South Appalachian Trail weekend, suggestions

You should check out Stick’s Blog he is a lightweight (and UL ) hiker that hikes on the AT in GA, TN, or NC also going to the Smokies or other smaller wilderness areas such as the Savage Gulf area., he writes and  makes videos about his trips and gear.

Hi Sebastian,

I’ll give you what I consider to be two really great options within your 3 hour restriction.

The first option is really from the Georgia North Carolina border  to Wesser, NC, especially Albert Mountain, Standing Indian, Wayah Bald.  You really can’t go wrong with that section. If you want to do a loop hike there are 2 places to manage rhe logistics: Standing Indian Campground in the Nantahala area, and the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Wesser, NC. The NOC will be crowded but food and (good) beer will be readily availabe before and or after your hike. Pick your 20 miles and have at it.

The other really outstanding option is to go a little bit further north to the southern end of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. There are excellent opportunities there including the Appalachian Trail  and loop options off of the Appalachian Trail like Gregory Bald. Call the ranger station and they can help you with your mileage…a really great bunch of folks.

I should also mention that shuttle options are fairly easy and reasonably priced if strictly AT is what you’re after. Good luck and have a great time.

Be sure to take a tent with you. There are a lot of thru hiker still starting at that time. The shelters might be full when you get there. Or, you may decide your too tired or sore to push on to the shelter and decide to stop sooner than planned. Or, you might show up at a shelter early and decide to push on farther that day.

Standing Indian has some great loop options. You can park at the back country kiosk and start and end your hike there. No need for shuttles. Great section on the southern AT.

Thank you all! I definitely dont want to hike back the same way to my car. So I think I can:

-Hitchhike a ride back?

-Arrange for a shuttle back?

Should I get the David AWOL AT book?

I have hitched rides after AT hikes and it usually goes pretty well.  A shuttle makes it a little nicer.  The AWOL book is a really good resource for AT walking.

Other options to consider: 1. Slickrock Wilderness just southwest of the Smokies; keeps you out of the thru hikers; no permits needed; just as good as the Smokies; a loop is easy. 2.Smokies out of Big Creek; easy access off I40; nice loops; a few nice spots like Mt. Cammerer. 3. Roan Highlands; cool balds; not great loop options; a bit further drive. 4. Grayson Highlands; cool balds; good loops; longer drive 5. Art Loeb/Pisgah; plenty og good options.

Enjoy.

You want to definitely get an AT guide or data book. The guides let you know where campsites, shelters, water, and road crossings are. Some of the guides have profile maps too. …. You don’t want to carry water for the whole day and night if there is water every two miles. So a guide is handy for that too….. Another option to have is the GutHookHikes App. I use this all the time now and just take of picture with my phone of the guide book for the section Im hiking. As long as the phone works, im good to go. .. If not I’ll just follow the blazes……

If you start at springer and go to neel gap, give neel gap a call and check on the price for a shuttle back to springer.

A great resource for the AT is whiteblaze.net   If you can’t get the info for the AT on that site, something is wrong.

Sabastian-

Do a search on “Standing Indian Loop Hike” and you’ll find lots of information and links for a great 24 mile loop hike that is about 2/3 on the AT because of an unusual 270 degree bend in the trail that happens to be in a really cool area.

Happy hiking ;)  Russ