[at-l] Good places to hike the AT for non-hikers

[charles at uswnet.com (Charles Copeland)]

A really great place to hike the AT in North Carolina is from the Wayah
Crest picnic area in Wayah Gap to Siler Bald.  Its a grassy bald with a
great view and lots of space for camping.  We usually hike there for our
snow hike in the Winter but we decided we wanted to see what it looks like
in the summer.  It was incredible.  The normally short, brown dead grass was
green, tall, and full of clover and wildflowers.

The 11 and 12 yr-olds in my troop went there last weekend.  It was a perfect
2.5 mile hike culminating in a campout at the summit, 5216' above sea level.
The skies were clear, the sunset magnificent, and the stars were bright.
Saturday night, the ISS flew overhead.  It was an incredible sight.

If you want a longer hike, start from Winding Stair Gap and hike up to Siler
Bald.

This is not the same Siler as in GSMNP.  This one if further south, between
Wayah Bald and Albert Mtn.

Also, a set of keys to my Scout hut are still in the parking lot, a few feet
from the wall to the right of the steps at the picnic area.  If anyone finds
them, please let me know!

:-)

Charles


----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich, Timothy D." <TRich@FDIC.gov>
To: <at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 3:10 PM
Subject: RE: [at-l] Good places to hike the AT for non-hikers


Good Afternoon,

Cosmo covered much of the north very well, so I'll give a Southern
perspective.

If your guests are limited in the distance and terrain they'd cover, I'd
guess that you'd want to expose them to the most spectacular sections that
are accessible to them.  What's "spectacular" differs for each of us, but if
you consider views and scenery to be the goal, a few places come to mind:

The view from Springer - USFS road is about a mile away.  The view is
special not only because it's nice, but because it's symbolic for its
beginning (or end).  I'm unaware of any Katahdin approach that would allow
similar access.
Max Patch - USFS road goes near there also.
Newfound Gap area - Smokies are crowded, so might not be best.
Roan Mountain - Road access from the state park and I think all the way to
the parking area near the summit approach - hard to beat during bloom
season.
Grayson Highlands/Mount Rogers - There are a number of side trails allowing
for a loop hike in this area, but I can't remember how tough the terrain was
if you want to see the ponies.
Shenandoah - Dozens and dozens and dozens of road crossings, many near nice
overlooks.  In-park cabins and lodging available.
Bears Den Hostel area.  It's fairly flat walk (I think along an old stage
road) northbound to Bears Den, plus the nice view.

The book "The Best of the Appalachian Trail: Day Hikes" by Victoria and
Frank Logue may provide some other ideas.

Take Care,

Tim
-----Original Message-----
This is more specific than the heading indicates:

Suppose you are hiking the AT.  Either for long-sections or for the entire
trail.  Now suppose you have family or friends who want to meet you along
the way and to do some "hiking" with you but are not hikers or cannot hike
really difficult places.  Say the person has arthritis or there are small
children or they are dedicated couch potatoes.  But they really, really want
to hike some places with you.  And may well be willing to go the cost of a
B'n'B, inn, etc.


Which small sections do you suggest?

You can include loops where they meet and then someone drives to the nearest
town.  Like the bald right before Hot Springs and then on down into Hot
Springs.  The folks might be tired, but they can feel good about hiking with
you.

William, The Turtle
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