rpenczek
08-10-2009, 14:16
Last week, 7 of my Boy Scouts and 4 adults did a 40 mile 5 day trip in Northern TN.
On Sunday the 2nd, we arrived at Kincora (expecting to camp near by) and Bob offered up the hostel (no other hikers there for my Scouts to bother). What a treat to meet Bob and hear some of his stories and gain some valuable trail knowledge for the seciton we were about to hike (he corrected my Appalachian Pages 2008 guide).
On Monday Bob shuttled us all up to Roan High Knob for the beginning of our hike. We had nice weather (cool and sunny) while hiking from RHK to Overmountain Shelter. We tented near the shelter but the boys enjoyed checking out the barn. The water source here was quite good.
Tuesday we hiked from Overmountain to 19E (Mountain Harbor B&B/Hostel). We had planned to camp there, but got rained on for two hours just prior to arriving, so the lot of us decided to stay in a bunk and get a shower. The facility was fantastic (not sure this was really hiking).
Wednesday we hiked form 19E to Mountaineer Falls and camped just South of the Shelter. We got rained on hard the entire day, but the big man was with us as the rain let up to set camp, eat dinner and get to bed. Then the rain began again (all night). I now have total confidence in my Tarptent Rainbow and believe I will never be wet while sleeping - great product.
Thursday saw hiking in good weather but with very wet boots for all. This made for a slow day with lots of blisters. We arrived at Moreland Gap late (6:30 PM) had dinner, hung up wet socks and hit the sack.
Friday Moreland Gap to Kincora for a shower and in the cars on the way to WV for some whitewater rafting.
A great trip (even with the rain) and an eye opener from some of my newer backpackers. Each learned to deal with some amount of adversity.
Thanks to Tenn Viking for his guidance on the trek plan and to Bob for his help at Kincora.
On Sunday the 2nd, we arrived at Kincora (expecting to camp near by) and Bob offered up the hostel (no other hikers there for my Scouts to bother). What a treat to meet Bob and hear some of his stories and gain some valuable trail knowledge for the seciton we were about to hike (he corrected my Appalachian Pages 2008 guide).
On Monday Bob shuttled us all up to Roan High Knob for the beginning of our hike. We had nice weather (cool and sunny) while hiking from RHK to Overmountain Shelter. We tented near the shelter but the boys enjoyed checking out the barn. The water source here was quite good.
Tuesday we hiked from Overmountain to 19E (Mountain Harbor B&B/Hostel). We had planned to camp there, but got rained on for two hours just prior to arriving, so the lot of us decided to stay in a bunk and get a shower. The facility was fantastic (not sure this was really hiking).
Wednesday we hiked form 19E to Mountaineer Falls and camped just South of the Shelter. We got rained on hard the entire day, but the big man was with us as the rain let up to set camp, eat dinner and get to bed. Then the rain began again (all night). I now have total confidence in my Tarptent Rainbow and believe I will never be wet while sleeping - great product.
Thursday saw hiking in good weather but with very wet boots for all. This made for a slow day with lots of blisters. We arrived at Moreland Gap late (6:30 PM) had dinner, hung up wet socks and hit the sack.
Friday Moreland Gap to Kincora for a shower and in the cars on the way to WV for some whitewater rafting.
A great trip (even with the rain) and an eye opener from some of my newer backpackers. Each learned to deal with some amount of adversity.
Thanks to Tenn Viking for his guidance on the trek plan and to Bob for his help at Kincora.