Trails are what we make of them. We decide on the experiences we have as hikers. If anything it's good to recognize backpacking is not just about backpacking. Upon recognizing that we don't have to be bored because an infinite number of other activities can be enjoyed on the hike.
When I was being bitchy, unappreciative, and bored about a Pinhoti Tr road walk it was 10-K who happily interrupted my negative mindset reminding me about this. Road walks can be part of the hike and offer different perspectives. Sometimes they are needed especially in this day and age as connector segments of a longer trail. I appreciate him offering that.
I've had great Lakeshore Tr hikes because:
1)I stopped into Bryson City for a coffee at Mountain Perks getting quick rides into and back out of town from/to the parking lot near the Road to Nowhere Tunnel. Bryson City PD Officer kindly brought me back to the trail.
2) enjoying interesting different takes in conversation about GSMNP history as related from long time Bryson City residents
3) enjoying the tunnel because I emergency camped in it in a lightning thunderstorm(kinda spooky with the weird graffiti on the walls with the lighting), enjoyed hearing the normal level voices of people at the parking lot when at the other end of the tunnel because the tunnel acts to amplify noise
4) doing the bonus Goldmine Loop as an added on short hike
5) not having to deal with the crowds, permit competition, or shelter requirements of the AT or the mice at the AT shelters in GSMNP.
6) fishing along the way at Forney, Hazel, and Eagle Creeks as well as in several Fontana Lake coves which I bushwackecd or followed use trails to.
7) checking out the history of the town of Hazel Creek. A BIG part of hiking in a place that was once the home of so many is the history particularly GSMNP. As GSMNP visitors we should never forget that.
8 ) taking a side trip on a clear Oct day to Shuckstack Fire Tower. It sways slightly in strong winds. On a clear full moon night the view of the sky and surrounding hillsides can be grand.
Although I can say I enjoyed a BMT thru and another BMT completed hike done in three sections or the AT between Springer Mt and Davenport Gap of all those hikes a AT/BMT Figure 8 thru I enjoyed the most for its combined diversity of the AT and BMT. If not so obsessed with bagging another entire acronym LD trail, which can be difficult after recently completing an AT thru(I get the ABC trail bagging bug), recognizing the BMT for what it is and how it was envisioned - as part of a network of trails no less or no more significant than another the world of hiking becomes a much larger to be appreciated place. If one is willing to do this so many awesome self designed or suggested loops that include the BMT can be experienced.
http://www.bmta.org/BMT-ATLoops.htm