Originally Posted by
North Star
I'll add my 2 cents worth. There were a few places on the trail that made me a little nervous. Camel's hump only had a brief bit that made me go hmmmm....and that was mostly because of the wind. There were also some bits on Burnt Rock Mountain that I would definitely avoid in wet weather. Mansfield was the only place that really got me, and although for the most part I hike alone, I hiked that with some friends I made on the trail. If you have issues with heights, this might help.
All in all, the anticipation of Mansfield was worse than the actual ascent. The worst bit was just north of the Needle's Eye, and was quite doable, especially if you have someone for moral support, coaching, and to hand your pack to. If, when you get there it still seems like too much, consider the bypass.
This is a wonderful and very memorable part of the trail. Take your time with it, relax and when you have finished you might just be looking forward to doing it again.