The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC), in partnership with Amicalola Falls State Park, will be hosting A.T. Gateways, formerly known as the Appalachian Trail Kick Off (ATKO) February 27 - March 1, 2026
A complete schedule for the weekend is still under-development and details are subject to change.
An annual event that has been held the first weekend in March for over 20 years, the rebranded
A.T. Gateways will have something for everyone who loves the Appalachian Trail (A.T.)
whether you are an aspiring thru-hiker or just someone who enjoys being on the trail and
outdoors. Activities, programs and demonstrations will be held at both the Lodge and the new
Visitor Center.
Throughout the entire weekend from 8:00-5:00pm, GATC Trail Ambassadors will be presenting
“Start Smart” programs at the A.T. Basecamp, located in the Arch Room of the new Visitor
Center. Here is where one registers their 2026 thru-hike, gets the highly prized hang-tag, and
gets their photo at the iconic Arch.
Schedule of Events
A. T. Gateways 2026 Full Schedule
Friday, February 27
5:30–6:30 p.m. — All About George MasaPaul 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 lot11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Amicalola Falls Lodge
8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — Vendors
1:00–4:00 p.m. — Sawyer DemoBack 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 Tripwith Friends of Amicalola Falls State Park
