Trip/Event Location: Hot Springs, NCUS
Trip Leader(s): dnaturist
Max # People: 8
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level: Moderate
This will be a moderate one-way hike on the Appalachian Trail that will require an auto shuttle. It will be 8.9 miles in length and one should plan on spending 6 hours on the trail. The hike will
The morning of the hike we will be meeting at the Smokey Mountain Diner. We plan to leave the diner at 9:00 AM sharp for the trailheads. Please arrive eariler for breakfast and directions.
The address for the Smokey Mountain Diner is 70 Lance Avenue, Hot Springs, NC 28743. The phone number for the diner is (828) 622-7571.
This was a nice 9.2 mile hike on a pleasant section of the AT.
Two of us did this hike. After about 2 miles and a steady uphill climb we reached Rich Mountain and an old fire tower. The first two miles of this hike were fairly crowded as the old fire tower was a destination hike. We saw no one else on the trail once we passed the tower.
The old fire tower had been upgraded into an observation tower. It had a new stainless steel grated staircase. The floor of the tower was also new grated stainless steel. Around the top of the tower was a wide wooden deck, which was great for photo ops. There we took some photos for a couple that were there sharing the view.
The only wildlife we saw on the hike were catapillars.
The trail had very few rooty sections and no rocky section to speak of. Also, no really severe ascents of descents, though quite a few ups and downs. We stopped for lunch at the Spring Mountain Shelter and spent a total of 5 hours and 12 minutes on the trail.
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate
Comment: It was a sweet hike - always sorry to see warm weather going and hiking is great fun - hopewfully s FL trip or 2 this winter for some hiking down there
