View Full Version : Watauga Dam to Damascus hike?
Looks like that will be my solo this year. Looks like a climb off the start and flat to downhill the rest of the way. Any insight from the experienced hikers of this section?
Lone Wolf
06-13-2007, 12:00
Looks like that will be my solo this year. Looks like a climb off the start and flat to downhill the rest of the way. Any insight from the experienced hikers of this section?
nice, easy section. nice relo at tn. 91
The Solemates
06-13-2007, 12:04
awesome, scenic section. the climb up to vandeventer is the only significant one you will have. have fun!
Is Hwy 421 the closest drop off to get to Abingdon Gap shelter. My wife and daughter will meet me at some point and hike into Damascus with me. I would rather meet them at the shelter as they are not as enthused as I am on the many mile hike thing.
Lone Wolf
06-13-2007, 12:18
Is Hwy 421 the closest drop off to get to Abingdon Gap shelter. My wife and daughter will meet me at some point and hike into Damascus with me. I would rather meet them at the shelter as they are not as enthused as I am on the many mile hike thing.
McQueens Gap, USFS road 69 is 1 mile before Abingdon gap shelter. A total of 11 miles to Damascus
D'Artagnan
06-13-2007, 13:57
nice, easy section. nice relo at tn. 91
Wolf: How long would you allow for a hike from the dam to Damascus at a leisurely clip? Thanks for the insight.
Lone Wolf
06-13-2007, 14:03
3 full days
I hiked that section recently and it took 3 days. If you've just done Roan and other similar areas, then the section in question is quite a bit easier. I'd be a bit concerned about water, though -- perhaps Wolf and others in that area can give you more info on whether things are drying up.
I will be going in early August. Hopefully the water will be replenished by then after this dry spring.
Alligator
06-13-2007, 14:15
3 full daysThat's what I did it in. It was a steep climb down at Vendeventer to get to water in what I think was a dry year.
The trail guide mentions wearing long pants due to the blackberry bushes overgrowing the trail during the summer months. Is that something I need to worry about?
Lone Wolf
06-13-2007, 18:06
The trail guide mentions wearing long pants due to the blackberry bushes overgrowing the trail during the summer months. Is that something I need to worry about?
no. not a major concern
That's what I did it in. It was a steep climb down at Vendeventer to get to water in what I think was a dry year.
The last time I was at Vanderventer I decided to see if the water really was as far as the guidebook said. It was farther! Sad part about it is that I didn't even need water. Consider taking a chance on dying of thirst before you do something as dumb as I did. :D
mountain squid
06-13-2007, 18:43
Although it is raining at the moment, it has been dry, so I'm not sure of the water availability in that section. About 2 weeks ago, I 'heard' that there was no water between Vandeventer Shelter and Double Springs Shelter. That is about 15 miles without water including Iron Mt Shelter being dry.
Now, about 10 days ago I hiked South of TN 91, which is within that 15 miles. There is a spring with a cistern about 1/2 mi South of TN91. That cistern was at least half full of water then (about 4 miles away from Double Spring Shelter).
Hopefully, that wasn't too confusing. Bottom Line - there might not be any water b/n Vandeventer and Double Springs.
About the Vandeventer water source, there is a spring about 1 mile before the shelter on the AT. If the spring is not dry (it was flowing 3 weeks ago), you might consider filling up instead of waiting until the Vandeventer source. You might have to carry some extra water, but you will avoid the steep downhill climb.
See you on the trail,
mt squid
usfs 69 is a pretty rough road might need 4wd
Lone Wolf
06-13-2007, 21:42
FWD ain't needed
The Solemates
06-14-2007, 17:20
Wolf: How long would you allow for a hike from the dam to Damascus at a leisurely clip? Thanks for the insight.
I hiked into Trail Days from US 321 in 1.5 days and I wouldnt say I pushed myself. 3 days would be a great walk..plenty of time. Just a note, the water at Vandeventer is one of the furthest from the shelter along the entire AT, and all downhill.
It's about 43 miles. It is easy "compared" to the trail to the south. It is easy the last 10 or 11 miles. Some of the thru hikers I met hiking to Trail Days grinned as they wryly asked no one in particular "I thought this was supposed to be easy?". There's a climb coming out of the Watauga Dam area and then it keeps gently climbing. If you haven't been hiking a lot lately, you may have more fun if you average a bit over 10 miles a day and get there about mid-day on your 4th day.
Thanks for all the insight. My main concern now is having to pack more water at Watauga Dam and haul it up the initial steep climb to make sure I have some for the dry area after V. Shelter. Hopefully it will have rained enough to take care of that problem by Aug. I wonder how long after rains will the springs have water again?
Just came off this as part of our section the night before last.
It is an "up" out of Wautauga Dam to Vandeventer and there are some rolling little ups and downs until the last 10 miles, but it was really a very pleasant hike. Water was not in great shape thru out the hike (we came in at Iron Mt. Gap and trailed into Damascus), with a few dry-as-bone places, but we managed just fine. We carried a little extra and drank up when it was available.
Vandeventer had water, and it is a straight up and down to get it. At least it was, by my DH's report!
Damascus is a fine ending reward :), as always.
Have fun. gum
i just hiked that section this past week. i did it in two and a half days. didn't have any real problems with water. as i recall the the only spring that was dry was the one between vanderventer and iron mountain.... and there's a good spring about a mile south of vanderventer if you're not up for that stiff and up down for water at vanderventer.
i also had two bear encounters during this section. it was a great hike. i'm sure you'll enjoy it.
fifo
GlazeDog
06-22-2007, 01:49
The famous Damascus Dash. We did it in one day. It was five of us. We travelled light and fast. What an experience. Probably won't do it again though. For me thte by far hardest part was the last ten miles into Damascus that just wouldn't end. All I could think about was that breakfast burrito at that burrito place--what was it called??? What memories.
GlazeDog
p.s. couldn't have done it without this:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=13635&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1
fiddlehead
06-22-2007, 07:45
It's probably the easiest 40 mile section on the AT.
I made it to Dot's by 7PM in '95.
(but it was only 39.7 or something back then)
Lone Wolf
06-22-2007, 09:16
It's probably the easiest 40 mile section on the AT.
I made it to Dot's by 7PM in '95.
(but it was only 39.7 or something back then)
i did the same section in 93. took me 11 hours, 50 minutes
i did the same section in 93. took me 11 hours, 50 minutes My HERO does it again!!! :)
fiddlehead
06-22-2007, 22:59
I remember getting up in the dark and walking at first light, so i'm sure you were faster. Hopefully we'll do the "masochist" together some year. I just started racing again, but i'm out of shape and did a half-marathon the other day in 2:30 here in 100 deg. phuket.
smokymtnsteve
06-22-2007, 23:02
i did the same section in 93. took me 11 hours, 50 minutes
UR so BUTCH:D
I am leaving for this hike in two weeks. Any new info on the water situation?