new hiker looking for NC trail

[joeHaile]

i am a new hiker to the AT and i am looking for a trail about 30 miles long, thats mostly uphill, i am very fit and have done plenty of hiking or ruck marching in the military. I have done a 12 miler in less than 2:40 more than once with a 45 lb pack. I would very much like if anyone knows a trail on the north carolina side, please email me at [email protected]
thank you.

[Grits]

You can try these sections of the mtns to sea trail http://www.carolinaoutdoorsguide.com/HikingMST.html
Section 8: Folk Art Center (BRP MP 382) to Balsam Gap (North) (BRP MP 359.8) in Buncombe County. 21.7 miles. Through Craggy Gardens on BRP.
Section 9: Balsam Gap (North) (BRP MP 359.8) to Buck Creek Gap (BRP MP 344.1) in Yancey County. 22.1 miles. Includes Mount Mitchell State Park (http://www.carolinaoutdoorsguide.com/StateParks.html#mitchell).
Section 10: Buck Creek Gap (BRP MP 344.1 and n.C. 80) to Woodlawn Park (U.S. 221) in Yancey and McDowell counties. 12 miles. Leaves the BRP.
Section 11: Woodlawn Park (U.S. 221) to Ripshin Ridge (N.C. 181) 34 miles. Includes the Linville Gorge (http://www.carolinaoutdoorsguide.com/HikingNationalForests.html#linvillegorge) area, one of the most scenic parts of the MST, and views from Shortoff Mountain and Table Rock. The trail also requires wading to ford the Linville River.
Section 12: Ripshin Ridge in Burke County (N.C. 181) to Beacon Heights (BRP 305.3) in Avery County. 23.2 miles. Scenic waterfalls.
Section 13: Beacon Heights (BRP MP 305.3) near Grandfather Mountain to Blowing Rock (BRP MP 291.9 and U.S. 321) in Watauga County. 23.7 miles. Goes under Linn Cove Viaduct and includes the Tanawha Trail (http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/upload/TANAWAH.pdf).
or the Art Loeb trail http://www.hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/longdistance/artloeb.html but this time of the year and the weather forcast have good winter gear. good luck and enjoy

[Tennessee Viking]

i am a new hiker to the AT and i am looking for a trail about 30 miles long, thats mostly uphill, i am very fit and have done plenty of hiking or ruck marching in the military. I have done a 12 miler in less than 2:40 more than once with a 45 lb pack. I would very much like if anyone knows a trail on the north carolina side, please email me at [email protected]
thank you.
If you want some challenge, then NC is your place. For the AT, you can do almost anything from Fontana to Deep Gap. Lots of rugid trail with ups and downs. You can also look at doing 19E to Carvers Gap/Cloudland.

For the MST, Mt Mitchell section. Woodlawn Park to Table Rock/NC 181. Some Piedmont challenges. Try Hanging Rock, or Stone Mountain to the Parkway.

Other trails. Art Loeb. Its a 30-something miler, but you cut it at the Parkway.

[full conditions]

Ditto on Viking's recomendation on the Art Loeb Trail - almost exactly thirty miles long and if you start at hwy 276 and finish at the boy scout camp it trends uphill (start @ 2,000; highpoint just over 6,200) and its a beautiful trail.