View Full Version : The Foot Hills Trail SC/NC
little bear
06-24-2006, 20:12
Has anyone hiked the Foot hills trail? What can you tell me about? I went and bought the map and the guide book today, and I am thinking of taking about a week and hiking the whole thing. If anyone has hiked it can they tell he when the best time to hike is and what they thought of the trail, markings, water supply, and camping.
Thanks
Little Bear
Happy Hikes
I have hiked it. http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=1882
It's a great trail. Easy to follow. Lots of water. Many camping areas. You'll love it!
A few random comments:
•Not a bad trail. A mix of very scenic and very mundane.
•Harder than it looks on paper, but very do-able.
•Very well-marked with blazes and signage.
•Last (early) October there were lots of downed trees to contend with; hopefully they have been cleared.
•I'd recommend going when it's not so hot and humid. Locals tell me the best months to hike the FT are November and March. In early October it was a steamy rainforest. I can't imagine enjoying it in mid-summer.
•Don't expect the social comaraderie you get on the AT.
•The guidebook is full of fold-out mini-maps that I found more confusing than if they had just done an AT-style (text-only) guidebook that you would use in conjunction with the (rather good) larger map.
•Ample designated camping areas, plus other undesignated primitive spots to throw down.
•If you wanted to break the hike into two parts, Duke Power has a secure place to park about halfway through. The FT Conference website has a link to people in the area who do shuttles: http://www.foothillstrail.org/
•In addition to the main FT between Table Rock and Oconee State Parks, there are several side trails. I haven't been on these, but have heard good things about the route that ends at Caesar's Head State Park.
little bear
06-25-2006, 01:49
thanks for the response. i was thinking of going in october or november. i got the big map and that shows the distance with elevation . thanks for the help
little bear
IMO, the Foothills Trail is no more "mundane" than the AT. Highlights include the Chattooga River - which you hike near for almost 8 miles, the Jocassee Gorges - which includes about 5-6 large rivers filled with trout, loads of bridges - including a 225' suspension bridge over the Toxaway River, lots of waterfalls, some of them big - many more than you see on any 76 mile section of the AT, and blessed solitude - the kind that is about as rare on the AT as finding a $100 bill on the streets of NYC.
I would also add that October is generally my favorite time to hike. Me thinks Skyline hit an unseasonablly warm patch. Loads of places to jump in and swim in warm/hot weather though. Water, water everywhere.
Just my .02
little bear
06-25-2006, 14:03
glad that october is a good time and i am stoked about the swimming holes, should be fun anyone intrested in joining me no date set yet but sometime in october
Nightwalker
06-26-2006, 00:53
glad that october is a good time and i am stoked about the swimming holes, should be fun anyone intrested in joining me no date set yet but sometime in october
PM me. I'm the most experienced guy on this particular website at walking the FT. Probably not the most experienced of anyone, anywhere, but certainly a top-fiver. It's the greatest trail <100 miles, and you can get really close to that just by starting at Jones Gap instead of TR or Oconee.
I'd love to go with you, anytime. I just need a few days notice.
Truthfully, the same goes for hikes anywhere. I'll go with anyone from Wook to MS. Just give me a few days.*
Have I said recently that I love to hike? :D
I'm teaching VBS this week, so there's an enforced off week. Probably a good thing...
*Those names were just used for political extremes. No digs intended to either.
IMO, the Foothills Trail is no more "mundane" than the AT. Highlights include the Chattooga River - which you hike near for almost 8 miles, the Jocassee Gorges - which includes about 5-6 large rivers filled with trout, loads of bridges - including a 225' suspension bridge over the Toxaway River, lots of waterfalls, some of them big - many more than you see on any 76 mile section of the AT, and blessed solitude - the kind that is about as rare on the AT as finding a $100 bill on the streets of NYC.
I would also add that October is generally my favorite time to hike. Me thinks Skyline hit an unseasonablly warm patch. Loads of places to jump in and swim in warm/hot weather though. Water, water everywhere.
Just my .02
Could be right--I might have hit the FT during an unseasonably warm period. Just reporting what I experienced, and what others from Brevard and Cashiers (nearby towns) told me about the best times to hike. Had it not been so hot and muggy it might have been more enjoyable.
