Hi Kenneth, good luck with the winter thru-hike. Registration along the trail is mostly voluntary, and there are opportunities to register at Springer, Harpers Ferry, and Katahdin. A small stretch here or there passing through national park, forest, etc. may require a backcountry permit, though they are minimal in information requirements and, I believe, entirely free.

‘winter thru-hike’ *

I practiced month long thru hiking this past summer in Normandy and while it was the summer, the free tenting I thoroughly enjoyed and did it for weeks in and around Normandy, through to Portsmouth UK; in and around Spain and Ibiza for two weeks; and eventually free renting from Gedser Ferry into all of Denmark (Denmark was my favorite place to backpack and camp so far). I only mention this because i an now physically, emotionally and mentally prepared for this; with the right gear and Mother Nature giving her ‘ok, go!’

Cheers mate. I arrive in Gainsville Weds; will do a cheap hotel to last minute prep and into the wild with a level head and heavty amount of portioned food and a tent that took me a year to save up for lol.

Hi Nancy, the approach trail is about 16 miles round trip between Amicalola Falls and Springer Mountain. Doable in a long day, or you could overnight. Hike to Springer, camp in the shelter, then hike back Amicalola Falls, where there is a visitor center. If you are planning the hike soon, like before April 15, then expect to run into a lot of thru-hikers starting at Springer, which may also mean no space in the shelter.