I’m just curious. Given the traffic through the Smokies in the spring, summer and fall, should there be, and how would people feel about, an alternative Appalachian Trail either around the national park or lower down in the park? It could start and end at the same points that the trail enters and leaves the park now. Is it even feasible?
Disco
Disco, there are hundreds of miles of alternate trails in the smokies. so many that you could dodge the entire section of the AT easily. Might I suggest the “Hiking Map and Guide Great Smoky Mountains National Park” from Earthwalk Press. It’s a plasticfeeling paper folding map of all the trails in the smokies. you can spend an entire season in the smokies if you wanted. start at Fontana Dam on the park side and hang a right on lakeshore trail then make your own route. The mass of trails to name are too numerous to recite, but include spring gap, bear creek, forney creek or forney ridge, etc, etc. I spend many a coffee break making weekend plans in my head reading my map. It’s well worth the 8 bucks i think i paid for it.
Big Dee
Big Dee, I think you miss my point. What I’m curious about is if there should be an official, white blazed alternate to the AT that already goes along to high points.
Disco
I don’t know about the Smokies, but surely the White Mountain National Forest could (but maybe not should) sustain an alternate AT route. There are more criss-crossing trails in the Whites than you can shake a stick at, so a new trail would not have to be created.
It sure would help out the overtaxed alpine environments.
Kineo Kid
No, i understood you disco. I don’t agree with youridea though. it’s not broad enough. I prefer the idea I read on the forums back in the fall or summer of a return AT, maybe the ATW (Appalachian trail west?) that would create a circular AT that could open up a whole new AT experience…but not just to doge the elevations in the smokies…but thats MY opinion. you and others may think its a good idea. I 'm getting my gear together to start sectioning this spring, and can’t wait to do fontana to davenport…an employees marriage and three week honeymoon disrupted this plan this past summer.
Big Dee
I agree with Kineo Kid about the Whites. While hikers will miss the grandeur of the presidential ridge walk there are better alternatives. You could cut over the the Davis Path and follow the ridge past Mount Isolation to Washington. This is a beautiful walk that avoids the heavily traveled ridge. From there drop down the Great Gulf directly to Pinkham Notch.
For years I have been advocating that the AMC provide alternatives to the hut system for thru hikers. Seeing as they are unresponsive to that idea the trial could be moved away from the huts.
Unfortunately that is one of the most immpressive sections of the AT through NH.
Big B
Did you hear that. A hundred Purists just fainted. Their whole religion would be destroyed. How dare you even suggest such a thing.
Blue Jay