UNITED STATES
APPALACHIAN TRAIL
The world’s premiere long distance footpath, the “AT” is located in the mountains of the eastern United States. It extends nearly 2,200 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine passing through 14 states.
AT/TN: Tri-Corner Knob to private cascades
The rain holds off to allow for a visit to the cool Mount Cammerer Lookout and camping by falls.
AT/TN: Mt. Collins to Tri-Corner Knob
It’s another gorgeous walk on top of long catwalk ridges including to Charlie’s Bunion.
AT/NC: Spence Field to Mt. Collins
One in thirty days are this gorgeous in the Smoky Mountains and we hike all day to soak it up and get to Clingmans Dome.
AT/NC: Birch Spring to Spence Field
It’s a wet day with thunderstorms expected, so we hike from
shelter to shelter and see a bear and cub.
AT/NC: Hogback to Birch Spring
At Fontana Dam where I decide to take advantage of good weather and enter Smoky Mountain National Park.
AT/NC: stealth site above NOC to stealth site near Hogback Gap
It’s a monster climb to Cheoah Bald, then down and another biggie in gorgeous sunshine with a new pal.
AT/NC: Wayah Bald to past NOC
It’s a long hard day with mist clearing, a huge descent to the Nantahala and back up again.
AT/NC: Rock Gap to Wayah Bald
Big climbs and views plus a mountainside of woodland flowers end with a zero day.
AT/NC: Standing Indian to Rock Gap
The day is cloudy which adds to the drama atop Albert Mountain lookout with new friends.
AT/NC: Dicks Creek to Standing Indian
A spectacular arrival in North Carolina ends with sunset/moonrise camp atop a 5,000-foot peak.
AT/GA: Unicoi to Dick’s Creek
The day after spitting rain and a town rest is glorious with views to Lake Burton and camping alone.
AT/GA: Poplar Stamp to Unicoi Gap
As forecasted, it rains all day, but even in mist, the forest is magical – as is the wee German town of Helen where we get dry.
AT/GA: Blood Mt to Poplar Stamp Gap
It’s a five mountain day through Neels Gap and into a spectacular spring day.
AT/GA: Gooch to Blood Mountain
It’s a fantastic day of up and down with magical spring green mountain views and sunset on the highest peak on-trail in Georgia.
AT/GA: Springer to Gooch
The real first day is glorious, though hot, with birds singing loudly and flowers lining the walk.
AT/GA: Amicalola Falls to Springer Mountain
I add nine miles on the ‘approach trail’ through Amicalola Falls State Patk, the highest cataract in Georgia, walking to mile 0.
Atlanta
I’m reading about a pro long distance walker as I set out for Springer Mountain. Edward Payson Weston preached of walking’s benefits at the dawn of the automobile age.