alison young | alison young • blissful hiker

Appalachian Trail: Curley Maple Gap to Little Rock Knob

It’s an extraordinary day from the “Beauty Spot” to fairy forest Unaka and finally sunset from a knob.

A well-placed hostel with some resupply offers a taste of “trail life” as I walk all day, but fit in charging and eating in between downpours.

It’s hard climbing in pouring rain which finally clears for a flower-lined trail to Bald Mountain.

Spectacular views are completely in mist and it’s a race to a shelter before a terrifying thunder storm.

It’s a roller-coaster day and heavy rain threatens, so I cut it short and sleep in a shelter.

The AT passes right through the town of Hot Springs where I camp above and am pounded by two thunderstorms.

The trail goes steeply up from I-40 climaxing at the extraordinary grassy bald Max Patch with views for miles.

The rain holds off to allow for a visit to the cool Mount Cammerer Lookout and camping by falls.

It’s another gorgeous walk on top of long catwalk ridges including to Charlie’s Bunion.

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.