View Full Version : NOC to Fontana Dam
About how many days to do this section? Is ten miles reasonable the first day, and has anyone camped at Locust Cove Gap?
Many thanks!
soumodeler
03-12-2016, 20:01
2-3 days. I did it in 2.5, and left NOC after lunch on day one. Went to Sassafras Gap shelter on day 1 (half day), Cable Gap Shelter on day 2, and then got to Fontana marina well before lunch on day 3. If you left early on day 1 you could pretty easily get to the halfway point and find a tent site. I seem to remember places to camp right before Stecoah Gap.
bigcranky
03-12-2016, 20:58
Figure three days. There are a couple of climbs that will get your attention, including the climb out of NOC. I'd probably want to get water at Sassafras Shelter and camp on top of Cheoah Bald for the views the first night. I don't recall how far that is, but it's less than ten miles.
Platypus2016
03-12-2016, 21:34
Most of us stopped at a he first shelter out of the NOC, it's a pretty gnarly climb and it was pouring rain on us that day.
Platypus
MuddyWaters
03-12-2016, 23:50
Depends on person. 3 days/2 nights is very conservative. 2 days isnt hard. I met a couple guys at fontana once that bailed and didnt finish it...go figure. If you have experience, its just average really, in spite of a couple climbs. Ive done it in 1.5 days a couple times. Its only about 29 miles.
bigcranky
03-13-2016, 08:40
Ive done it in 1.5 days a couple times. Its only about 29 miles.
What I have learned is that when people ask "how many days", or "how much food", they are unlikely to be able to hike 29 miles in 1.5 days. It takes some hiking experience to be able to do that, and once they get enough experience they don't need to come here and ask that question.
An inexperienced hiker would find that section very difficult to hike in 2 days.
I've just sectioned hiked the trail up to NOC to this point, and really should have asked what this section is like compared to the previous sections. 2.5 is about what we normally do for 30 miles, but am taking my son on his first hike so just trying to get a general idea of sorts. (1.5 would be moving. We did a couple of 20 mile days in GA/and entering into NC, but they were kind of long days).
Many thanks-
That section took the wind out my sails many years ago. Three long, tough days for me. I hear they've made it a bit easier since then. The climb out of NOC (northbound) goes on forever, but somehow the climb out of "Sweetwater Gap" was worse. On the last day I was overjoyed to get my first glimpse of Fontana Lake, but it was hours still before I made it to the shelter.
Some nice views, though, atop Cheoah Bald.
MuddyWaters
03-13-2016, 12:00
What I have learned is that when people ask "how many days", or "how much food", they are unlikely to be able to hike 29 miles in 1.5 days. It takes some hiking experience to be able to do that, and once they get enough experience they don't need to come here and ask that question.
An inexperienced hiker would find that section very difficult to hike in 2 days.
Which is why I cited examples of " did not complete", 3 days, and 2 days , and said it depends on person.
Last time was with my son when he was 15 yr old, no problem. The second day has no real climbs, and lots of flat and downhill.
Water gets scarce in late fall too.
My son going up jacobs ladder:
34083
CedarKeyHiker
03-13-2016, 12:36
Figure three days. There are a couple of climbs that will get your attention, including the climb out of NOC. I'd probably want to get water at Sassafras Shelter and camp on top of Cheoah Bald for the views the first night. I don't recall how far that is, but it's less than ten miles.
I pay a lot of attention to this type post because it asks direct questions about specific places where I am going that I have never been. I especially appreciate answers like this one. Very informative. Thanks Ken...
MuddyWaters
03-13-2016, 15:44
Figure three days. There are a couple of climbs that will get your attention, including the climb out of NOC. I'd probably want to get water at Sassafras Shelter and camp on top of Cheoah Bald for the views the first night. I don't recall how far that is, but it's less than ten miles.
I recalls its ~7 miles or so
The issue with camping on cheoah from the south, is that you will be hiking only half day or so from noc.
Its not large on top area thats open and flat. and you will often find someone else already there, so have plan B.
The climb up cheoah isnt that bad, just long. I encountered and talked to a group of three 65+ yr old women handling it fine. One was 71.
Are there any camping stops right after Chetah-does anyone know how the site at Locust Cove Gap is?
I recalls its ~7 miles or so
The issue with camping on cheoah from the south, is that you will be hiking only half day or so from noc.
Its not large on top area thats open and flat. and you will often find someone else already there, so have plan B.
The climb up cheoah isnt that bad, just long. I encountered and talked to a group of three 65+ yr old women handling it fine. One was 71.
NOC is 1740 feet, Cheoah Bald summit is 5062 feet. That's a serious climb for a section hiker's first day out. Just saying.
art_mapman
03-13-2016, 19:50
Are there any camping stops right after Cheoah - does anyone know how the site at Locust Cove Gap is?