As for mundane, yep, there are sections of several miles each that do not offer much to look at, like where the FT follows or closely parallels old roads and not much else. But these are more than made up for by some of the sights you mentioned plus others. I'd compare the "mundane" parts to the AT's "rollercoaster" in Northern VA, but the really good parts to the best of the AT in Maine.
little bear
06-29-2006, 23:31
so wildbill 504 is going to join me on this trail in november and possibly night walker anyone else looking for some good hiking and good company.
little bear
11-13-2006, 20:45
the dates have changed to november 25 thru dec 1. me and bowser are going does anyone else want to join us. im hoping this will be a good hike. anyon want to go?
Nightwalker
11-14-2006, 14:02
the dates have changed to november 25 thru dec 1. me and bowser are going does anyone else want to join us. im hoping this will be a good hike. anyon want to go?
Still in. We gonna do any food caches? I've got two good ones. Carrying seven days of food over Pinnacle is pretty heavy. :-)
the dates have changed to november 25 thru dec 1. me and bowser are going does anyone else want to join us. im hoping this will be a good hike. anyon want to go?This is a possibility. The dates are better for me than the hike starting out this weekend.
Are you starting out on Saturday, Nov 25 then? Do you have a start time yet? I'd be driving down from NH on Friday.
I could do it all in one long day if you are planning an early start, but my preference would be to stop at Miss Janet's on the way down, and arrive at the FHT around 10:00 or so Saturday morning.
I also might have to cut the hike short by going a longer distance on Nov 30 and ending that night. I just need Friday (Dec 1) to drive back to NH.
If you can, keep me informed here or via PM. I've been wanting to do the FHT for a long time.
Is a 30* bag good enough for the FHT in late Nov, or should I bring my 20* one?
little bear
11-14-2006, 14:21
Frosty I just sent Nightwalker a PM and will send you one.
I may be able to make the hike starting towards the end of the month... if y'all will have me. :o:)
little bear
11-14-2006, 15:37
Hey sly the more the marrier. I think we are going to try to start hiking saterday 11/25 and finish on 12/01 or 11/30 depends on when everyone has to get back. I am trying to get in phone contact with the ones who want to go so we can discuss vehicles and food catches. If your intrested Pm me.
little bear
11-14-2006, 17:34
Well I just talked to Frosty and he is on board we are meeting in South Carolina on Friday evening (11/24) to arrange vehicle drop offs. And we will begin hiking Saterday morning. Still waiting to hear from Nightwalker and Bowser and see if Sly is going to join us. Should be fun if anyone else is intrested in going, that cant go on the other trip planned for the week of Thanksgiving.
Happy Hikes
Little Bear
Well I just talked to Frosty and he is on board we are meeting in South Carolina on Friday evening (11/24) to arrange vehicle drop offs. And we will begin hiking Saterday morning. Still waiting to hear from Nightwalker and Bowser and see if Sly is going to join us. Should be fun if anyone else is intrested in going, that cant go on the other trip planned for the week of Thanksgiving. I'm getting ready. Just ordered the Trail guide and map, and bought some instant potatoes, bacon pieces, fried onions in a can, and a jar of Nutella. I got plenty of granola bars and poptarts (though I may bring oatmeal - what's the temps this time of year?)
little bear
11-14-2006, 21:54
Frosty i have checked yet to see what the temps should be, but I just got off the phone with Sly and he is going to go with us as well. I took my pack down from the attic today and have started getting my stuff ready as well. I cant wait to get back in the woods. Anyone else want to go?
Frosty, I'd go with the 20 degree bag. Unless you sleep warm and are carrying thermals. Personally, I hate to be cold at night on the trail.
Frosty, I'd go with the 20 degree bag. Unless you sleep warm and are carrying thermals. Personally, I hate to be cold at night on the trail.Tough call. The 30* bag is a western moutnaineering bag, and at least is an honest 30*. The benefit is that it weighs a pound and a half, as opposed to my 4 pound 20*. Of course, once I add thermals and insulated socks to my pack for the lighter bag, I'm getting closer to 4 pounds anyway.
Thanks for the advice. Guess I'll take it and hump the big bag.
little bear
11-14-2006, 23:43
Im going to take my Big Agnes Lost Ranger 15* bag it weighs a little more than my other but I like the room it has in it.
little bear
11-14-2006, 23:56
Sly i just tryed to send you a PM but it said you had to many. If you contact Frosty im sure he will send you the GPS coordinates. I dont know how to use one of them. LOL
OK now, I cleared my inbox.
Nightwalker
11-15-2006, 19:56
Sleeping bag: I use a 30 degree year round on the FHT. Sometimes, however, I end up in my thermals and fleece and stuff.
