Wandering Stoveless NOBO on AT

WanderingStovie · Jul 18th 2022, 2:21am

I am getting fat and have not done much hiking in the last 5 years.

I have section hiked the AT from Springer to Glencliff, but I have an itch to thruhike the AT NOBO. A February 20 start would let me camp without a bear canister at Woods Hole or Blood Mtn, and SNP would be fully open by the time I reach it. I like snow better than summer heat, and would like to pass through the Whites in July.

IMScotty · Jul 18th 2022, 8:31am

Nothing like a hike to take care of those extra pounds.

And great to see you back WanderingStovie

max.patch · Jul 18th 2022, 8:50am

WanderingStovie wrote:

A February 20 start would let me camp without a bear canister at Woods Hole or Blood Mtn, and SNP would be fully open by the time I reach it.

Very few thru hikers carry a bear canister because of our regulation. Most stop short of Jarrard Gap (Lance Creek is popular) and then just hike thru the 5 mile bear canister zone the next day.

WanderingStovie · Jul 18th 2022, 10:58am

Do I really want a hang tag? After hiking more than 2000 miles it might be a little late to sit through an LNT lecture, weigh my pack, and get a pack shakedown.

I am thinking of catching a bus to Dalton and walking to Springer on the Pinhoti and BMT. The Dalton road walk would be a challenge unless someone takes pity on me.

WanderingStovie · Jul 18th 2022, 11:00am

max.patch wrote:

WanderingStovie wrote:

A February 20 start would let me camp without a bear canister at Woods Hole or Blood Mtn, and SNP would be fully open by the time I reach it.

Very few thru hikers carry a bear canister because of our regulation. Most stop short of Jarrard Gap (Lance Creek is popular) and then just hike thru the 5 mile bear canister zone the next day.

Does the regulation prohibit camping on the Slaughter Creek Trail?

max.patch · Jul 18th 2022, 11:25am

WanderingStovie wrote:

max.patch wrote:

WanderingStovie wrote:

A February 20 start would let me camp without a bear canister at Woods Hole or Blood Mtn, and SNP would be fully open by the time I reach it.

Very few thru hikers carry a bear canister because of our regulation. Most stop short of Jarrard Gap (Lance Creek is popular) and then just hike thru the 5 mile bear canister zone the next day.

Does the regulation prohibit camping on the Slaughter Creek Trail?

About half the Slaughter Creek Trail is in the zone. You'd have to walk about 1.5 miles to get out of it. I've walked it many times, but never with an eye toward looking for a camping site. It's downhill next to the creek and I suspect it'd be difficult to find a flat spot. Personally I'd stop short of the zone and camp at Lance.

Here's a map of the zone on page 2/2.

fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5351875.pdf

WanderingStovie · Jul 18th 2022, 1:26pm

Thanks MP. The regulation improves safety for hikers and bears, but creates a high usage area at Jarrard Gap. The garbage pile I saw at Blood Mtn some years ago surely contributed to the problem. I saw this problem in SNP at one of the picnic areas, where wildlife (bear?) scattered trash.

WanderingStovie · Jul 18th 2022, 2:32pm

Slaughter Creek Trail campsites are in the zone.

Traffic Jam · Jul 24th 2022, 10:16am

WanderingStovie wrote:

I am getting fat and have not done much hiking in the last 5 years.

I have section hiked the AT from Springer to Glencliff, but I have an itch to thruhike the AT NOBO. A February 20 start would let me camp without a bear canister at Woods Hole or Blood Mtn, and SNP would be fully open by the time I reach it. I like snow better than summer heat, and would like to pass through the Whites in July.

The extra weight may be helpful in winter.

Nice to hear from you.

WanderingStovie · Jul 24th 2022, 12:22pm

Traffic Jam wrote:

WanderingStovie wrote:

I am getting fat and have not done much hiking in the last 5 years.

I have section hiked the AT from Springer to Glencliff, but I have an itch to thruhike the AT NOBO. A February 20 start would let me camp without a bear canister at Woods Hole or Blood Mtn, and SNP would be fully open by the time I reach it. I like snow better than summer heat, and would like to pass through the Whites in July.

The extra weight may be helpful in winter.
Nice to hear from you.

Likewise. Yes it provides insulation and padding, but slows climbs. Nice to read you were on the GAP.

Good thing there are hills nearby I could train on, but I will wait for the summer heat to end.

WanderingStovie · Aug 11th 2022, 9:48pm

I am considering a very impure nobo thruhike of the AT. I might take the Pinhoti, BMT, and Duncan Ridge trails from Dalton to Blood Mountain, hike into Helen from Unicoi Gap, return from Helen near Tray Mountain, take the Kimsey Creek shortcut, skip the eastern dip to the south in the Whites heading directly to Gorham on a side trail, and so on. I would not get a hang tag, not get a photo at Harpers Ferry, and not report 2000 miles to ATC.

hikerboy · Aug 12th 2022, 8:22am

you're doing it wrong!

odd man out · Aug 12th 2022, 11:09am

If you invent it, you can name, plus have the FKT.

WanderingStovie · Aug 12th 2022, 12:48pm

odd man out wrote:

If you invent it, you can name, plus have the FKT.

I am probably not the first to do any of those things, but whatever combination I wind up doing may be unique. I refuse to nail down the details beforehand, which I believe a FKT would require.

WanderingStovie · Aug 12th 2022, 12:52pm

If I want to be truly impure, there are the Bartram, Allegheny, and Tuscarora trails, which I have not seen.

odd man out · Aug 12th 2022, 2:08pm

WanderingStovie wrote:

odd man out wrote:

If you invent it, you can name, plus have the FKT.

I am probably not the first to do any of those things, but whatever combination I wind up doing may be unique. I refuse to nail down the details beforehand, which I believe a FKT would require.

nope, if you're the first, you get to make the rules. At least that would be what i do.

Astro · Aug 12th 2022, 3:20pm

WanderingStovie wrote:

If I want to be truly impure, there are the Bartram, Allegheny, and Tuscarora trails, which I have not seen.

Bartram Trail crosses (and runs together a couple of miles "backwards") at Wayah Bald and ends at Cheoah Bald.

And if you want, you can add the Foothills Trail as your approach to the Bartram Trail.

jimmyjam · Aug 15th 2022, 10:15am

WanderingStovie wrote:

I am considering a very impure nobo thruhike of the AT. I might take the Pinhoti, BMT, and Duncan Ridge trails from Dalton to Blood Mountain, hike into Helen from Unicoi Gap, return from Helen near Tray Mountain, take the Kimsey Creek shortcut, skip the eastern dip to the south in the Whites heading directly to Gorham on a side trail, and so on. I would not get a hang tag, not get a photo at Harpers Ferry, and not report 2000 miles to ATC.

Sounds like a damn good time!!!

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