A. T. Gateways 2026 Full Schedule

Friday, February 27

5:30–6:30 p.m. — All About George Masa
Paul Bonesteel • Lodge Conference Area (Red & White Oak Rooms)

Saturday, February 28

Visitor Center

8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. — A.T. Base Camp (Arch Room)
Ad hoc hiker interviews — Podcaster Andrew McIntyre

Food Truck: Taqueria El Ranchito — Visitor Center parking lot
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Lodge

8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — Vendors

1:00–4:00 p.m. — Sawyer Demo
Back patio in grassed area (outside Lodge conference center)

Programs (Lodge Conference Area)

9:00 a.m. — Footcare to Get You There! (Rob Gasbarro) • Red & White Oak Rooms — Footwear/footcare tips to keep you moving.

Outdoor 76 has earned a reputation for helping hikers find the best footwear for their needs. Owners Rob Gasbarro and Cory McCall will share their wisdom on choosing the right footwear.

10:00 a.m. — Take a Hike! The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking (Collin Chambers) • Red & White Oak Rooms — A practical crash course to get started.

This comprehensive crash course covers everything from selecting the right gear, clothing and footwear, to mastering Leave No Trace principles. Walk away with the know-how to plan a safe, enjoyable backpacking trip.

11:00 a.m. — A.T. Stories (Mills Kelly) • Red & White Oak Rooms — Trail history through the voices of hikers.

Working with trail shelter logbooks, hiker accounts submitted to trail clubs, and stories from newspapers and magazines, Mills Kelly reveals what it was like to hike the trail from the late 1920s through the 2020s.

Noon — Lunch Hour

1:00 p.m. — Are You Physically Ready for the Trail? (Dr. Donald Walsh) • Red Oak Room — Injury prevention and prep.

Dr. Greg Patterson, Clinical Instructor of Physical Therapy at the University of North Georgia, has spent over a decade exploring how physical therapy can best support the hiking community and identifying injury prevention strategies.

1:00 p.m. — Hiking with Furry Friends (Maria Wishart) • White Oak Room — Preparation and on-trail success with dogs.

Tips for pre-trail preparation, including gear, health, training, and on-trail tips for keeping your dog’s calories up, managing behavior, and practicing Leave No Trace. Learn canine body language, how to have positive encounters, and what to do if you have a negative one.

2:00 p.m. — PT Assessments (University of North Georgia PT students) • White Oak Room

2:00 p.m. — Tips for a Successful Thru-Hike (Andrew “Metro” Miller) • Red Oak Room — Strategies and schedules from a 2025 thru-hike.

To complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, you must focus on three key areas—preparing for the physical, mental and spiritual challenges ahead. Andrew Miller from Metro on the Move will share strategies and schedules he used to complete his thru-hike of the A.T. in 2025.

3:00 p.m. — A.T. Updates (ATC Representative Franklin Tate & GATC President Ashley Luke) • Red Oak Room

4:00–5:30 p.m. — Friendships of the Trail Reception • AFSP Lodge Dining Room

6:00 p.m. — Banff Adventure! (Erik Love) • Red Oak Room

Fireside Chats (Lodge)

  • 10:00 a.m. — More About Footcare, Footwear and Feet (Outdoor 76)
  • 1:00 p.m. — Birds of Prey (Amicalola Falls State Park Naturalist)
  • 2:00 p.m. — Grandma Gatewood and Leo
  • 3:00 p.m. — What’s In My Zippy? The Ten Essentials! (Sunny Waller)
  • 4:00 p.m. — Trail Tales with Miss Janet and Collin Chambers

Sunday, March 1

8:30 a.m.–Noon — Trail Maintenance Work Trip
with Friends of Amicalola Falls State Park