Greetings:
I am planning a section hike in the SNP as my first shakedown trip for my 2015 thru-hike. I am hoping for some feedback regarding the two itineraries I have chosen. Both itineraries are built around shelter and/or campground locations which leads to my question: How plentiful are suitable stealth sites along the A.T. in the SNP?
Itinerary v1.0:
Start End Miles Day 1 Rockfish Gap Calf Mountain Shelter 7.6 Day 2 Calf Mountain Shelter Blackrock Hut 13.0 Day 3 Blackrock Hut Pinefield Hut 13.2 Day 4 Pinefield Hut Bearfence Mountain Hut 20.6 Day 5 Bearfence Mountain Hut Rock Spring Hut 11.5
The main thing I don't like about this is the 20+ mile day. I do walk about 2 miles each day, so I'm not "right off the couch." At the same time, I am not accustomed to hiking in the mountains day-by-day for extended periods. That fact led me to...
Itinerary v2.0:
Start End Miles Day 1 Rockfish Gap Calf Mountain Shelter 7.6 Day 2 Calf Mountain Shelter Blackrock Hut 13.0 Day 3 Blackrock Hut Loft Mountain Campground 10.9 (includes 4.8 round trip from campground to wayside) Day 4 Loft Mountain Campground Hightop Hut 15.3 Day 5 Hightop Hut Bearfence Mountain Hut 12.4
This version replaces the 20 mile day with a 15, and it also creates a series of days that ramp up the mileage then provides a recover day. But, again - these itineraries are constrained by the location of huts and campgrounds. For those in the know, how common are suitable camping sites along the A.T. in this area?
If there were suitable locations, I could tailor each day's mileage accordingly and dispense with planning around the huts/campgrounds.
Hoping for some advice,
Kelly