Originally Posted by
El JP
Good thing this thread came about because i've been thinking alot about resupply early on the trail. For some time i've been going about food in the usual way until i began reassessing the dealbreaker stretch to Neel Ga. What if instead of hauling it up the approach and over Sassafras and Blood mts, i just carry say, protein bars, coffee, etc and pick up a box at Mountain Crossing and carry on? After that it could be possible to make it to Fontana with that one resupply. Get another box there and through the Smokies.
By then things should be sorted enough to really be "Game On".
I just might be getting carried away with this so i'd love to get the opinion from those that had experience with that part of the trail.
Even if you do the approach trail, if your in any kind of shape it shouldn't take more then 3 nights and a wake up to get to Neel Gap. That's not much food to carry. Why is that a deal breaker stretch? But then some people take 3 days just to get up the approach trail, so who knows.
Neel to Fontana is like 130 miles, some of it pretty hard. Most people take at least 2 weeks to do that stretch. You want to carry 2 weeks worth of food? That's a deal breaker, especially when you have Hiawassee and Franklin stops in between. You shouldn't have to carry more then 4 days worth of food in this stretch. Unless you crawling on your hands and knees doing 5 miles a day and if that's the case, well good luck.