Is this section hike doable?

[Berserker]

I agree with others that have said to reduce the mileage. I remember being in tip-top shape back in the mid 90s (I used to be a cyclist and race both road and mountain bike races), never having hiked before, and I asked a guy to give me the hardest 25 mile section near Lynchburg to do over a weekend. Well, he gave me the section that includes Three Ridges and the Priest. I gotta say I went into that thing thinking I was a bad arse, and after the first day of 13 miles I think I got my arse handed to me. So yeah, being in good physical condition is great, but I wouldn't trying going for that many miles your first time out. How about just doing the Smokies for example? That's 73.6 miles if you go in at Fontana Dam, and exit at Waterville School Rd. (you can park at Standing Bear Hostel). Just a thought...I think you'd have a lot more fun.

[K_Squared]

Like most people said, it's doable, but doesn't sound like fun. Why would you want to do all that mileage, why not take it slower and enjoy the trail? With those mileages you might be too concerned with your pace to enjoy yourselves.

Also -- are you planning on carrying 8 days worth of food? I didn't see a resupply factored into your schedule. If you aren't resupplying, that is going to make for a real heavy pack, which will make that 2nd day (22 miles) not much fun.

[Camping Dave]

Very doable. Ignore the chicken-littles. Have a good time.

Unsolicited advice: Screwing around in camp cooking fancy breakfasts and sipping cocoa wastes daylight. Wake up. Pack up. Move out.

[tenn_hiker]

yeah it's doable. you've got youth on your side. go for it

Thank you Lone Wolf!

Doable but doesn't look fun. Your going to be sore, hiking with a pack is awhole lot different then sports.

I know what hiking is, i've hiked quit a bit, i did the Georgia section averaging about the same miles.

Like most people said, it's doable, but doesn't sound like fun. Why would you want to do all that mileage, why not take it slower and enjoy the trail? With those mileages you might be too concerned with your pace to enjoy yourselves.

Also -- are you planning on carrying 8 days worth of food? I didn't see a resupply factored into your schedule. If you aren't resupplying, that is going to make for a real heavy pack, which will make that 2nd day (22 miles) not much fun.

It's just how i like to hike, i don't see the point in taking a million breaks, or cooking some big fancy breakfast and even stopping to cook lunch, i might do that once during the whole trip. sure if there is a nice view i stop for a while and take a break, and eat some food or something but I've always walked fast weather it's backing or not that's just how i am. plus i get up early most days when I hike, so if i did low miles i would be done by noon, leaving me with all that time to do nothing.. if i was actually thru hiking it would be a different story, i would take my time cause i wouldn't have a time limit, well not really.. you know? but since i only have 8 days or so i want to see as much as i can. Also, i haven't really thought about a resupply.. i would like to have one but i haven't really looked into it yet. any suggestions?

Very doable. Ignore the chicken-littles. Have a good time.

Unsolicited advice: Screwing around in camp cooking fancy breakfasts and sipping cocoa wastes daylight. Wake up. Pack up. Move out.

Finally some good advice! haha. i like to be gone when the sun is coming up, or before that!

[fredmugs]

I could not have done that hike at 40 but I can now at 48 (lots of lessons learned). For general soreness you can suck it up but if his feet get covered in blisters you could be done. Proper footwear may be more important than anything else.

[kofritz]

tenn_hiker you have gotten great advice here. i agree with the cautions on TMM(2 many miles) per day... maybe you should try one of the sections as a day hike to see how it goes...

[tenn_hiker]

I could not have done that hike at 40 but I can now at 48 (lots of lessons learned). For general soreness you can suck it up but if his feet get covered in blisters you could be done. Proper footwear may be more important than anything else.

Yeah, i know he needs some good boots or trail runners

[takethisbread]

132 miles in 7-8 days in that section is not a problem as long as weather is ok. Unless you are an old beaten down warhorse like most of the geratric moaners here it might be aproblem. some folks here like to talk about hiking but they really roll out of camp at about 9:30 am after they have 3 cups of camp coffee, and hike a few hours pull into camp at 3:15pm after a grueling 9.2 miles.

Seriously 15-17 mpd average should be standard for anyone under 40 years old.

[flemdawg1]

I wouldn't do it. Too many miles. Its supposed to be fun, not a week of death marches. I'd keep it around 15 miles/day.

