- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Winter Olympics
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Appalachian Trail, advice on family trip
Posted on 7/31/23 at 4:11 pm
Posted on 7/31/23 at 4:11 pm
IF I can talk my wife into it, I would like to take a 6-7 day trip on the Trail, my questions for the board would be:
What part of the trail is the most scenic.
Has anyone used a guide company to do it, is that necessary. We are not campers by any stretch, but could definitely research it enough and take a weekend trip or two on the Azalea trail here to get acquainted with the gear and such.
Is 6 nights too much, too little or about right? Would hope to cover about 45-50 miles and maybe have a day by a lake or such to relax.
TIA.
What part of the trail is the most scenic.
Has anyone used a guide company to do it, is that necessary. We are not campers by any stretch, but could definitely research it enough and take a weekend trip or two on the Azalea trail here to get acquainted with the gear and such.
Is 6 nights too much, too little or about right? Would hope to cover about 45-50 miles and maybe have a day by a lake or such to relax.
TIA.
6
Posted on 7/31/23 at 4:16 pm to tigerfoot
Not 6-7 days but I love the Carvers Gap to 19E.
Stay in the hostel and get drive to trail
Hike to red barn (Camp outside, its closed) OR keep going and set up camp on top of balds. (Plan to get water around barn though, nothing at top)
Night two camp at doll flats and hike out day three back to hostel where you parked.
I think that section is truly breathtaking but there plenty on here that have more experience and hiked more sections. I used my AT book for info on mileage and water sources.
Hostel
Stay in the hostel and get drive to trail
Hike to red barn (Camp outside, its closed) OR keep going and set up camp on top of balds. (Plan to get water around barn though, nothing at top)
Night two camp at doll flats and hike out day three back to hostel where you parked.
I think that section is truly breathtaking but there plenty on here that have more experience and hiked more sections. I used my AT book for info on mileage and water sources.
Hostel
This post was edited on 7/31/23 at 4:23 pm
Posted on 7/31/23 at 4:43 pm to tigerfoot
You say family and then say wife, but no kids. Are there kids? I would suggest that 6-7 days is TOO much for a first time. I'd suggest 2 nights at most, and to be honest 1 night may be better. At least try to do a 1 night trip before you go, then maybe a 2 night trip before you go, and then consider more nights.
I've never stayed the night on the App trail but I've hiked into camping spots plenty of times. If you are not big campers than the hiking on the trail with camping will kick your arse.
The first 2-3 nights are always the hardest, it takes some time for your body to get used to it.
I would suggest a 2 night camping trip and then look into a cabin or something to stay a night or two and maybe do something else.
Also, "most scenic" be careful with that because often that means the best views which means elevation which potentially means more difficult hikes. The appalachian mountains will kick your arse hiking if you aren't in hiking shape.
I've never stayed the night on the App trail but I've hiked into camping spots plenty of times. If you are not big campers than the hiking on the trail with camping will kick your arse.
The first 2-3 nights are always the hardest, it takes some time for your body to get used to it.
I would suggest a 2 night camping trip and then look into a cabin or something to stay a night or two and maybe do something else.
Also, "most scenic" be careful with that because often that means the best views which means elevation which potentially means more difficult hikes. The appalachian mountains will kick your arse hiking if you aren't in hiking shape.
Posted on 7/31/23 at 5:00 pm to baldona
Yeah, 6-7 days on the trail is a lot if not something your family typically does. The Carvers Gap - 19E would be perfect and you could even make it 3 nights to cut mileage down. Thats what I would do and I continue to do that same hike even though I've done it a bunch.
Posted on 7/31/23 at 5:59 pm to xraytiger
Yeah, hearing yall say it makes it seem like way too much!
I need a better understanding of day hikes and cabins versus staying on the trail.
I need a better understanding of day hikes and cabins versus staying on the trail.
Posted on 7/31/23 at 7:48 pm to tigerfoot
Do not do this. Do what previous posters said. You think you may just be going gwalking and seeing nature and then camping. But you have no idea if you haven’t done it before. It’s strenuous. It can be brutal. I’ve been in it before in the smokies in the midst of a blizzard. It takes planning. Do what previous poster said. Get a place and do day hikes. 7 days is way too much for new hikers.
Posted on 7/31/23 at 7:50 pm to xraytiger
Just don't squeal like a pig, Baw!
Posted on 7/31/23 at 9:41 pm to tigerfoot
It’s one thing to do it by yourself or to do it with some guy friends when you are all young and dumb and motivated for the first time and get your arse kicked. But with a wife or Gf already teetering I wouldn’t recommend it for sure more than a night to start. The first time you hike with a backpack of crap you don’t need on your back and then sleep on the ground, wake up after a shite sleep, something gets wet you didn’t want wet, you forget something small like TP, and then you got 10 miles to hike to get to the car is a real wakening to how fricking easy we got life these days.
Throw in bad weather and you are miles from the car and you really start learning the power of a prayer and what 1st world problems you can’t believe you gripe about, lol.
For example, me and 3 friends went on a 21 mile 2 night hike when it was warm outside, I can’t remember time of year but it got hot like 80s mid day. We only brought like 5 water treatment tabs between all of us because there was a lot of streams and we just planned on boiling water in the morning and when we made camp, no big deal right?
