if only i'd listened to Blister...

[roadie]

and went ahead and invested in one of those Voice-Activated AT Handbooks at Trail Days! :datz

ok. here's my situation. my family is seeing me off the the NOC to start my new job this week. my little sister wants to do a little hiking and get a great view. i thought about the fire tower a few shelters south of NOC. but when my sis says "a little" hiking, thats exactly what she means. she thinks i'm crazy for doing the things i do, is by no means the "outdoorsy" type, and will not be willing to do more than say, a mile:p . SO! my question is...

is there a FS road to cheat up a mountain near NOC? or a loop trail with a view off the AT or anything of that nature near there? my sis has never been hiking before, and i would like her to get a small taste of the Trail. some hiking she could be proud of, and then a fantastic view. maybe get her to realize just why i do these things, ya know?:)

we are planning on hiking tomorrow and i will be checking for responses when i get to NOC later this evening so anything you've got is appreciated! thanks so much, guys and gals. don't forget to holla at me when you pass thru the NOC!:banana
roadie

[SGT Rock]

There is a dirt road that gets you within about a mile of the Wesser Bald tower.

[MOWGLI]

Take her over to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

http://www.main.nc.us/graham/hiking/joycekil.html

It doesn't offer a view from a peak, but it offers something much rarer and much more beautiful IMO. An magnificent East Coast old growth forest.

[max patch]

FS road gets you within a mile of the firetower on Albert Mt near Franklin.

[Stoker53]

Take her over to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

http://www.main.nc.us/graham/hiking/joycekil.html

It doesn't offer a view from a peak, but it offers something much rarer and much more beautiful IMO. An magnificent East Coast old growth forest.

I 2nd MOWGLI16's suggestion. Check out the "big trees" loop in Joyce Kilmer. It's a very short hike and easy to boot.

[SGT Rock]

That is a special place. It has been years since I hiked there but it had a definite "feel" to it with all those big trees.

[DLFrost]

Take her over to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

http://www.main.nc.us/graham/hiking/joycekil.html

It doesn't offer a view from a peak, but it offers something much rarer and much more beautiful IMO. An magnificent East Coast old growth forest.
Yep... get a photo of her standing in front of the Twin Poplers. "What's that funny wall she's standing in front of?" "Those are trees."

And don't forget the excellent tourist overlook nearby (Maple Springs Overlook I think it's called)--go north from the crossroads at the entrance to Joyce Kilmer. The Horse Cove campsite is just to the east for car camping along the creek. The Cherohala Skyway offers reasonable access to the south end of the wilderness areas. If a dayhike out to the awesome Hangover Lead Overlook won't convince her, nothing else will. :D

Doug Frost