STICK
12-27-2009, 23:14
To lay it out again, at the end of May I will have 10 full days to hike the AT from Neels Gap to Fontana Dam, and on the 11th day I need to be making my way off so that I can come back home. According to to the 2010 data this distance is 133.7 miles. So, for a daily average, that is 13.37 miles a day. This seems like big miles to me seeing as my fiance and I averaged 10ish the last time we were out, however this time I will be solo so I think I can push out some extra miles ok. However, I am not making plans to do exactly 13.37 miles a day, this is just to give me an idea of what I need.
I just sat down and started looking at some of the stuff (the other thread has gotten me worked up!), and figured I would go ahead and get this thread going too.
So, for starters, I am pretty sure that my fiancee is going to drop me off at Neels Gap and then pick me back up at Fontana, so I'm not that worried about parking and what not, but what I am looking at is where to resupply. I am thinking about making a box up and having my fiancee ship it to a post office somewhere along my trip so that I don't have to carry 10 days of food! The options I see for Post Offices is Hiawassee, GA, and Winding Stair Gap is 10 miles off the trail (one way). I also see that at Deep Gap (USFS 71) groceries are 3.7 miles away and at Standing Indian Campground groceries are 1.5 miles away. This will probably be ok too, but what kinds of groceries will be available?
I am wanting to try to figure out where I will resupply and build my day plan around that. I would be happy resupplying twice as long as it isn't to far out of the way. I just don't want to spend too much time with the resupply. So, any ideas on this?
I am also wondering about which sections I might could get higher mileages out of and which ones should I expect low mileages out of? Also, are there any good parts that I should try and check out, or be on the lookout for?
I have already asked about the crowds around this time, and I think that this will be ok, but other than that, are there any other things that I should be aware of during this time of the year? How is the weather, is there alot of rain, is it still very cold, how about the bugs? You know the typical newbie questions that get asked.... http://www.backpacker.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Any information, or suggestions would be great. And thanks in advance.
Oh yeah, and if anyone wants to join along for this trip, or any part of it just let me know.
So, just for playing around,this is the itinerary that I have come up wit. Keep in mind that this is a (very) rough draft.
Day 1. Neels to Poplar Stamp Gap (12.2 miles)
Day 2. PSG to Cheese Factory (11.6 miles)
Day 3. CF to Dicks Creek Gap (13 miles)
Day 4. DCG to Deep Gap (15.8 miles)
Day 5. DG to Big Spring Shelter (15.3 miles)
Day 6. BSS to Wayah Shelter (20.1)
Day 7. WS to NOC (16.3)
Day 8. NOC to Cheoah Bald (8.1)
Day 9. CB to Cody Gap (10.7 miles)
Day 10. CG to Fontana Dam (10.2 miles)
Day 11. Wake up at Fontana and head home, of course maybe after a little morning hike!
These mileages are based on the 2009 Thru-Hikers Companion.
Also, I know that day 6 s alot of mileage, so let me know about this section. By looking at the elevation profile on the ATC maps that I have it looks like it could be possible with an early start, but......
Also on day 8 I made the mileage low because it looks like its all up hill this day, plus this looks like a nice tall mountain to spend the night. How about it? Any suggestions here?
Thanks
I just sat down and started looking at some of the stuff (the other thread has gotten me worked up!), and figured I would go ahead and get this thread going too.
So, for starters, I am pretty sure that my fiancee is going to drop me off at Neels Gap and then pick me back up at Fontana, so I'm not that worried about parking and what not, but what I am looking at is where to resupply. I am thinking about making a box up and having my fiancee ship it to a post office somewhere along my trip so that I don't have to carry 10 days of food! The options I see for Post Offices is Hiawassee, GA, and Winding Stair Gap is 10 miles off the trail (one way). I also see that at Deep Gap (USFS 71) groceries are 3.7 miles away and at Standing Indian Campground groceries are 1.5 miles away. This will probably be ok too, but what kinds of groceries will be available?
I am wanting to try to figure out where I will resupply and build my day plan around that. I would be happy resupplying twice as long as it isn't to far out of the way. I just don't want to spend too much time with the resupply. So, any ideas on this?
I am also wondering about which sections I might could get higher mileages out of and which ones should I expect low mileages out of? Also, are there any good parts that I should try and check out, or be on the lookout for?
I have already asked about the crowds around this time, and I think that this will be ok, but other than that, are there any other things that I should be aware of during this time of the year? How is the weather, is there alot of rain, is it still very cold, how about the bugs? You know the typical newbie questions that get asked.... http://www.backpacker.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Any information, or suggestions would be great. And thanks in advance.
Oh yeah, and if anyone wants to join along for this trip, or any part of it just let me know.
So, just for playing around,this is the itinerary that I have come up wit. Keep in mind that this is a (very) rough draft.
Day 1. Neels to Poplar Stamp Gap (12.2 miles)
Day 2. PSG to Cheese Factory (11.6 miles)
Day 3. CF to Dicks Creek Gap (13 miles)
Day 4. DCG to Deep Gap (15.8 miles)
Day 5. DG to Big Spring Shelter (15.3 miles)
Day 6. BSS to Wayah Shelter (20.1)
Day 7. WS to NOC (16.3)
Day 8. NOC to Cheoah Bald (8.1)
Day 9. CB to Cody Gap (10.7 miles)
Day 10. CG to Fontana Dam (10.2 miles)
Day 11. Wake up at Fontana and head home, of course maybe after a little morning hike!
These mileages are based on the 2009 Thru-Hikers Companion.
Also, I know that day 6 s alot of mileage, so let me know about this section. By looking at the elevation profile on the ATC maps that I have it looks like it could be possible with an early start, but......
Also on day 8 I made the mileage low because it looks like its all up hill this day, plus this looks like a nice tall mountain to spend the night. How about it? Any suggestions here?
Thanks