Springer Mountain
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Springer Mountain is a mountain located in the Chattahoochee National Forest on the border of Fannin and Gilmer counties. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Georgia, the mountain has an elevation of about Template:Convert.<ref name="gnis"/> Springer Mountain serves as the southern terminus for the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye trails.
Name
The origin of the name of Springer Mountain is unclear. One possible origin was that it was named in honor of William G. Springer, an early settler appointed in 1833 by Governor Wilson Lumpkin to implement legislation to improve conditions for the Indians. Another possibility was that Springer Mountain was named for the first Presbyterian minister to be ordained in Georgia, John Springer, who was ordained in 1790.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The mountain has been called Springer since at least 1910. As late as 1959, some residents of Gilmer County were still calling the peak Penitentiary Mountain. According to the Gilmer County Historical Society, the name was officially changed by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC). It is unknown why the mountain was named Penitentiary.<ref name="planetanimals.com">Logue, Victoria. The Story Behind Springer. 1990. Retrieved 26 May 2016.</ref> There is no known Cherokee name for the mountain.<ref name=Luxenberg />
Geography
Springer Mountain is a north–south-trending loaf-shaped mountain located on the border of Gilmer and Fannin counties.<ref name=topoquest>Template:Cite topoquest</ref><ref name="planetanimals.com"/> The summit has an elevation Template:Convert above mean sea level.<ref name="pb" /> Springer Mountain is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains that extend from Georgia to Maine. Springer Mountain divides the northern and southern extensions of the Blue Ridge in Georgia, with one branch heading northwest to the Cohutta Mountains and the other branch heading southwest to Mount Oglethorpe.<ref name="planetanimals.com"/> Springer Mountain is located inside the Chattahoochee National Forest, as well as the Ed Jenkins National Recreation Area.<ref name="usfs1">Template:Cite web</ref>
The mountain is located about Template:Convert east of Ellijay, Template:Convert northwest of Dahlonega and Template:Convert southwest of Suches.<ref name=topoquest /> Mount Oglethorpe, the original southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, is located about Template:Convert south of Springer Mountain.<ref name="planetanimals.com"/> Other nearby geographical features include Black Mountain, Tickanetley Creek and Winding Stair Gap.<ref name=topoquest />
Hiking
Appalachian Trail
In 1958, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail was relocated from Mount Oglethorpe to Springer Mountain. The reason for this relocation was because of increased development around Mount Oglethorpe.<ref name=AlongAT>Adkins, Leonard. Along the Appalachian Trail: Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. 2012. Template:ISBN. pp. 11.</ref> Springer Mountain was considered to be less dramatic than Mount Oglethorpe, but because of its remoteness, Springer Mountain was also considered to be less susceptible to development.<ref name=Luxenberg>Template:Cite book</ref>
One way to climb Springer Mountain is from a parking lot on Forest Service Road 42, located Template:Convert north up the Appalachian Trail from the summit. Hikers desiring to hike north from Springer Mountain would begin by hiking Template:Convert south on the Appalachian Trail before turning around to hike north. At the peak of Springer Mountain is a bronze plaque with the Appalachian Trail logo, a register for hikers to sign, and a benchmark.<ref name=AT_Trailhead>Springer Mountain Trailhead. usda.gov. Retrieved 26 May 2016.</ref>
In addition to the Appalachian Trail, Springer Mountain can be reached from the south via the Appalachian Approach Trail.<ref name=AT_Approach>AT Approach Trail: Hiking Amicalola Falls to Springer Mountain. atlantatrails.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.</ref> The approach trail starts at the visitor center of Amicalola Falls State Park and is Template:Convert in length.<ref name=AT_Trailhead /> The Appalachian Trail Conservancy recommends that Appalachian Trail hikers start at the Amicalola Falls State Park instead of Forest Service Road 42 as overcrowding on the service road can block emergency vehicles. The approach trail was a part of the original Appalachian Trail until 1958, and was a part of the section that went down to Mount Oglethorpe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Benton MacKaye Trail
Springer Mountain is also home to the southern terminus of the Benton MacKaye Trail. The trailhead for the Benton MacKaye Trail is located around Template:Convert north of the summit.<ref name=BMT1>Benton MacKaye, Sec. I. georgiatrails.com. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.</ref><ref name=SpringerLoop>Champlin, Eric. Springer Mountain Loop Trail: Hiking the Appalachian Trail & BMT. atlantatrails.com. Retrieved 26 May 2016.</ref><ref name="DayHike">Parham, Jim. Day Hiking the North Georgia Mountains. 2012. Milestone Press. Template:ISBN. pp. 155.</ref>
Shelters
The nearest shelter from the summit is the Springer Mountain Shelter, located about Template:Convert north of the summit. A water spring is located near this shelter.<ref name=AT_WoodGap>AT Springer Mountain to Woody Gap. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2016.</ref><ref name="GA AT club guide">Trail Guide. Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. Retrieved 26 May 2016.</ref> The shelter was built in 1993 and is maintained by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Another nearby shelter is the Black Gap Shelter, located about Template:Convert south of the summit on the Appalachian Approach Trail.<ref name=AT_Approach />
Gallery
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A hiker signs the Appalachian Trail register at Springer Mountain -
Appalachian Trail marker -
Campsite on top of the mountain -
View from Springer Mountain in May -
View from Springer Mountain in November -
Springer Mountain (left) and Black Mountain (right) covered in snow. Viewed from East Ellijay
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