2009ThruHiker
03-24-2006, 18:48
Looking to do some hiking on the MST in early April, and looking for some advice... We would like to hike the beach some staying overnight for 3-4 nights with a possible hotel one night. Any suggestions, as I know little about the MST, would be helpful.
Big Dawg
03-24-2006, 22:08
I'm not sure about the beach sections of the MST, & if no one else here chimes in, then contact Jeff Brewer @
[email protected], www.ncmst.org (http://www.ncmst.org)
Yeah contact Jeff but in the meantime, I suggest getting Allen DeHart's "Hiking North Carolina's Mountain-to-Sea Trail.
http://www.ncmst.org/hikingncmst.htm
and perusing this page...
http://www.ncmst.org/trailinfo.htm
You may have a problem over-nighting on Hatteras beaches. I'm told that there's no camping allowed on the beach. But be aware of this, you can fish on the beach all night long. Got a light weight fishing rod??? Check with NPS for Cape Hatteras National Seashore for official rules and regulations about camping on the beaches. There are several private and NPS campgrounds along the way. (BTW, there are gazillions of mosquitos off the beaches and in the camp grounds, be prepared.)
When you get to Buxton check out Tower Circle Motel. It's right on the beach, clean, reasonable, very close to Hatteras Light, about a mile from Cape Point and belongs to some of my wife's family. Ask for Jack Gray or his daughter Jacki, tell them Katie and Bob sent you. The website is; http://towercirclemotel.com/
(I'm the gray headed cousin-in-law in the photo.) You probably won't need a reservation in April, but I'd call ahead just the same.
Take plenty of water on the beach, there's no fresh water except in the villages, campgrounds, or at Pea Island Refuge. (For reference, there's a ship wreck just off the beach at the refuge visitor center). For resupply, there's a Food Lion at Avon, Connor's Grocery in Buxton and a Red & White in Hatteras Village, and lots of great home-grown seafood restaurants within walking distance in all the villages. Don't know the name of the grocery in Rodanthe, but there's good resupply there. (Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo are all pretty much together)
Along the way, check out Bodie Light, Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station (sp?) in Rodanthe, Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, wind surfing at the Canadian Hole between Avon and Buxton, Hatteras Light, Diamond Shoals at Cape Point and the Graveyard Of The Atlantic Museum at Hatteras Village. Enjoy.
BTW, long haul beach walking is harder than you might think. Keep us posted, I'd like to know how your hike goes.
PS. Full moon on the beach is April 13 just before Easter.
The Solemates
03-27-2006, 11:33
contact chief. he's on trailjournals and knows just about everything on the mst.
2009ThruHiker
03-27-2006, 17:30
How do I find the Chief???
Jan LiteShoe
03-27-2006, 17:52
Chjief is finishing up an AT section hike right now, might be just back home. I'll let his wife know someone is looking for him. His email is
[email protected]
In the meantime, check out his MST journal on trailjournals.com
The Solemates
03-28-2006, 11:33
http://www.trailjournals.com/about.cfm?trailname=3423
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=2441
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=3423
The Solemates
03-28-2006, 11:38
or grizzly adam would be a good one to talk to: http://www.trailjournals.com/about.cfm?trailname=2827
and his journal is excellent: http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=2827
he sells photography and has a nice page too, but i cant find it right now.