I've never been on the AT before and thought this might be a nice intro hike for me and my 11 yr old daughter. Would this be too much for the average person? --from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion and back?..How about the avg 11 yr old? We will be in the area June 17-18. Thanks for your advice and input.
_Traveller_Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion
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#1
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#2
it's definitely doable, even for an 11 y/o if you have time to go at an easy pace. i was sectioning on the AT down there in march, and passed a lot of people hiking to charlies bunion from newfound gap parking lot. as i recall, it's probably only like 3 miles uphill from the parking lot (and then 3 miles back), but definitely doable. i'd recommend starting in the morning, you could have lunch at icewater spring shelter (along the trail half mile from charlie's bunion).
also, after you come back to the parking lot, be sure to drive up clingman’s dome road from newfound gap and see clingman’s dome…highest point on the AT and a beautiful view.
_shakey_
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#3
If you're in the area, just north of GSMNP the AT heads over what I found to be one of the top ten spots on the entire Trail, or as a little child told me on top, "This is like tella-tubby land." I had to agree, great views all around.
_fishngame_
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#5
You and your daughter will have a great time! If you are not accustomed to hiking, just take your time to enjoy the hike. I agree with lunching or snacking a Icewater Springs Shelter. Have a great day and let us know how it turns out for both of you!
_Old Girl_
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#6
Well, plans got way-laid back in 2009 and we never got to get there. but we'll be in Bryson City two weeks from now..along with a new wife and two step-sons...so maybe we'll all get to do this hike, finally.
seems like a lifetime has passed since 2009.
_Traveller_
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#7
This is an easy hike, but a little annoying in that there are a lot of tourist the first mile up the trail so it's like a bathroom at Disney. After the first mile you'll break away and it's really nice. Ice Water Spring Shelter is really nice, but you'll need a permit to camp there. Have a good trip.
_Stumbler_
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#8
We made the hike on August 11--It was my stepson's 14th birthday. My wife, stepson, and I were the only ones of our group who did the hike. all the others wanted to go tubing at deep creek. The weather was quite foggy on the mountain. It drizzled rain at the trailhead, and the temps were in the 60s when we started. My wife and stepson were skeptical, but tolerated my enthusiasm. As the hike progressed I was surprised a bit at how easy the terrain was. I was expecting a more, I think. The distance was the only fatiguing element in my opinion. It gives me a great respect for those hikers doing 15-20 miles a day!
Technically, the hike was easier than hikes I’ve done on Grandfather Mtn. We did take our time. We stopped at the shelter for snacks, before proceeding on the the bunion.
the mountain was still fogged in when we got to the bunion, but an occasional breeze cleared enough of the fog to show my stepson that he was on the edge of a great mountain abyss. He seemed to enjoy it tremendously, as did I. My wife was quite nervous at the rocks!
It was a great hike, overall, in my opinion.
postscript: before the hike, our family made a game of choosing trail names for each other. the rule was that nobody could choose their own trail name, and we all had to agree on the person’s name we assigned them. Here are the results: My wife is “High & Mighty,” because she claims she is always right. My older stepson is “Kanye,” because he loves to look at himself in the mirror. My younger stepson is “Musty,” because he smells bad. My name is “What” because I have difficulty hearing and I apparently say “what” a lot when people are talking to me.
Our next hiking objective will be the Shuckstack Tower hike near fontana dam, I think. Hopefully this fall, sometime.
thanks for the feedback. best wishes to all.
_Traveller_