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100+ Mile Southern Adventure? (Also general pointers for a first thru hike)

This topic has 6 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 10 months ago by Five Star.

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Mar 27, 2019 at 1:13 am #3585663
Dalton Cooper
BPL Member

@dcooper
Locale: Carolinas
I am a teacher and have spent the spring weighing if I should spend the summer trying to do an extended hiking adventure (100-300 miles, AKA 1-3 weeks) or work for my school district or a nonprofit (currently saving to buy a house). After a somewhat extended conversation with my mom, she convinced me to take the summer off to recuperate, have fun, and travel.

Now that that decision’s been made, I have the fun of actually looking forward to planning my first legit thru-hike (or giant loop) with resupplies and everything! Since I also am wanting to budget to visit my parents in Quebec this summer, I, unfortunately, do not have the money to take anything off my West Coast bucket list and will be wanting to stay in the south to cut down on travel costs (I live in Charlotte). Anywho, I was looking to be out anywhere from 100-300 miles (or 1-3 weeks, if it’s easier to think of it that way) and these were the ideas I was mulling. Feel free to suggest anything I’ve overlooked.
1. Clingman’s Dome to Blowing Rock via the MST. I think it’s segmented 1-5? Would be about 150 miles and most of the iconic sights in the mountains in NC including Clingman’s Dome, Mt. Mitchell, Grandfather Mt., Linville Gorge, and Blowing Rock.
2. Benton MacKaye Trail. Hesitant to commit to a 300-mile hike in Georgia in the summer but this particular trail has been something I’d like to do before I’m old and boring for some time now.
3. Pinhoti Trail. Multiply my reservations for the BMT by 100 since it’s Alabama in the summer. I also seriously want to hike this trail (and generally spend more time in Alabama since it’s such a unique place, geologically speaking).
4. Smokies Adventure. Try to string together something that’d have me out for 1-2 weeks and hit all the iconic sights in GSMNP and possibly Nantahala NF.
Can anyone speak to any of these trails/areas? Recognizing the summer isn’t the ideal time for some of these but also Type 2 fun is better than no fun at all. Also, general wisdom for a first legit extended adventure involving resupplies and the like would be greatly appreciated.
Mar 27, 2019 at 12:11 pm #3585715

Matt
BPL Member

@mhr
Locale: San Juan Mtns.

The Pinhoti Trail is a great trail! I’ve done it several times now, but never in the dead of summer. It is a low trail for most of its length, and I suspect it will be terribly hot, muggy, and buggy. If you have other available options, I would suggest keeping the Pinhoti on the bucket list for a stage in life when you can do it in the spring or fall – it’s gorgeous then! Stay high for your first thru.

Mar 27, 2019 at 12:27 pm #3585717

Brad Rogers
BPL Member

@mocs123
Locale: Southeast Tennessee

I wouldn’t do any of those listed in the middle of summer.

One suggestion – though I know you are on a budget, but I think Allegent Air flies from Knoxville to Las Vegas for $120 round trip. Go to the Sierras and do the JMT or similar. Allegent also flies from Knoxville to Denver for under $100 – lots of options around Denver that would be good summer destinations.

Otherwise your best Southeast Option might be to do the AT through the Smokies (~72 miles) and tag on a portion either north or south. The AT through the Smokies is mostly above 5K feet and will be one of the only places tolerable in the summer.

Can you take longer than 3 weeks? Drive out west. Go to WRR or RMNP

Mar 28, 2019 at 1:09 am #3585848

Matt
BPL Member

@mhr
Locale: San Juan Mtns.

Dalton-

Thousands of people hike the AT every summer. And let me tell you, no where is hotter than Pennsylvania/New Jersey in July. So, summer is certainly doable.

The Smokies may be a bit crowded in the summer which could present problems at shelters. The Benton MacKaye is a great trip with convenient town resupplies. Can’t speak to the MST, but it’s on my list, as well.

I suggest you keep it simple. The thrill of the trip will be more about the adventure, i.e. the miles, the planning, the resupplies, the zero’s, the rain, the serenity, etc., more so than what you might see. Find any stretch of trail that is budget friendly in terms of accessibility, with convenient resupplies so you don’t carry too much food, and go from there. Any stretch of the AT would likely serve those masters. And I promise you, it will be a memorable adventure.

Mar 28, 2019 at 2:17 am #3585865

Dalton Cooper
BPL Member

@dcooper
Locale: Carolinas

I’m from Upstate NY originally, so I can definitely relate to the humidity, Lymes Disease, and hellish mosquitos from hell of Pennsylvania and Jersey in the summer months. North Carolina summers have been surprisingly pleasant, although I would prefer to be in the mountains than the Piedmont.

Didn’t think of how crowded the Smokies would be – also I suppose the permits would add another logistical piece that could end up being kind of a pain. I’ve spent the most time looking at the MST (mostly because the guides are free) but will definitely spend some more time checking out the BMT!

Mar 28, 2019 at 2:22 am #3585867

Brad Rogers
BPL Member

@mocs123
Locale: Southeast Tennessee

The BMT is really nice hiking, and a worthy alternative to the first ~250 miles of the AT but it is lower in elevation so it will be hotter. You will find it much less crowded if you desire solitude. I have only done parts of the MST, and what I have done is nice, but the further east you go, the lower (and hotter) you get and I think it has a lot of road walks.

Mar 31, 2019 at 1:51 pm #3586340

Five Star
BPL Member

@mammoman
Locale: NE AL

I’m going to echo Brad and suggest that you head west. June in the southeast (I live in Alabama) is humid and buggy. I hike the region during 3 seasons, and summer ain’t one of them. Summer is for mountains in the west imho.

With that said, if logistics or personal preference keep you in the SE your best and prettiest “high” options probably include the Smokies, Roan Highlands, Grayson Highlands so perhaps a long AT section would be the ticket. The AT will be busy, but it’s a great trail to test out thru-hiking tactics such as resupplying along the way. A nice stretch would be to start at Fontana Dam (mile 164) NOBO thru the Smokies, then Max Patch, Hot Springs, Erwin, Roan Highlands, and ultimately Damascus at mile 466. That would be about 300 miles in 20-ish days.

FWIW, I’m doing a week-long hike in early June and may do a section of the AT in Virginia despite my normal preferences.
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100+ Mile Southern Adventure? (Also general pointers for a first thru hike)

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100+ Mile Southern Adventure? (Also general pointers for a first thru hike)

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