View Full Version : Carver's Gap to US19E in NC
cdmtarheel
03-22-2005, 22:22
A group of recreational day hikers are planning to do this as a one day hike in late April, starting at Carver's Gap and proceeding north to US19E. We have an older hiker (~70) who is in good shape but with some minor knee problems. None of us have ever hiked this section of the trail. Is this a very strenuous hike or is it relatively easy (considering it IS 13.7 miles)? Thank you;)
A group of recreational day hikers are planning to do this as a one day hike in late April, starting at Carver's Gap and proceeding north to US19E. We have an older hiker (~70) who is in good shape but with some minor knee problems. None of us have ever hiked this section of the trail. Is this a very strenuous hike or is it relatively easy (considering it IS 13.7 miles)? Thank you;)
Its a loooong downhill to US19E. That might cause some problems for an older hiker with knee problems. Hiking poles or a hiking staff would be a giood idea for that individual. Its a beautiful hike though, and as I recall, the climbs are generally gentle. There is no shortage of ups & downs though.
Are you with a hiking club?
orangebug
03-22-2005, 22:33
It all depends on conditioning, weather and such. Last November, I chose to walk it fairly slowly, camping on a rock ledge about 1 mile south of 19E. There are numerous steady climbs, but a pretty hefty downhill as you head down to US 19E. That is where unprepared hikers will get screaming knees and such.
And remember that 19E is a lousy place to leave a car or anything else you value. It might be a better plan to stash a car at Carver Gap, get a shuttle to 19E, and walk back to the car.
Awhile back, Geoffrey Morris posted that he offers more secure, private parking close to the 19E AT crossing. The e-mail addy at the time was: dremamorris@earthlink.net. Hopefully this is still current info.
If secure parking is available, IMHO doing this section NOBO would be more of a pleasure (less climbing).
Why not make it a 2 day hike and stay at Overmountain Shelter (the red barn)? You will enjoy it and the 70 y.o. will appreciate it also. I did this last year and we had 28 people in the shelter with us. We had a Great time!
bobgessner57
03-23-2005, 00:02
Geoffrey's parking is very close to the trail a mile? or so north of 19E. He has some survey tape marking off an easy walk from the AT to the road by his mom's house. Nice place to leave a car.
Another option to be aware of is that a side trail leads from the Overmountain shelter to a trailhead parking area on the NC side. I've never been on it and it is not listed in Allen de Hart's North Carolina Hiking Trails. I've run into day hikers that used this to access Grassy Ridge and Hump. Might get info on this from the USFS Toecane district ranger office in Burnsville, NC 828-682-6146.
SnakebiteSurvivor
03-23-2005, 06:21
I've hiked this section a couple of times (I'm 64, with minor knee issues) and it's strenuous, but certainly doable in a day (check with your ~70 hiker to see what his experience is with downhills, and I definitely recommend hiking poles!).
When I hiked this section last summer, we left one car at Jeffrey Morris's place, but I noticed that there's a nice new parking place on the west side of US 19E (previously, you had to sort of pull off into the mud on the east side), with several cars parked there. I would feel OK about leaving a car there for a day hike. It would certainly be much easier than doing this section uphill... eeek!
I'll second the comments of people to the effect that this is a really spectacular hike, especially the section over Hump Mountain. Really worth the effort.
Brushy Sage
03-23-2005, 10:59
The longhorn cattle on hump mountain add zest to the hiking experience.
If secure parking is available, IMHO doing this section NOBO would be more of a pleasure (less climbing).
Even when I'm out of shape, I think I'd prefer up than down. Less wear and tear. :)
Sly,
Apparently my lungs are as bad as your knees. I'll take downhill almost anytime. Exception might be rock scrambles in New Hampshire and Maine.
Skyline
What direction has the most climb? Would you recommend north to South or South to North?
orangebug
03-28-2005, 23:15
My impression was the steepest climb would be SOBO.
Brushy Sage
03-28-2005, 23:22
I have done his section in both directions, and I prefer north to south, primarily because most of the severe climbing comes in one stretch up onto the hump mountains. There are plenty of ups and downs in either direction. Also, I think this is an ambitious hike to do in one day unless everyone is well conditioned for mountainous terrain. An overnight stop at Overmountain Shelter will make it much more comfortable. Also, the hike will not be much fun if the weather is bad -- no views from the mountains, tall wet grass, fog, etc. I went northbound under wet conditions, and I was evermore grateful to have Overmountain Shelter as a stopover point, especially as the next day was beautiful.
Hurricane Tom
03-28-2005, 23:52
RipCurl and I did this section back in October. We got dropped off at Carver's Gap and hammock camped at the Over Mountain Trail crossing. (The barn was full of Boy Scouts. We found out the next day they were almost overrun with mice.) This was a truly beautiful section of the trail but the downhill to 19E was ruthless on our knees. Rip's dad picked us up at 19E so we didn't have to deal with the parking issues there.
MedicineMan
03-29-2005, 02:53
I've done this section many times in both directions...
from 19E south you will climb very close to 3000 feet to summit Hump,,,when you get to the Overmountain Shelter remember the footsteps of the soldiers who passed that way to fight the British at King's Mountain.
So far I've completed Springer to Browns Gap in SNP, have flown up and did Mt. K, and the section between Carver's GAp and 19E stands beside Mt. K in grandeur.
Sign the petition to have the Longhorns removed and replaced with Elk!
When on Yellow or Hump look for long black gouges in the ground, they are from lightning strikes.
Brushy Sage
04-02-2005, 12:58
How the weather can change along this route. Here is the forecast for Roan Mtn, TN for this afternoon and tonight (Apr 2):
This Afternoon
Rain showers and snow showers. Snow accumulation up to 8 inches...mainly above 2500 feet. Windy. Highs in the 30s to mid 40s. Temperature steady or slowly falling through the afternoon. West winds 30 to 40 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.
Detail
Tonight
Rain and snow likely. Windy. Total snow accumulation of 3 to 12 inches. Lows in the upper 20s to mid 30s. West winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts to around 55 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
stomparound85
04-02-2005, 22:38
Hey why dont yall try 19E to Overmountain now thats fun. Thats what me and my buds have done twice for a quick weekender. :banana
Another option to be aware of is that a side trail leads from the Overmountain shelter to a trailhead parking area on the NC side. I've never been on it and it is not listed in Allen de Hart's North Carolina Hiking Trails. I've run into day hikers that used this to access Grassy Ridge and Hump. Might get info on this from the USFS Toecane district ranger office in Burnsville, NC 828-682-6146.
From Yellow Gap you can either take the Overmountain Victory Trail down or the Overmountain Shelter trail/road down to the gate at the top of Roaring Creek Road. This road is in NC off of US 19E in a sharp inside bend...there is a historical marker there that can help you notice it.
From this point, I've done out and back hikes to the Humps with older relatives (70+)...this gives you the option of turning around if needed.
This is also a good spot to set a shuttle and hike from Carver's Gap...if setting your shuttle here, I think the fastest way is to continue north on 19E to Roan Mtn, TN and take TN 143 to Carver's Gap.
geoffrey morris
07-06-2005, 03:49
Hi all the parking is still aval. E mail is still dremamorris@earthlink.net and the phone # is 1 423 772 3425. call when ever i'm up late always
G Morris