Well, when it’s 80 degrees out and you boil water that shite takes a hell of a long time to cool down. You walk into camp thirsty as hell and gotta boil water and your sweaty that shite sucks drinking hot tea water, lol. We eventually put it in our canteens and put them in the cool creeks, but it still took awhile. But little stuff like that happens and when it’s your first time you have a lot of little things.
Throw in bad weather and you are miles from the car and you really start learning the power of a prayer and what 1st world problems you can’t believe you gripe about, lol.
For example, me and 3 friends went on a 21 mile 2 night hike when it was warm outside, I can’t remember time of year but it got hot like 80s mid day. We only brought like 5 water treatment tabs between all of us because there was a lot of streams and we just planned on boiling water in the morning and when we made camp, no big deal right?
Well, when it’s 80 degrees out and you boil water that shite takes a hell of a long time to cool down. You walk into camp thirsty as hell and gotta boil water and your sweaty that shite sucks drinking hot tea water, lol. We eventually put it in our canteens and put them in the cool creeks, but it still took awhile. But little stuff like that happens and when it’s your first time you have a lot of little things.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 5:54 am to baldona
Does no one carry a Lifestraw?
Posted on 8/1/23 at 10:52 am to tigerfoot
quote:
We are not campers by any stretch
quote:
IF I can talk my wife into it, I would like to take a 6-7 day trip on the Trail,
Please report back
I hope she agrees but a long trip like that might be disastrous for anymore future trips such as this. Do 2 nights, MAYBE 3, and then spend a couple of nights doing something locally but with amenities.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 12:26 pm to LSUintheNW
quote:Sage advice it seems. I was kinda not thinking of going it alone but to go with one of those guided type things. But upon further review, 6 days, I was outkicking my coverage by about 4 days!
Do 2 nights, MAYBE 3, and then spend a couple of nights doing something locally but with amenities.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:11 pm to LSUintheNW
quote:
Please report back I hope she agrees but a long trip like that might be disastrous for anymore future trips such as this.
OP is either a moron for considering it or a genius for setting himself up for future alone time.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 4:12 pm to tigerfoot
quote:
Sage advice it seems. I was kinda not thinking of going it alone but to go with one of those guided type things. But upon further review, 6 days, I was outkicking my coverage by about 4 days!
Near Clingman's Dome, I and a friend averaged a little more than a mile an hour horizontally. He ran marathons, and I probably ran 40km a week, and we could both ruck with the best of them. Danger.
There are shelters (or at least there were) that can give you protection from rain, if you plan it out right. Do your day or two, then go into town. Make sure you're awake for sunrise at least one day, and look out west. It's awesome.
Posted on 8/3/23 at 3:57 pm to tigerfoot
quote:
I need a better understanding of day hikes and cabins versus staying on the trail
I would plan a few days with short section and stay on the trail, others in a cabin. I have hiked the AT and lived along a few sections of the AT for several years. If it was me, I would look for something in Damascus VA. You can hike part of the AT in Mount Rogers/Elk Garden area. You will probably see some wild ponies in that area as well. You can ride bikes on the Virginia Creeper trail from Whitetop Mountain down to Damascus. You rent bikes/shuttle in Damascus and then you basically coast on a gentle downhill trail. Of the 17 miles, you really only bike 2-3 miles of it. Spend a day in the Grandfather Mountain area and a day around Linville Falls. I enjoy the Barter Theater in Abington VA, but I don't know what it would be like with kids.
I used to know a guy whose dad started taking him hiking at age 5. Every year they would go back and do a section of the trail. When I knew him he was finishing up college and only had about 115 miles remaining on the trail. He started in GA the year I hiked it and his dad met him in Maine so they could finish the last 115 miles together. There are plenty of kids that enjoy hiking/camping.
This post was edited on 8/3/23 at 4:07 pm
Posted on 8/4/23 at 7:01 am to tigerfoot
To the OP why not look into back country hiking to a shelter campsite within the Great Smoky Mountains. You can reserve a spot like a regular campsite and you can plan and hike to different places move to different shelters. There are also companies that host these type of back country camping experiences too. I think that is a better option than the AT for a family.
Posted on 8/4/23 at 8:49 am to tigerfoot
Here's a thought...
Stay at Amicalola Falls State Park! Great lodge. At the Springer Mountain Trail head. So you could do some short day hikes and act like you're on the AT, then go back and get a cold one.
AND..they have a Hike Inn Lodge! About 5 miles. Easy hike. Did it for a birthday trip years ago. Kind of bunk bed style cabins, but nice area and they have a restaurant where they'd serve meals.
Stay at Amicalola Falls State Park! Great lodge. At the Springer Mountain Trail head. So you could do some short day hikes and act like you're on the AT, then go back and get a cold one.
AND..they have a Hike Inn Lodge! About 5 miles. Easy hike. Did it for a birthday trip years ago. Kind of bunk bed style cabins, but nice area and they have a restaurant where they'd serve meals.
Posted on 8/6/23 at 9:06 am to TimeOutdoors
quote:
. If it was me, I would look for something in Damascus VA. You can hike part of the AT in Mount Rogers/Elk Garden area. You will probably see some wild ponies in that area as well. You can ride bikes on the Virginia Creeper trail from Whitetop Mountain down to Damascus.
Excellent advice
Camp at Greyson Highlands State Park and hike AT from there to Mt Rogers
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News