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Heading North on AT from GA/NCHeading North on AT from GA/NC
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A 31-day adventure by Lee Read more

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Backpacking, Nature, Solo travel, Wilderness, Wildlife
  • 292kilometers traveled
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  • 27footprints
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  • TravelerHeading North on AT from GA/NC
    Day 1

    First Day Back on Trail

    May 2, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Dick’s Creek Gap (AT Mile Marker 69.2) to Muskrat Creek Shelter (#81.2)
    Daily Mileage: 12.0

    Flew back down to ATL yesterday and Uber’d back to Hiawassee, GA hotel where I had stopped back in early March. Shuttle driver Grace picked me up at 8am and dropped me off 6 miles down the road at Dick’s Creek Gap. Have things greened up a bit in the last 2 months!

    Beautiful day for a hike, sunny and brisk. Temps started out in upper 30’s, with a high of 55.
    Steady rise the whole day from 2,700 Ft elevation to 4,500 Ft by camp.
    Passed from GA into NC nine miles into the day (see pic).
    Met and hiked with Tim (@ 50 yrs old originally from Pelham, NY), Kate (@ 35 from Philly) & T-Bone (trail name from Seinfeld episode, @ 40 from Easton, MD) today.

    Around 20 hikers at the shelter/campground tonight. Mostly “kids” in their mid 20’s. Most between jobs or taking hiatuses from current ones. 8 hikers stayed in the actual shelter and had fun around the fire pit and smoked weed. The rest of us had dinner with the group but quickly retreated to the solace of our tents. A fun first day!    Read more

  • TravelerHeading North on AT from GA/NC
    Day 2

    Day 2 of AT in North Carolina NOBO

    May 3, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Muskrat Creek Shelter (AT Mile 81.2) to Carter Gap Shelter (#93.5).
    Daily Mileage: 12.3

    Woke up to temps @ 35 degrees. Sunny & windy all day. A slow, steady climb of 6 miles up to the top of Standing Indian Mtn (5,400 Ft. Elev.). Beautiful views for miles. Saw and spoke with @ 20 trail volunteers on both sides of the peak. They are part of the local AT Council group.

    The trees have really started to leaf out and the wildflower growth is abundant. Saw 3 types of Trillium growing trailside (which excited me based on my love of Trillium Brewery in Boston).

    Gentle continued downhill for the rest of the afternoon to Carter Gap Shelter. Got there early (4:00) to get my pick of the tent spots. The next appropriate shelter area would’ve been another 5 miles, so opted to be safe vs sorry.    Read more

  • TravelerHeading North on AT from GA/NC
    Day 3

    Day 3 of AT in North Carolina NOBO

    May 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    Carter Gap Shelter (AT Mile Marker 93.5) to Rock Gap (#105.6) and shuttle to Franklin, NC and off day tomorrow.
    Daily Mileage: 12.1

    Woke up to frost this am and I did have super cold hands getting my bear bag down from the tree (even with 2 sets of gloves on). Slept well, though. All bundled up in my 30 degree sleeping quilt with multiple clothing layers on.

    Sunny again today with amazing views from the top of Albert Mountain (5,300 ft. Elev.) about 6 miles in. Met 2 day hikers at the top along with Jason from Los Angeles who is thru hiking. Jason and I hiked the 6 mile ambling downhill to the road at Rock Gap and took the town shuttle (only $5!), into Franklin, NC for our zero day tomorrow. Got to the Rodeway Inn (😏), took an wonderful hot shower, and then stuffed my face down the street at Sakura Japanese Restaurant. All is good.    Read more

  • TravelerHeading North on AT from GA/NC
    Day 4

    Day 4 of AT in North Carolina NOBO

    May 5, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Zero day today in Franklin, NC. Staying at The Rodeway Inn last night and tonight. Back to the trail tomorrow at 8 am.

    Bobby The Greek picked me up today at 10 am and took me to Ingles Grocery store for a resupply. We then stopped by the ATM and then I picked up lunch and dinner at the Chick-Fil-A to take back to the room.

    Bobby dropped me off at @ 11:30 and I spent the rest of the afternoon doing laundry in the sink, updating Find Penguins travel journal & Facebook, and then ending the evening watching game 2 of Celtics vs Sixers. A nice relaxing day!    Read more

  • TravelerHeading North on AT from GA/NC
    Day 5

    Day 5 of AT in North Carolina NOBO

    May 6, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Rock Gap road (mile marker 105.6) to Wayah Bald Shelter (#120.4)
    Daily Mileage: 14.8

    Bobby The Greek dropped me off at Rock Gap at 9am just as the drizzle was ending. Felt good and fresh after the off day.

    Started climbing right away up Winding Stair Gap and continuing up and over Siler Bald & then Wayah Bald. The weather broke for some decent views from Wayah.

    Hiked today with Justin & Katie (20-something couple who had been traveling IC nurses and are taking sabbaticals). Really nice duo. Ended up meeting Naked Man & Watermelon on top of Siler Bald and we all hiked together to end the day at Wayah shelter. Torrential thunderstorms that night but dry and cozy in the tent. Temps in the low 50’s.    Read more

  • TravelerHeading North on AT from GA/NC
    Day 6

    Day 6 of AT in North Carolina NOBO

    May 7, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    Wayah Bald Shelter (mile marker 120.4) to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (the “NOC”, #136.9).
    Daily Mileage: 16.5

    Last night’s thunderstorms ended in early am and we all awoke to a nice day and warming temps into the 70’s with cooling mountain breezes. Climbed the first half of the day up and over Wesser Bald, and then the long, somewhat treacherous downhill into the Nantahala Outdoor Center (the “NOC”).

