CamelMan
06-11-2016, 08:25
For my 40th birthday, I took some days off this week and managed to section hike the 107 miles between Fontana Dam and Hot Springs, plus the short distance from Laughing Heart Hostel to Sunnybank Inn. This is the next section of the AT that I had to do, having done the first section in 2010. Here's my itinerary:
Day 1, June 5th: 10.6. I started at Fontana in the early afternoon and hiked up to Mollies Ridge Shelter.
Day 2, June 6th: 25.5. Mollies Ridge to Mt. Collins.
Day 3, June 7th: 27.1. Mt. Collins to Cosby Knob.
Day 4, June 8th: 10.7. Cosby Knob to Standing Bear Hostel on Green Corner Rd.
Day 5, June 9th: 33.5. Green Corner Rd to Hot Springs (Sunnybank Inn).
It was an ambitious hike, but not without a lot of training and a little planning. I was somewhat undertrained for the weight, though. I went stoveless, with a 12 pound base weight, and only one pair of each clothing item except socks. Other than phone apps, I had no map or compass. No bear spray, either, and zero ways to start a fire. Oh, and I forgot my 30g bug spray, but that's because I had debated whether or not to take it and had accidentally left it out instead of in.
I had the Guthook app and Chimay Smoky Mountains, with the maps I needed downloaded to the phone. I did carry the pages I needed from AWOL's NOBO guidebook. The 2 pound tent was unnecessary but made a nice firm pillow. I left my heavy camera and 570-lumen, UFO report generator (i.e., headlamp) behind, and only carried one light source, a Fenix PD-32 LED flashlight.
I can see a lot of the places along the way any time I want, so the focus of the trip was doing the distance in the time I had, and making the big finish. I skipped the tower on Clingman's Dome, and the side trails to Charlie's Bunion and Mt. Cammerer, all of which I've been to before. Normally, they are not to be missed. I would have gone to the fire tower on Shuckstack, but the weather made it pointless.
I liked both Standing Bear Farm and Sunnybank Inn, each in its own way, but I felt a little too dirty to be at Sunnybank. It was my first time at either of those places. I wouldn't hesitate to eat my last raisin before reaching SBF, since there is plenty of resupply to hike to Hot Springs with.
I have to say I experienced a big boost in personal confidence after I finished. I also met a few interesting, "normal" people for a change, which was nice. I still have not dug a single cat hole on the AT, and my orange trowel is now available in the hiker box at SBF, if anybody needs one.
A full journal of the trip, including my menu and equipment list is at TrailJournals (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=20240). I've embedded Garmin courses for each segment at the bottom of the journal, so you can see the track and elevation profile. It differs from the official mileage because of trips to water sources, getting a little off track, etc. I'll post an update when I stitch together a video of the trip for YouTube.
Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to take any time off for a while, but hopefully will soon be able to do a big weekend between Tanyard Gap and Erwin. (I did the old/new AT loop hike to the Rich Mtn fire tower from Laughing Heart in May 2015, so I can start at the nearest convenient place.) In the meantime, I can work on finishing the rest of the miles of trail in the Smokies for the "900 Miler" merit badge.
Day 1, June 5th: 10.6. I started at Fontana in the early afternoon and hiked up to Mollies Ridge Shelter.
Day 2, June 6th: 25.5. Mollies Ridge to Mt. Collins.
Day 3, June 7th: 27.1. Mt. Collins to Cosby Knob.
Day 4, June 8th: 10.7. Cosby Knob to Standing Bear Hostel on Green Corner Rd.
Day 5, June 9th: 33.5. Green Corner Rd to Hot Springs (Sunnybank Inn).
It was an ambitious hike, but not without a lot of training and a little planning. I was somewhat undertrained for the weight, though. I went stoveless, with a 12 pound base weight, and only one pair of each clothing item except socks. Other than phone apps, I had no map or compass. No bear spray, either, and zero ways to start a fire. Oh, and I forgot my 30g bug spray, but that's because I had debated whether or not to take it and had accidentally left it out instead of in.
I had the Guthook app and Chimay Smoky Mountains, with the maps I needed downloaded to the phone. I did carry the pages I needed from AWOL's NOBO guidebook. The 2 pound tent was unnecessary but made a nice firm pillow. I left my heavy camera and 570-lumen, UFO report generator (i.e., headlamp) behind, and only carried one light source, a Fenix PD-32 LED flashlight.
I can see a lot of the places along the way any time I want, so the focus of the trip was doing the distance in the time I had, and making the big finish. I skipped the tower on Clingman's Dome, and the side trails to Charlie's Bunion and Mt. Cammerer, all of which I've been to before. Normally, they are not to be missed. I would have gone to the fire tower on Shuckstack, but the weather made it pointless.
I liked both Standing Bear Farm and Sunnybank Inn, each in its own way, but I felt a little too dirty to be at Sunnybank. It was my first time at either of those places. I wouldn't hesitate to eat my last raisin before reaching SBF, since there is plenty of resupply to hike to Hot Springs with.
I have to say I experienced a big boost in personal confidence after I finished. I also met a few interesting, "normal" people for a change, which was nice. I still have not dug a single cat hole on the AT, and my orange trowel is now available in the hiker box at SBF, if anybody needs one.
A full journal of the trip, including my menu and equipment list is at TrailJournals (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=20240). I've embedded Garmin courses for each segment at the bottom of the journal, so you can see the track and elevation profile. It differs from the official mileage because of trips to water sources, getting a little off track, etc. I'll post an update when I stitch together a video of the trip for YouTube.
Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to take any time off for a while, but hopefully will soon be able to do a big weekend between Tanyard Gap and Erwin. (I did the old/new AT loop hike to the Rich Mtn fire tower from Laughing Heart in May 2015, so I can start at the nearest convenient place.) In the meantime, I can work on finishing the rest of the miles of trail in the Smokies for the "900 Miler" merit badge.