McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 12/05/2024 | AT Mile 2061.3 | Day Total: 14.6 miles | Gain: 3584 ft

Woke up around 7. Slept like a rock last night! So nice to be in heated sleeping quarters. Made some pancakes for breakfast and brewed a small pot of coffee. Relaxed this morning and packed up. Heading back to the trail at 10am.

Shadow dropped me off at the trailhead after waiting through a lot of construction. I began the rather big climb to Cheoah Bald. When we were driving up the bald was in a cloud but I’m hopeful that it’ll clear up by the time I get there.

Had some views through the trees but this climb was relatively boring. Passed a few gaps including Simp Gap and Locust Cove Gap.

Near the top, the shaded parts of the trail had some icy snow on it. But other than this, most of it was melted. There were some steeper parts of trail and some very tight rhododendron tunnels.

I eventually made it to Cheoah Bald. It was no longer in a cloud and had some great views.

After the bald most of the trail today was downhill. I walked through Grassy Gap shortly followed by Wade Sutton Memorial.

As I descended nearly 4000 feet to the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) I was glad to have found a rubber tip for my trekking pole. I was struggling the day prior to get into a rhythm. Passed through Wright Gap on my way down.

I made it down to the NOC after passing some interesting large rock formations near the river. The Nantahala River goes right through the middle of the NOC and I passed over it on a pedestrian bridge. There was nobody here, clearly their off season.

I was hoping to get some stove fuel and replace my trekking pole tips at the outfitter but they were closed. I thought that they were open till 5 but I went to open the door and it was locked. I checked phone and it was 4:01 and back at the door where the hours were posted. They read 10-4…I just missed it… oh well.

As I reentered the trail after the NOC there was another cool old AT sign. I continued onto the shelter less than a mile away. It’s a little uphill and switchbacks up the mountain. Tomorrow I’ll have a ton of climbing.

I made it to the shelter and went to find a flat place to pitch my tent. There’s lots of space but they are all more slanted than I would have liked. I found a flatish spot and set up. Got some leftover Kabasa in addition to my dinner tonight. Very yummy!

There was a hunter that walked by the shelter on the trail then came back a few minutes later heading the other way. It’s nearly dark so I figured I’d be seeing him again. Nobody else here tonight.

Got an official end date – Saturday December 14th. The 13th I’ll stop right before Springer so I can meet my parents there in the morning! That means 9 more hiking days. I can’t lie I’m looking forward to being back home but I’m trying to enjoy it out here still because I know I’ll miss it.