Other than the Smokies, where on the southern AT or nearby areas can you find spruce and frazier fir forests? I’m having the mid-summer blues and am daydeaming of someplace high, where the temperatures are cool. Memories of the fir/spruce areas of the Smokies come to mind, but don’t want to go there in the summer b/c of the crowds. Looking for a 3-4 day hike.
Walkinstick
Also, one of my favorite areas along the trail, Unaka Mountain and Roan Mountain.
Jeffrey Hunter
I was just up in the Roans this past week and we had lows drop into the 40s at 6000ft. Highs were in the 70s and low 80s. Great temperatures…just a little wet right now.
-Howie
Hungry Howie
Just east of the GSMNP along the Blue Ridge Parkway are the Great Balsams which have wonderful 6000’ grassy balds and 6000’ pine crowned summits. The 30 mile Art Loeb Trail cuts thru the highlands, so do portions of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. You can make a loop with the trails. I have to confess that this area is popular but probably not as much as the smokies and you can find plenty of solitude in the Shining Rock Wilderness.
Sweeper