Looking for hiking partner for April section hike

imported
#1 
									I am going to hike about an 80-100 mile section of the trail in mid April. I would like to start near Gatlinburg TN and hike north. However I am open to starting somewhere else. I live in northern KY and would prefer not to have a long drive to get to the trail. If anyone is interested in tagging along let me know. 

									_Ryan_
#2 
									Ryan,

Me and my boys (ages 51, 17, and 15 as of next April) will resume our section hiking in that area sometime next year. It is likely that we’ll want to start at Newfound Gap, where we left off last week. There is a small chance we’ll do Newfound to Davenport this year, so that we’d want to begin at Davenport next year and head north from there.

I’m not ready or able to make hard and fast plans this far ahead of time, but I thought I’d reply to your email just to let you know that it’s a possibility we might be interested in.

Sincerely,

Dan “Orphan”

									_Dan Roper_
#3 
									Dan,
Just to give you a little background on me, I am a 30 year old police officer from KY. (just south of Cincinnati, OH).  This will be my first true section hike. I have done some back country camping in the past but nothing like this.  I will have about 8-10 days to get accomplished what ever I can.  I have already started gathering supplies/gear and hope to do a test hike sometime in October.  Thanks for the reply. Keep me posted on your guys plans.

									_Ryan_
#4 
									Ryan---from middle of the smokies @ Davenport Gap to the town of Hot Springs, NC should take between 5-7 days.  You will also get to resupply at a hostel (Standing Bear-you can park you car there and pay the owner a few bucks for a lift to and from the trail-maybe $100 for both rides...just a guess) half way to help keep you pack weight down.  After the hostel is one of the jewels of the AT Max Patch.  Finding a partner befroe the hike can be quite problematic.  There will be plenty of folks to meet along the way if you start out solo.

Enjoy your trip.:cheers

									_stealthblew_
#5 
									Stealthblew,

Thanks for the info.

									_Ryan_
#6 
									I agree with Stealthblew.  Don't worry about a partner, at that time of the year, there will be plenty of hikers out there.  Just enjoy it and hike your own hike.  You will love Standing Bear Hostel as well as Hot Springs.  You will be amazed and surprised when you get to Max Patch.

Don’t forget you have to make reservations for the shelters in the Smokeys!

									_just hikin'_