Just another mooching attempt for recommendations

imported
#1

I’ll have 3 days, 2 nights available for the AT in the first week of May. The area i’ll be in is the North Carolina // South Carolina border. Where would you suggest i start and end my AT sample? And are any shuttles still running that late?

markv

#2

the finest north carolina has to offer is the section from sams gap (24 trail miles south of erwin) to damascus, va. like 100 miles? perhaps more. the finest of that is roan mountain and the hump mountains, including a stay in beautiful overmountain shelter. this section has the best southern balds, some lovely waterfalls, and great forest. be advised though that until denis cove road, the trail is tough, tough stuff. the last 40 into damascus is often refered to as the tenessee turnpike, i call it the ridge of dreams. much easier walking.

also this would put you with a bunch of thrus, and you could experience miss janets, kincora, and damascus, three of the finest cultural experiences on the trail.

shuttles would be kicking full force that time of year. call around to the various hostels and outfitters in damascus and erwin.

i know what you are thinking, but trust me the smokies do not hold a candle to this stuff.

milo

#3

somehow i missed the three days two nights part.

in the afore mentioned region you could climb roan mountain to the potentially freezing but very nice roan mountain shelter (the highest on the trail), then saunter 6 lovely miles through the roan highlands to over mountain shelter, the next day cruising over the humps to 19E.

or you could go light and a bit stronger, climb the big bald from sams gap staying at big bald shelter, then go to miss janets in erwin for the second night.

the section around max patch is not as phenomenal as others, but it is still nice and max patch is an ultimate AT highlight of the highest order. this would put you in the proximity of another fantastic trail town, hot springs NC.

albert mountain is further south, and you could do it and standing indian mountain. not as nice, but albert is another big baller. some nice rhodedendron tunnels, although they wont be in bloom.

again, shuttles will still be kicking.

milo

#4

The Standing Indian loop is ideal for the time frame you mention. You can leave your car at the backcountry parking lot, hike the Kimsey Creek trail to the AT and then on another mile or so to the Standing Indian shelter. If you’re early enough you can hike on to Standing Indian and camp at the peak. The next day you can hike on to Albert Mountain and climb the fire tower for some really spectacular views if it’s clear. There is a shelter nearby with a privy. Then the last day you can hike on the AT to the connector trail which takes you right back to your car at the backcountry parking lot. Three nice easy days and two nights with no backtracking and the potential for some really great views. This is an annual hike for me, since it’s nearby and has a little of everything.

Gene Roll

#5

This really depends on how many miles a day you can hike, and also, will you be able to hike all day on the first and last day of your 3-Day-outing…or do you need to include considerations for drive time.
I would agree with Milo about that section being BEAUTIFUL. I would call Kincora Hostel and find out if they know of any shuttles from there to Carver’s Gap. If there is an available shuttle, find out if you could park your ride at Kincora, (or somewhere nearby) and take the shuttle to Carver’s Gap. From there, head north over some AMAZING balds (the Humps) with spectacular views…providing you get some good weather, of course. From Carver’s Gap to Kincora Hostel, it’s about 37.3 miles.

Leki-Less

#6

Thanks for the suggestions. I completely believe you about north TN being better than the Smokeys, and my token Carolina friend raved about Roan…i just have to weigh the extra drive time (or fly time…my friend is a pilot and we may rent a plane and find air strips instead) vs. doing something closer more around Nantahala.

The idea of the loop hike is of course convenient and tempting, but maximizing our time on the actually AT is tempting too, since it’s what has our curiosity. The rest of our week is going to be on the Foothills Trail and on Mt. Mitchell. Our mileage can be fairly high (10-20 m/per full day depending on terrain), since we’re both experienced backpackers in our 30s, but travel time will play a part in the 1st and 3rd days.

Again thanks for the suggestions, i’d welcome more, and also tips on economical ways to check out maps of the sections in question.

If ever in Oahu, email me for hiking tips. Our island has spectacular and DIFFICULT hikes and climbs that very few people know about. And unlike other places where local hikers like to keep the best places secret and isolated, here we need people to tramp over the routes or they’ll grow over and become impassable in a matter of a couple weeks!

markv

#7

Gene has described a perfect area for hiking. I did it last year but probably won’t this year because I had planned to stay at the now defunct Rainbow Springs campground. The Kimsey Creek trail has some real soft and shaded spots down by the Nantahala River…you’ll easily find out why it’s called “land of the noonday sun”.

Doc Holiday