the man whose vision inspired what is today the Appalachian Trail. In the south, he had selected a more westerly route, along the western crest of the Blue Ridge, roughly that followed today by the BMT. The BMTA's 25th anniversary year saw the original plan completed as the route was officially opened on July 16, 2005.

As with most trail organizations, the BMTA is an all-volunteer, nonprofit group of folks who want to see the trail remain open and in good shape. Those who live close enough and are able gather regularly to work on maintaining the trail, also to hike and for special events. They and others contribute through their membership.

Want to Help?

Your support is welcome. Becoming a member, participating in or leading maintenance and/or recreational outings, adopting a section of trail, serving on the BMTA board of directors, being a project leader, assisting with administrative needs, and/or making a financial donation are all ways in which you can lend a hand. It's easy to join and when you keep your membership current, you're helping us maintain and improve the trail. See the Want to Help? page for a list of current needs.

Any and all are invited to participate in BMTA outings; no experience is necessary and membership is not required. Join us!

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