I'm very interested in this question/answer as well - this is the next section on my radar. My current plan, site unseen, is insert at NOC, hike 10 mi to Locust Cove Gap, 2nd night at Cable Gap Shelter (12 mile day), 3rd day 7 miles to Fontana & catch ride at visitor center. Comments/suggestions? Hoping to do this in early April.
That sounds like what we are thinking of doing as well. Just really depends on how the first day goes I guess. Hopefully some one has some experience with the sites Locust and Cable Gap. The last posting for the CG Sheleter in the Shelter section was back in '12. Would like to know what folks think of that shelter.
la.lindsey
03-13-2016, 20:58
I did this section a few weeks ago- the plan was:
NOC > Sassafras Gap
Sassafras Gap > Cable Gap
Cable Gap > Fontana Dam
I ended up doing Sassafras Gap to Fontana Hilton in one day. It wasn't a bad hike, really. But I'll say that although I was out of breath climbing up from NOC I didn't think it was any worse than any other climb at the beginning of a section. I was a little disappointed that I evidently completely missed whatever Jacob's ladder was.
I stopped at Cable Gap for dinner on my way to Fontana Hilton, though. It was fine. Sassafras Gap had dead mice, which is better than live mice.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160314/7945b891670768d4f0ab20e90e87568d.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
la.lindsey
03-13-2016, 21:01
Oh, I should add that the phone at the Fontana dam marina is horribly unreliable and switching the connections and warming them up seemed to help. Metal expansion, I guess. No cell service there, so this phone is your only hope. At the dam proper, I can't remember if there's a phone. The visitors center doesn't open until May, I think.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
soumodeler
03-13-2016, 21:02
I was a little disappointed that I evidently completely missed whatever Jacob's ladder was.
We spent most of the climb up Jacob's ladder debating whether we were actually on Jacob's ladder. Nothing to indicate it other than a pretty steep, short climb.
Tipi Walter
03-13-2016, 21:48
Locust Gap is just above Stecoah Gap and south of the gap and I eyeballed it on my different trips. It has water I believe and has a few good tentsites.
https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backpacking2006/With-Amy-Willow-On-The/i-f39c7Hq/0/L/57-34%20%20A%20hiker%20getting%20water%20at%20the%20s helter%20spring-L.jpg
For those interested, this is the Cable Gap shelter site and I usually set up camp nearby in those dead leaves above the sitting guy.
https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backpacking2006/With-Amy-Willow-On-The/i-R2dXzsM/0/M/57-20%20%20Willow%20in%20camp%20on%20Cheoah-M.jpg
I camped with 2006 thruhiker Amy Willow atop Cheoah Bald as shown. There's a water spring right below the bald if you know where to look.
And thanks MuddyWaters for the jacob ladder pic. It is north of Stecoah Gap and is rough.
LittleRock
03-14-2016, 09:09
Probably 3 days if you're just starting. NOC -> Sassafras Gap/Cheoah Bald (depending on weather) -> Cable Gap -> Fontana seems reasonable.
I did it in 2 days, but I'd already been on the trail for a week. Even so, I still remember the 16 mi day from NOC to Brown Fork Gap as my toughest day ever on the AT. I was ready to stop by the time I got to the top of Cheoah Bald (~ 8 miles), but I was on a tight schedule and had to push through another 8 miles. I hit Jacob's Ladder at the end of the day on very tired legs, and it was a truly painful experience.
The Brown Fork Gap shelter was rather odd. There was a large hole right in the middle of the floor in the shelter, and the privy had a wheelchair ramp.
MuddyWaters
03-14-2016, 18:36
I'm very interested in this question/answer as well - this is the next section on my radar. My current plan, site unseen, is insert at NOC, hike 10 mi to Locust Cove Gap, 2nd night at Cable Gap Shelter (12 mile day), 3rd day 7 miles to Fontana & catch ride at visitor center. Comments/suggestions? Hoping to do this in early April.
Its not impossible to get ride, but theres not much flow of traffic. Leaving, theres a couple ways to go, so you also need someone heading your direction.
We spent most of the climb up Jacob's ladder debating whether we were actually on Jacob's ladder. Nothing to indicate it other than a pretty steep, short climb.
Yep. Unremarkable ~800 ft climb. Just steady slight incline where you dont get a break. Looks steep on guidebook page due to scale, its not that bad except that it usually comes at end of day. Smart hikers rest, snack, and water for half hour or so at stecoah gap before continuing.
Trying to get my terminology straight -- this Jacob's ladder -- is that the NOBO climb out of Sweetwater Gap?
