Would like to hike 6 days on the AT first week of April. I am crazy? Dont care about shelters, prefer to tent. Thought I would head SB and meet lots of thru hikers NB.
What section would you do first week of April?
harrier (Raleigh)
harrier
First week April
system
#3
You may be crazy, but not for wanting to hike 6 days of NC in April…
Well if you are set on going southbound and want to tent, Id stay out of the Smokies. That being said, Max Patch should definitely be part of the hike. Depending on your conditioning, and how hard you want to hike, Id go from either Devil Fork Gap (NC 212) or Sams Gap (I-26/US23) to Standing Bear Farm at Green Corner Rd. Curtis is great!
If you hike southbound from Devil Fork Gap to Standing Bear Farm, its 68.5 miles or a little over 10 miles a day.
If you want to push yourself a little more, hike from Sams Gap to Standing Bear Farm, 76.9 miles or closer to 13 miles per day.
Either way enjoy Max Patch, the hot tubs in Hot Springs, and Curtis & Standing Bear…
Catch Up
system
#4
i don’t know the math for a 6-day hike, but Roam Mountain is incredible. rolling hills and grassy balds–one of the best stretches on the whole AT. and stay at Overmountain Shelter.
0101
system
#5
Mt Rogers (Slightly outside NC) to Roan Mountain!!! Maybe more like 8 days, but it’s the best the South has to offer!!! Rhododendron, rock formations, ridge-running, Watauga Lake dam, Damascus, Laurel Creek Falls, the Balds, Overmountain Shelter, Roan Mountain. 75-80 miles?
Carlgoose
system
#6
Even GA was freezing (literally) until late April in 2005. Those balds and mountains are really, really miserable, if you don’t hit the weather right. And you can’t see anything in the snow/sleet/driving freezing rain. Check the weather report and pack warm. I kept my “-10” degree bag until VA in early May.
Shera, Princess of Power