September. Mostly talking food
Then, later in September I wrote this:
This is a plan for a section hike “jump start” that goes from the terminus at Springer to the NOC. That is a distance of 137 miles from October 4 to October 20. Roughly 10 miles a day. Some are longer, some shorter (based around some resupply points and shelters and a very short first day, given the travel to the trail).
My goal is to have some time for zeros.
October 4.
- Parking lot to Terminus 0.0 Springer Mountain
- 0.0 to Stover Creek Shelter at 2.8
- Alternative Hawk Mountain Shelter at 7.7
Goal: three miles
October 5
- Stover Creek 2.8 to Gooch Mountain at 15.8 — 13 miles.
- No good alternative.
Goal, 13 miles
October 6
- Long day, 15.8 to 31 — Mountain Crossing.
- Hostel, resupply on food.
Goal, 15 miles — Long day
Potential location for a zero.
October 8
- 31 to 43.2, Low Gap Shelter.
- Water is 30 yards from the shelter.
Goal, 12 miles
October 9
- Mile 43.2 to 52, Top of Georgia Hostel. 706-982-3252
- Alternative is Budget Inn, 706-896-4121
- Resupply
Goal, 9 miles
At this point it is probably best to flip flop and return to the trail at Mile 69 and hike south, which handles the elevations better and makes a single day slack pack possible, depending on weather and personal preference.
October 10
- Mile 58 Trey Mountain Shelter.
- Alternative, slack pack to Mile 69 (that is a long 17 miles) and back to Top of Georgia which is half a mile from the trail at Dick’s Creek Gap).
Goal, 6 miles
October 11
- Mile 58 to Mile 69, Top of Georgia Hostel again.
- Resupply
Goal, 11 miles
October 12
- Mile 69 to Mile 81.4
- Muskrat Creek Shelter (12 mile day).
- Spring water at shelter.
Goal, 12 miles
October 13
- Mile 81.4 to Mile 93.9
- Carter Gap Shelter — water 100 yards downhill from the shelter
Goal, 12 miles
October 14
- 93.9 to 102.5
- Long Branch Shelter
Goal, 9 miles
October 15
- 102.5 to Winding Stair Gap, US 64
- https://www.facebook.com/Natur… Hostel and shuttle 828-332-0228 Resupply
- 110 Haven’s Budget Inn at 828-524-4403 // Franklin NC for Resupply
Goal, 8 miles
October 16
- 110 to 120.8 to Wayah Bald Shelter
- 110 to 125.6 Cold Spring Shelter Alternative — spring and shelter are on the trail.
Goal, 10 miles
October 17
- 120.8 to 131 Wesser Bald Shelter. 10 miles
- Alternative 125.6 to NOC at 137.
Goal, 11 miles
October 18 (goal is to arrive by October 19 with space for a second zero in there).
- 131 to Nantahala Outdoor Center — Mile 137. Resupply/lodging
Goal, 6 miles
Potential stopping place and shuttle to airport
This is the place to stop, to get back for work on October 22.
My plan is to have time for two zeros — I’m just not sure where to put the second one.
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Alternative (if we end up feeling like no zeros).
October 18
- 137 to 144 Sasafras Gap Shelter or
- 153.1 Brown Fork Gap Shelter. (16 miles) — makes up the zero by cutting out the October 19 9 miles).
Goal, 7 miles
October 19
- 144 to 153.1 Brown Fork Gap Shelter
- https://tnlandforms.us/at/m.ph…
Goal, 9 miles
No road access.
October 20 — Saturday
- 153.1 to 164 Fontana Dam General Store. Resupply
- Smokies permit
- 13 hour drive to DFW
- Direct Flights from Knoxville is a 66 mile shuttle drive away.
Goal, 11 miles
This is also the base of the Smokey Mountains, and the start of the permit zone.
Good location for shuttle to airport. Alternative place to start up on a through hike starting in 2019 and to be finished before October (so it meets the ATC definition of a through hike as completed in 365 days).
I have to be back at work on October 22, 2018.
d20 & Happy
