Tuscarora Trail

[Downhill Trucker]

I hammock so the campsite and shelter thing is a non issue. The resupply problem is an issue because if doing a thru... well, it would be an issue. The positive note on that is living in MD, I have many friends who could at least meet me in that area for a resupply or two. The PA section is what I would be worried most about but I don't have a problem with a few road hikes or hitches. The lack of water sources would definately suck. Thank you for the info though, and I will continue to research.

Does anyone know of anyone who has done a Tuscarora thru?

Thanks again...

-DHT

[ki0eh]

I hammock so the campsite and shelter thing is a non issue. The resupply problem is an issue because if doing a thru... well, it would be an issue. The positive note on that is living in MD, I have many friends who could at least meet me in that area for a resupply or two. The PA section is what I would be worried most about but I don't have a problem with a few road hikes or hitches. The lack of water sources would definately suck. Thank you for the info though, and I will continue to research.

Does anyone know of anyone who has done a Tuscarora thru?

Thanks again...

-DHT

See TJ reference here from another Tuscarora thread: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...98&postcount=6

[Blue Sky II]

The new section of trail will open in 2-3 years according to written reports.

[Skyline]

See TJ reference here from another Tuscarora thread: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...98&postcount=6

Ouch! It sounds like, from this journal, that I've already done about 80% of the TT that I would want to...at least for now.

[ki0eh]

Ouch! It sounds like, from this journal, that I've already done about 80% of the TT that I would want to...at least for now.

Down your way there's a good bit of Great Eastern Trail south of the Tuscarora junction, not yet marked as such, on NF, frequently shared with MTB's, and some on FS roads.

I just noticed that maps are now posted to http://potomacappalachian.org/index....=226&Itemid=43 - better make this observation in the GET thread too.

[Hammock Hanger]

I have always been interested in hiking the Tuscarora trail, but never got around to it. What I have heard it is less traveled, so not as many run-ins with people, which if you like to get away from "people", it seems to be a good trail to backpack.

~GB

I did the southern half up to Cowan's Gap in 2007. It was a nice trail. We did not pass one other hiker the entire time. Don't understand why. There were nice shelters.

[Hammock Hanger]

I'm highly considering thruing this trail soon. Any new info? Is there still a trail closure?

I am contemplating finishing the northern half come October, after the Gathering.

[Hammock Hanger]

I hammock so the campsite and shelter thing is a non issue. The resupply problem is an issue because if doing a thru... well, it would be an issue. The positive note on that is living in MD, I have many friends who could at least meet me in that area for a resupply or two. The PA section is what I would be worried most about but I don't have a problem with a few road hikes or hitches. The lack of water sources would definately suck. Thank you for the info though, and I will continue to research.

Does anyone know of anyone who has done a Tuscarora thru?

Thanks again...

-DHT

I did not fin re-suppy to be a problem when I did the southern half.

[Downhill Trucker]

I did not fin re-suppy to be a problem when I did the southern half.

Thanks for the info... where did you resupply at? I'm in the process of getting the maps now.

Was it a lot of road walking or was it a nice trail? Were there nice views or points of interest? Swimming holes?

Thanks!

[Cookerhiker]

The PATC has recently completed a 7 mile relocation of the Tuscarora Trail replacing a road walk with a ridgetop walk. Brief announcement in the August newsletter:

"The Tuscarora Trail relocation from Longs Gap to McClures Gap near Carlisle, PA has been completed. This approximately 7-mile section takes the trail off an extensive road walk and puts it on top of the ridge..."

The October newsletter describes the dedication ceremony.

[Hodge Podge]

Just a heads-up--I hiked the Tuscarora in WV this last weekend, and the section from WV9 to Sleepy Creek WMA is fundamentally different from the map. We met a couple from PATC working on a bridge, and apparently the trail was rerouted from the ridgeline to Devil's Nose and across Meadow Branch a couple years ago, but the maps have not yet been updated. The trail is in great shape and is very well marked, but absolutely do not rely on the map for mileage, elevation profile, or other info in advance.

[ki0eh]

Even the 2008 guide book hints at the relocation but does not describe it. One WB member has a Google Earth compilation of new route and side trails, I'll let him offer to share if he sees this thread. PATC does not seem to feel the need to post guide and map errata online as some other maintenance groups do. Although it seems puzzling that given the thousands of volunteer hours that go into these things they'd want people to be able to hike the reroutes, it may be the PATC is a bit too large and compartmentalized, like some other organizations in its home area.

[AegisIII]

Tim Hupp's GET Guide includes the reroutes in this section plus the others along the Tuscarora in VA/WV that the GET coincides with. The PATC's September 2010 newsletter has a map of the northern end of Sleepy Creek WMA showing the trail relocation (as of that time; there apparently is either more in store or the relocation of part of the relo is already done), and most of the other trails in that area. And yes, there is an occasional poster here who hikes the TT a lot and has a Google Earth file (partially GPS data, partially drawn in) that has the TT and other trails at Sleepy Creek.

I was down in that area a Wednesday or two ago, doing the Dugan Hollow section north of WV-9. Another nice area, and surprisingly the road walks in that section did not detract from it.

[birchy]

There is another new shelter on the trail. Its a few miles south of Cowans Gap state park on map K, but it is north of US 30. It was called Big Mountain shelter. A very nice timber frame 0.2 miles off the trail. Downside is there is no water at the shelter. I don't think it will get used much.

There is also a shelter at the Wagonwheel junction in the Flat Rock section. It is not depicted on the map (J) or in the writeup.

White Lightning and I stayed there on a recent section hike. There is a good water source just north of the shelter, I believe it is the headwaters of Wildcat Run

[mikec]

They have built 3 new shelters along the WV-VA border along the Tuscarora Trail between the Potomac River and near Wardensville, WV. They are about to build a 4th somewhere within Sleepy Creek Management area. Great places to camp now. If they can fix the road walking issues and re-supply issues, this will be a great trail to hike.

[Wise Old Owl]

Just a heads-up--I hiked the Tuscarora in WV this last weekend, and the section from WV9 to Sleepy Creek WMA is fundamentally different from the map. We met a couple from PATC working on a bridge, and apparently the trail was rerouted from the ridgeline to Devil's Nose and across Meadow Branch a couple years ago, but the maps have not yet been updated. The trail is in great shape and is very well marked, but absolutely do not rely on the map for mileage, elevation profile, or other info in advance.

did you GPS that?