I do remember that as a miserable climb but I don't recall it having a name.
soumodeler
03-14-2016, 20:21
Trying to get my terminology straight -- this Jacob's ladder -- is that the NOBO climb out of Sweetwater Gap?
I do remember that as a miserable climb but I don't recall it having a name.
Yes. No sign or any indication you are on it, and like MuddyWaters said, not as steep as the map profile makes it seem. While it is a good climb, it's not horrible.
MuddyWaters
03-14-2016, 20:28
Trying to get my terminology straight -- this Jacob's ladder -- is that the NOBO climb out of Sweetwater Gap?
I do remember that as a miserable climb but I don't recall it having a name.
34096
Should be the little steep section around mile 149. This chart borrowed from joeliles.chunkyboy.com, totally without permission.
34096
Should be the little steep section around mile 149. This chart borrowed from joeliles.chunkyboy.com, totally without permission.
It's like you said, I hit it kinda late in the day, hoping to make it Cable Gap shelter, having wasted an hour or so at "Sweetwater Gap" looking for water and realizing I just wasn't going to make it. I was in a rotten, no-good mood. I remember thinking, "Haven't these people heard about switchbacks?"
Is there much water to be found between Locust Cove and Brown Fork Gap? Doesn't show any on the guide.
LittleRock
03-15-2016, 08:31
Is there much water to be found between Locust Cove and Brown Fork Gap? Doesn't show any on the guide.
Correct - No reliable water sources between Locust Cove and Brown Fork Gap.
Seatbelt
03-15-2016, 09:15
About how many days to do this section? Is ten miles reasonable the first day, and has anyone camped at Locust Cove Gap?
Many thanks!
I have camped at Locust Cove. Water is a short way to the west, camping is mostly to the east--several spots. I hiked half day to Locust Cove from NOC; next day to Cable Gap Shelter; last half day to Fontana Dam.
art_mapman
03-30-2016, 17:40
Its not impossible to get ride, but theres not much flow of traffic. Leaving, theres a couple ways to go, so you also need someone heading your direction.
I have an unfair advantage - wife will be chilling in Gatlinburg while I'm on the trail and she will come pick me up. Door to door (trailhead to door?) service, what's not to like?
FossilFool
04-01-2016, 21:27
About how many days to do this section? Is ten miles reasonable the first day, and has anyone camped at Locust Cove Gap?
Many thanks!
How many days will it take? How many days do you have? Make it take that long, spend the week taking it easy and camping extra nights. Why race to the end? Smell the roses and savor the moments. My two college age sons, their grandfather (pushing 80), will take about 5 days on this section in about a month.
My Grandson & I, who were thru-hiking but had to bail out at Hot Springs, walked this section recently. We left the NOC early on the morning of 3/22 and walked the 10.3 miles to Locust Cove Gap (not the greatest campsite, but not the worst either) there were 9-10 tents and hammocks there that night including us. We left Locust Cove Gap on the morning of 3/23 and walked 11.6 miles to Cable Gap Shelter, Jacobs Ladder was 4 miles from Locust Cove and a pretty big elev. gain in a short distance 600ft. in .6 miles but easy going after that! Spent the night at Cable Gap Shelter and left on the morning of 3/24 at 7:05 and we were at the Fontana Marina (NC 28 road crossing) at 10:30 after walking 5.5 miles. If I were you I would catch a ride from this point instead of the visitors center at the dam, we used the phone there at the bathrooms to call the Fontana Lodge Shuttle and he picked us up within 15 min. after calling! There was very little cell service (U.S. Cellular) from Cable Gap to Fontana!
Thanks-great information! Plan on leaving the car at the dam so we'll have to hike on to it!
QUOTE=SAnVA;2057827]My Grandson & I, who were thru-hiking but had to bail out at Hot Springs, walked this section recently. We left the NOC early on the morning of 3/22 and walked the 10.3 miles to Locust Cove Gap (not the greatest campsite, but not the worst either) there were 9-10 tents and hammocks there that night including us. We left Locust Cove Gap on the morning of 3/23 and walked 11.6 miles to Cable Gap Shelter, Jacobs Ladder was 4 miles from Locust Cove and a pretty big elev. gain in a short distance 600ft. in .6 miles but easy going after that! Spent the night at Cable Gap Shelter and left on the morning of 3/24 at 7:05 and we were at the Fontana Marina (NC 28 road crossing) at 10:30 after walking 5.5 miles. If I were you I would catch a ride from this point instead of the visitors center at the dam, we used the phone there at the bathrooms to call the Fontana Lodge Shuttle and he picked us up within 15 min. after calling! There was very little cell service (U.S. Cellular) from Cable Gap to Fontana![/QUOTE]