Keep in mind, though, that I sleep warm and you may not.
Sleeping bag: I use a 30 degree year round on the FHT. Sometimes, however, I end up in my thermals and fleece and stuff.
Keep in mind, though, that I sleep warm and you may not.I'll see how much stuff I end up with. If I take my 20* bag, I may need a bigger pack. The 30* is down and compresses small enough that I can use my Mariposa pack. Depends on how much I carry in clothing/food. Absolute limit of Mariposa is 30#, and it is more comfortable under 25.
Right now I'm lokoing at about 10 pounds of food for the trip. If I can keep other gear down to 18 pounds (plus a quart (2 pounds) of water) I'll be happy.
little bear
11-15-2006, 21:17
Hey frosty and sly I just got a PM from Nightwalker and he said he was going as well. He knows alot about the trail so he should know the best place for the 4 of us to meet and arrange for vehicles, as well as a half way food drop. I cant wait I have all my gear spread out on the floor now. Talk to yall soon.
little bear
11-15-2006, 23:24
well just got my pack together and with everything including water except food my pack is at 32.4 lbs, wish it was lighter. LOL
Nightwalker
11-16-2006, 22:39
well just got my pack together and with everything including water except food my pack is at 32.4 lbs, wish it was lighter. LOL
Don't buy all the LiteHype. 32.4 is a wonderful weight. This time of year through late spring, my pack is always in that range for a long-ish hike.
little bear
11-19-2006, 19:36
I just got a PM from Frosty and he is not going to be able to make.:( Maybe next time. As of now it looks like me, Sly and Nightwalker. Hope it willbe a great hike.
Nightwalker
11-19-2006, 21:50
I just got a PM from Frosty and he is not going to be able to make.:( Maybe next time. As of now it looks like me, Sly and Nightwalker. Hope it will be a great hike.
It will. I came home from my hike early. Just couldn't get into it. Was trying to get away from silly health worries, but just couldn't leave it. I had a chest scan to check for cancer, and now the doc wants to see me in his office. Hopefully, it's just to fuss at me for all those years gone by, but they would hardly do a special visit just for that. He didn't say over the phone what the results were.
Kinda scary. Just the possible chemo/radiation part. I've never seen that be very fun. Anyway, the spot is only 4 mm in size, so it's been caught very early. The silly thought I've had is: "will this keep me off the trail for long?" Lame.
So anyway, I'm still in, but no idea if I can do that trail in 6.5 days. We're sure gonna try, and I can get us a ride almost within hours, because we live within one hour of the whole trail, and there's lots of spotty cell coverage along the way.
Frank, good luck on your results. It's good the hear you'll still be hiking. I'm not sure if I can, or want to, hike the trail in 6.5 days either. Isn't there a road that crosss the trail a day or two before end heading west? If so, we drop one car there and re-shuttle the other car to Oconee from Table Rock, if looks good and there's time to finish.
little bear
11-19-2006, 23:04
Frank sorry to hear that I didnt know you had health problems to contend with, I hope all goes well for you and I will Pray for you.
As far as the trail goes I dont want to be rushed either so we can hike as far as we can and that will still be fun. I cant wait to meet you two and get so miles under my boots. I will call you guys this week. See ya soon.
Little Bear
Nightwalker
11-19-2006, 23:23
Thanks a lot, guys. The weather up there was really nice and chilly this weekend. It oughtta be great to hike in next week!
Nightwalker
11-22-2006, 15:44
Not cancer, just spots from an earlier bout with pneumonia.
Would it be a good idea for me to rent a campsite for Friday night at TRSP? Seems so.
Nightwalker
11-22-2006, 15:46
Sly, where is that friend of yours located? The distance from the beginning sounds like it's in the Jocassee Gorges section. :)
It usually takes me about 8 days to hike this trail. Anyone who doesn't have to rush back home might count on doing it in that, if you have the time and all.
little bear
11-29-2006, 14:19
Well Sly, Nightwalker and I have returned from our section hike of the Foothills trail. We ran in to some problems and had to cut the hike short but we had a great time. It was nice meeting a couple of the guys from White Blaze. Both of those hikers are stand up guys good to hike with.
Will post trip report shortly.
Happy Hikes
Hammock Hanger
12-08-2006, 11:04
So did you guys hike this trail?? How was it? I think it is a great little trail and one really worth putting on the list of "good hikes". Interested to read your trip report.
http://www.trailjournals.com/hammockhangerfoothills06/
yeah where is that trip report