    Hiked a lot today with “Chipmunk”. A 62 year old from the UP of Michigan that hikes in sandals and hasn’t worn shoes in real life since 1993. He was in the Navy and got his nickname as he was the smallest guy in his squadron. What an interesting guy. He and his wife are descendants of the Cree North American Indigenous people from Canada and they still speak the language fairly well. He has dreadlocks that hang below the waist (had it since he retired from the Navy and became a mariner in the UP of Mich in 2002). An uber chill dude and really nice.

    I will add a day into this journal as the NOC deserves its own entry, details & pics.    Read more

  • TravelerHeading North on AT from GA/NC
    Day 7

    Day at the “NOC”

    May 8, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    Got to the Nantahala Outdoor Center and spent the afternoon, evening and overnight there. Most of our crew did the same as the weather was incredible, wading in the river was exhilarating, and the beer was COLD.

    The NOC is a commercial outdoor guide service that operates a retail store, outfitter, 2 restaurants, rents individual rooms and cabins, teaches whitewater rafting/paddling, etc. . It’s also where the American Olympic Whitewater Paddling team practices and is the home course for 22 world champions.

    12 of us (9 “young guns” as I call them, and 3 of us ambulatory athletic wannabes) had a late lunch, drank beer and purchased supplies at the outfitter. The Young Guns continued up the steep ascent out of the NOC that afternoon more than buzzed, while the 3 of us had dinner, stayed the night in shoebox-like rooms, and got an early start the next am after heavy overnight thunderstorms.    Read more

  • TravelerHeading North on AT from GA/NC
    Day 8

    Day 8 of AT in North Carolina NOBO

    May 9, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    NOC (mile marker 136.9) to Sassafras Gap Shelter (#143.8).
    Daily Mileage: 6.9

    Only 7 miles today as it was straight uphill out of the NOC, we wanted to wait until 10am when the thunderstorms ended, and Sassafras Gap Shelter was where a lot of folks were headed based on having an on-site privy and close-by water source.

    I hiked a lot today (and had dinner with him last night) with a guy named Cassian from St.Louis (birth name Christopher). He has been a St. Benedictine Monk & Priest since graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2000. He took the name Cassian after St. Cassian, a Christian Monk and theologian noted for his role in bringing the ideas and practices of early Christian monasticism to the medieval West. An incredibly intelligent and thoughtful guy with many interesting stories of his upbringing, his position within the Parish, his ministering to young adults, and his current year-long sabbatical. His goal is to get to Boone, NC (mile mark @ 410), lose 75 pounds, and figure out his next role within the St. Benedictine system. Talking to him here and there on the trail each of the last 3 days has made the time speed by!    Read more

  • TravelerHeading North on AT from GA/NC
    Day 9

    Day 9 of AT in North Carolina NOBO

    May 10, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    Sassafras Gap Shelter (mile marker 143.8) to Cody Gap tenting area (156.0).
    Daily Mileage: 12.2

    Started at 8am to to get a start up to the top of Cheoah Bald (one mile in). Epic views from the top at 9am with Cassian, Zipperhead, Lee (61 yrs old) & his son Caleb (23) from Louisiana, and a few others who tented with us last night.

    The rest of the day was much harder than we thought it would be. Hot temps, no breeze, and a lot of “PUD’s” (pointless ups & downs). Stopped at Stecoah Gap 7.3 miles in for a 45 min rest/lunch/water gather and then climbed the STEEP Jacob’s Ladder which ascended almost 1,000 ft in half a mile. Trekked the rest of the afternoon and got to Cody Gap and pitched tents for the night w/ 12 others. Nice weather.    Read more

  • TravelerHeading North on AT from GA/NC
    Day 10

    Day 10 of AT in North Carolina NOBO

    May 11, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    Cody Gap tent area (mile marker 156.0) to Fontana Dam Resort & Village (#164.7).
    Daily Mileage: 8.7

    Great weather and a relative lollygag into Fontana Dam with a zero day on the horizon for tomorrow. Hiked with Cassian (I gave him the trail name “Cash Money” yesterday as he rocks the uphills each and every time), Lee & Caleb, and Zipperhead.

    Ok, so, Zipperhead. He’s about 50 yrs old and comes from Sturbridge, MA. Has 2 daughters. He got his trail name from the scar left by extensive brain surgery 7 years ago that left him bed-ridden for more than 2 years. After his recuperation, he successfully thru hiked the AT 3 years ago. He’s back for more and not sure how far he’ll go. A true inspiration. (He’s in one of the pics from a couple of days ago with Cassian).
    A bunch of us stopped halfway at Cable Gap Shelter for the Privy and lunch. Saw a black rat snake heading back to the shelter to get ready for a mouse dinner.

    Entered the Fontana Dam area at 3:15 and got a shuttle ride from the Marina up to to the lodge to check in. Had an awesome dinner, two cold Blue Ridge Hazy IPA’s, and from the patio was able to check out the Camaro Club of NC all coming in and assembling for their big rally & ride tomorrow. Looks to be upwards of 75-80 Camaro owners staying here.    Read more

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