Trek Dirty to Me: 43 days until it's time to put one foot in front of the other, and it is a good time to dig into North Carolina!
Welcome to North Carolina! The second of 14 states that I will be hiking on my way to the end of the Appalachian trail atop Mt. Katahdin in Maine. You can check out state #1 Georgia by clicking here! I have spent maybe a total of a week in NC. I am not entirely sure what a tar heel is. I do know that the beach in Wilmington is cold in March (when I went in high school for a short trip) and that the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill triangle is impossibly perfect and that most of the people that live there must be robots (my second two-day trip there involved a law school visit to Duke (not my law school visit of course, because I was not that cool).
I will be in North Carolina from about Day 12 to Day 32 with a short stopover in Gatlinburg, Tennessee about midway through. I will also be returning to NC to officiate a wedding in Raleigh from Day 46 to Day 48. This puts me in the state for pretty much the last 20 days of April and for a long weekend in mid-May. You can check out the always evolving schedule right here for specific dates, locations and whatnot.
I could use help with a few things:
What should I do in Raleigh when I’m in town for the wedding in mid-May? Where should I eat? Drink?
Anybody interested in hiking this second part with me? I already have one friend from college who has expressed interest.
Let me know what you think of the tentative North Carolina route for the 20ish days that I will be there in April and May.
And the current route which includes about 230 miles of the trail in North Carolina including the Great Smoky Mountains:
Note: You can always check out the most updated working draft of the route by clicking here!
April 12 - Hike out of Georgia to Winding Stair Gap and stay in Franklin, North Carolina and stay at Gooder Grove Hiker Hostel. This is smack dab in the midst of Franklin April Trail Days. Plans are to visit Lazy Hiker Brewing Company and Currahee Brewing Company. Time permitting, I want to stop by outdoor outfitter/craft beer (and wine and champagne) spot Rock House Lodge at Outdoor 76. Last stop planned is currently The Rathskellar Coffee Hous & Pub. (16 miles)
April 13 - Hike to Wayah Bald Shelter and camp. (11 miles)
April 14 - Hike to Wesser Bald Shelter and camp. (11 miles)
April 15 - Hike to and hitch to Nantahala Outdoor Center and stay. The plan here is to print out my permits for the Smokies at the outfitter/hostel before checking out Pizza by the River (if they are open) and the beautiful Rivers End Restaurant. If time permits, I’ll check out the operations of outdoor activities ranging from waterfalls to kayaking and zip-lining. Though chances are I will not be partaking.
April 16 - Hike to Brown Fork Gap Shelter and camp. (16 miles)
April 17 - Hike to Fontana Dam and camp (at the Fontana Hilton if possible). I do plan to resupply here at the Fontana Lodge before checking out Hoppy Trout Brewing Company. Hoping to head back to Fontana Lodge to check out their Mountainview Bistro and Wildwood Grill before it’s off to bed. (13 miles)
April 18 - Hike to Russell Field Shelter and camp. (15 miles)
April 19 - Hike to Silers Bald Shelter and camp. (15 miles)
April 20 - Hike to Newfound Gap and hitch a ride into Gatlinburg, Tennessee. (12 miles)
April 21 - One full day in Gatlinburg, Tennessee which will certainly get its own final preview in the future. (0 miles)
April 22 - Hitch back to Newfound Gap and hike to Tricorner Knob Shelter and camp. (15 miles)
April 23 - Hike to Davenport Gap Shelter and camp. (15 miles)
April 24 - Hike to Deep Gap and camp. (11 miles)
April 25 - Hike to Walnut Mountain and camp. (13 miles)
April 26 - Hike to Hot Springs and stay at the Sunnybank Inn and Hostel for two days. Fortune brings me to Hot Springs for their Hot Springs Annual Trail Fest! I do plan on soaking in the namesake hot springs, stop into the famous Spring Creek Tavern and catch some live music, and get some grub at the Smoky Mountain Diner. Other spots on my list are Trust General Store & Cafe and Vaste Riviere Provisions. There is also ample outdoor shit to do (rafting, canyoneering, climbing, zip-lining). (13 miles)
April 27 - A full day in Hot Springs for the festival and maybe a quick trip to Asheville to see what that place is all about. (0 miles)
April 28 - Hike to Spring Mountain and camp. (11 miles)
April 29 - Hike to Chestnut Log Gap and camp. (16 miles)
April 30 - Hike to Hogback Ridge Shelter and camp. (16 miles)
May 1 - Hike to Bald Mountain Shelter and camp. (11 miles)
May 2 - Hike out of North Carolina and to Erwin, Tennessee! (17 miles)
What am I missing? Tips or tricks along the way? I am all ears!
Go Wildcats! (and Blue Demons and whatever the Hell a Tar Heel is)…
-AJ
My first Father’s Day.