Any suggestions for "Re-Supply" before reaching Fontana Dam? Hiawassee,GA is 11 miles from the trail and Franklin,NC is 10 miles.
Does NOC at Wesser,NC still accept “Food Boxes” for hikers?
Thanks
_Gorp-Gobbler_Re-Supply - Appalachian Trail
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#1
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#2
Group-Gobler, when I did my hike I sent a box to the NOC. It was a few years ago, but I have to believe that they still accept boxes. I also know a few people who got a shuttle to Hiawassee. Good luck
_Birch_
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#3
Ron Haven runs a shuttle to and from the trail both in Hiawassee and Franklin, NC.
_SouthMark_
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#4
Surprisingly, the gap has excellent Verizon service if you need to call Ron. I tested it yesterday and it was 3 bars about 50 feet up the south side of the gap.
_apple_
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#5
NOC still takes boxes.
Ron is happy to give free rides (of course we made a donation to the cause), but only if you are using his hotels, which I think is fair.
_Journey_
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#6
I hitched into both towns without a problem. Going into Hiawassee took about three cars and Franklin (winding Stair Gap) as I was walking out of the woods I stuck my thumb out to the first car going by and he stopped. I hadn't even crossed the parking lot! In addition he wasn't going into Franklin but took me anyway, stopped at the PO then Grocery store before dropping me off at the hotel. I had to force money on him for his time and trouble. People down south are awesome!!
_Big B_
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#7
Thanks very much for all of the responses, I appreciate them. I forgot about Ron and his hotel, I'll have to check into this.
_Gorp-Gobbler_
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#8
Gorp, resupply options through that initial section are numerous. Mountain Crossings (Neels Gap), Blueberry Patch (Dicks Creek), Hiawassee Budget Inn (Hiawassee), Haven's Budget Inn (Franklin), Burningtown Gap Hostel, NOC, all accept drop boxes and will hold for hikers. Also, Mountain Crossings and the NOC have almost everything you could possibly want or need. The distances into Hiawassee and Franklin are no difficulty at all as it is easy to get a hitch in Dicks Creek and Winding Stair Gap. One place you may definitely need to send yourself a box is at Fontana Village as the resupply selection there can be rather sparse especially during the peak of hiking season. I would not plan to hitch into Helen, GA from Unicoi Gap (if I were you). However, if you get there and find yourself in desperate need of things, go the other direction and hitch into Hiawassee instead (another easy hitch).
_Woody_
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#9
Your best option if you don't want to go in town is Aquone Hostel their located about a mile from Burning town Gap they will meet you at the Gap, even if you don't want to stay their the night, then at Fontana Damn you can send a drop to the Village INN, they do except mail drops even if you don't stay, and yes the N.O.C does accept mail drops.
_RED-DOG_