[Magilla]

I wonder how heavy your friends pack is, being his first time. My first time hiking I had a pack heading out of Pearisburg that was close to 50lbs. It didn't take long to learn to get rid of things. If your friend carries a heavy pack he will be misserable with that many miles.

[tenn_hiker]

I wonder how heavy your friends pack is, being his first time. My first time hiking I had a pack heading out of Pearisburg that was close to 50lbs. It didn't take long to learn to get rid of things. If your friend carries a heavy pack he will be misserable with that many miles.

Well he is using my fathers pack, and gear, so it will not be that heavy.. but it's defiantly not a UL pack haha

[lissersmith]

He might not be your friend for long. This sounds like a recipe for disaster.

[takethisbread]

Well he is using my fathers pack, and gear, so it will not be that heavy.. but it's defiantly not a UL pack haha

i took my son on his first backpacking trip when he was 16. He is not athletic. We are talking Fredo from the Godfather. Loaded him up and banged out Bennington to Manchester in 2 days. thats 44 miles and the hiking is a no less difficult than the path youve dreamed up here. and my son is real weak.

[moytoy]

Another question, which section is harder? from springer to rock gap? or my schedule i have here

Springer to Rock Gap is easier than Rock Gap to Davenport Gap.

[Freedom Walker]

OP, whatever you decide to do I you come back to this thread and honestly share how it worked out.

[tenn_hiker]

Springer to Rock Gap is easier than Rock Gap to Davenport Gap.

Thanks, i was wondering if anyone was going to answer me..

OP, whatever you decide to do I you come back to this thread and honestly share how it worked out.

I will defiantly do that,i should be back the 15th or 16th of april

[Papa D]

So i have been getting stuff together and making schedules for my spring break section hike. I am bringing my friend who is new at hiking so it should be fun. My friend is pretty athletic he has either been on the football team or wrestling team each year in high school. But none the less, he hasn't hiked but once with me so it will probably be tough especially with since i want to do 132 miles in like 7 and a half or 8 and a half days.

day: Miles:
1 Rock Gap to siler bald shelter 8
2 siler bald shelter to A. rufus morgan shelter 22.3
3 A. rufus morgan shelter to brown fork gap shelter 16.8
4 Brown fork gap shelter to fontana dam shelter 12.7
5 Fontana dam shelter to spence field shelter 16.7
6 Spence field shelter to double spring gap shelter 13.6
7 Double spring gap shelter to pecks corner shelter 21.2
8 Pecks corner to cosby knob shelter 12.9
9 cosby knob shelter to TN-32 Davenport gap 8

is that schedule doable? I've revised the schedule a few times after i got better maps and stuff. day 1 is less than a half day, we are going down after school, we will probably be doing a little night hiking.

Yes - this is very doable - but I'm not so sure why you chose the stopping spots you did - I think you could do this over-all mileage a lot easier if you break it up a little different: for example, your 16.8 mile day is a whole heck of a lot harder than your 22.3 mile day or your 21.2 mile day - I'd also recommend skipping a couple of shelters in favor of ones you might like better. I know this section really well. Feel free to private message me. I'll give you my phone number and talk it out with you if you like.

[bigcranky]

i took my son on his first backpacking trip when he was 16. He is not athletic. We are talking Fredo from the Godfather. Loaded him up and banged out Bennington to Manchester in 2 days. thats 44 miles and the hiking is a no less difficult than the path youve dreamed up here. and my son is real weak.

Does your son still speak to you?

[tenn_hiker]

Yes - this is very doable - but I'm not so sure why you chose the stopping spots you did - I think you could do this over-all mileage a lot easier if you break it up a little different: for example, your 16.8 mile day is a whole heck of a lot harder than your 22.3 mile day or your 21.2 mile day - I'd also recommend skipping a couple of shelters in favor of ones you might like better. I know this section really well. Feel free to private message me. I'll give you my phone number and talk it out with you if you like.

I sent you a message, thanks for your help!

[Shooting Star]

Just do the Smokies northbound - Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap. I think this
will finish off your friend. If so, you can bail at Newfound Gap, go into G'burg and
party for a few. If not and you're still going strong at Davenport Gap with a
few days left - head north to Hot Springs (35 mi north). You can bail at Max Patch
or another gap along the way if time runs out or you run out of gas. Good luck...