View Full Version : Slackpacking NC/Tn
I'm planning a hike from Davenport Gap to Erwin and want to slackpack as much as possible, as my wife will be going and sightseeing while I hike. Any help with car accessable trailheads would be appreciated.
Git yourself the DeLorme Gazateers (sic) for TN & NC. They'll run about $40 (total) and list the trail and all trail crossings on 'em.
*Appalachian Trail Guide to Tennessee~North Carolina* (Has directions to section trailheads)
Map 2 and 3 (one map) Moreland Gap Shelter to Sams Gap, U.S. 23, Sams Gap to Davenport Gap.
Databook
AAA state highway maps to Tennessee and North Carolina.
Delorme Gazetteer & Atlas to N.C.
Kerosene
04-17-2005, 00:37
I have a 3 MB Adobe Acrobat document titled "A Guide to Car-Hiking the Appalachian Trail" that I pulled off the Internet a few years ago (it's dated 1999). I can't seem to find a link to the document anymore, although it looks as if it has been turned into a book and can be bought for about $15 (click here for Google results (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22A+Guide+to+Car-Hiking+the+Appalachian+Trail%22&btnG=Google+Search)). Let me know by e-mail or PM if there are any sections you'd like to know more about.
I've pretty much mapped out the ideal road crossings for my hike, however I do have a couple of questions about some roads. My data book says that there is a road to Garenflo Gap and one to Camp Creek Bald. Are you familiar with these roads? Are they paved, gravel,dirt, etc?
I presume that Max Patch road is a paved road, since I do see it on several maps. What about NC 212, which goes to Devil Fork Gap?
orangebug
04-17-2005, 11:14
You have two threads on this running.
The road to Garenflo Gap is paved, but ends at the trail crossing.I referred to it as the grassy gap, as it has some nice camping spots. I don't recall Camp Creek Bald.
The road to Max Patch is dirt and gravel.
Devil's Fork is well paved.
SnakebiteSurvivor
04-17-2005, 13:21
The road to Camp Creek Bald is very bad. Probably not passable by 2wd passenger car. We got a shuttle ride up there from the outfitter in Hot Springs in a van, and it almost shook the van apart! The road ends at a microwave station and it's a couple hundred yards from there on a side-trail to the AT.
If my memory is correct, there is no parking available at Allen Gap (though there is a place where somebody can pull off to drop you off or pick you up: Uncle Johnny, from Erwin, gave us a lift there).
I have the book called "A Guide to Car-Hiking the Appalachian Trail", and it's not very useful. It's not really about using a car to support slackpacking (see my review of this book, under the name Phelps Gates, on amazon.com)
SnakebiteSurvivor
04-17-2005, 13:26
The easiest way up to Max Patch is to take the Harmon Den Road exit from I-40 (this is exit 7 on the NC side, I think). Go all the way up to the ridge line on this road, then turn left for a few miles to a parking lot on the right with a bulletin board, etc. You can climb up to the top of Max Patch from this lot. These roads are all gravel, but easily passable in a passengar car. It's also reachable from the Hot Springs side (also via roads passable in a car), but the roads are a little hard to follow. Be sure you have a good map and/or GPS.
orangebug
04-17-2005, 13:57
There is plenty of area for pulling off the road and parking at Allen Gap, and a closed gas station just a few yards on the NC side of the gap. It is not the sort of place where I'd leave a car overnight.
Now I recall Camp Creek Bald. It has a service road up to it for those antennaes. I believe there are other small dirt roads in the area that connect to meadows and some private housing, an old lodge and the sort. I've heard Miss Janet offer to shuttle folks there, but it sounded like a bear of a trip.
Allen Gap to Devil's Fork is a nice overnight walk, with Jerry's Cabin the obvious place to stay. Your wife can go enjoy Asheville while she awaits your appearance.