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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.