May '26 AT backpacking section hike
● AT Section: Deep Gap, NC to Fontana Dam, NC
● Mileage expected: About 81 miles is expected, ~13.5 average miles per day, which is roughly about the average total mileage for this group's week-long hikes that also include hostel stay(s) &/or time in one or more trail towns like this trip.
● Hike about 6 near-full hiking days: Sat-Thu 5/9-5/14. Travel back home on the 14th or go to Trail Days in Damascus, VA like Boujee & I & other hikers are doing.
● Itinerary (subject to change as additional research is performed):
Per FarOut (Android version; Apple will differ):
◇ Deep Gap (NC) at mile 85.2 to
◇ Fontana Dam [shelter] at about mile 166.2 = ~81 miles
At-a-glance Itinerary [ Day / To / Miles ]
Day 1, Sat / Carter Gap Shelter / 8.5mi
Day 2, Sun / Option: Tentsite NOBO mile 110.5 or possibly a hostel, TBD / ~16+-
Day 3, Mon / Cold Spring Shelter with shuttled re-supply at noon at Wayah Bald mi. 119.4 / ~14.9+-
Day 4, Tue / NOC then overnight at Rambling Roots hostel / 11.5
Day 5, Wed / Brown Fork Gap Shelter / 16.2
Day 6, Thu / Fontana Dam / 13.3
Direction: Northbound (NOBO)
Day: 1 | Date: Sat, 5/9:
■ Meet at Fontana Dam Visitors Center & park cars (it is ok to park there for 6 days)
■ Meet time: ***6am shuttle pickup*** 2 passenger cars, $480 spilt evenly among group (includes 20% tip). Chris, Pam, & Matt will almost certainly stay at Fontana Dam shelter the night before, Fri, 5/8 -- all are welcome to do the same!
■ Shuttle from Fontana Dam to Deep Gap in the AM / shuttle drive time ~2 hours
· Mileage: 8.5
· Start: Deep Gap (GA) Parking Area @ mile 85.2
· End: Carter Gap Shelter @ mile 93.7, el. 4518'
· Elevation total gain/loss: 1670'/1463'
· Water: yes, downhill from old shelter site
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: yes, "8 person"
· Tent sites: yes, "plenty of campsites"
· Trees for hammocks: yes
· Bear protection: none mentioned
· Note(s): some cell service
Day: 2 | Date: Sun, 5/10
· Mileage: ~16+-
· Elevation total gain/loss: ~3209'/3740'
· Start: Carter Gap Shelter / mile 93.7
· End: "Moore Creek Campsite" @ mi. 110.5, el. 3990. Option 2 - The Grove Hostel in Franklin, NC @ mi. 109.6. Requires 10+ mile shuttle from trail to hostel. Group not planning to stay at this hostel.
· Water: yes, branch of Moore Creek
· Privy: no
· Shelter: no
· Tent sites: yes, "about 5"
· Trees for hammocks: yes
· Bear protection: no
· Note(s): seems like a decent amount of dead trees (Aug. '25)
Day: 3 | Date: Mon, 5/11
· Mileage: ~14.9+-
· Start: Depends (see above) with shuttled re-supply at noon at Wayah Bald Trailhead parking area @ NOBO mi. 119.4 (the one with close fire tower access by trail), cost: $72 split evenly among group (includes 20% tip).
· End: Cold Spring Shelter @ mi. 125.4, el. 4920'
· Elevation total gain/loss: 4268'/3031'
· Water: yes, piped spring
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: yes, "6 person"
· Tent sites: yes, "about 6"
· Trees for hammocks: yes
· Bear protection: Food hanging cables but one commenter was not able to find them in '23
· Note(s): no mention of cell service or not
Day: 4 | Date: Tue, 5/12
· Mileage: 11.5
· Start: Cold Spring Shelter @ mi. 125.4
· End: Dinner at NOC restaurant, then overnight at Rambling Roots hostel @ ~mi. 136.9; see notes below for additional hostel information. Dollar General trip also available if desired.
· Elevation total gain/loss: 1844'/5039'
· Note(s): Other lodging alternatives: Rufus Morgan Shelter (stream & privy) before the NOC @ mi. 136.1 or after the NOC at Wright Gap @ mi. 138.5 (no privy or water)
Day: 5 | Date: Wed, 5/13
Mileage: 16.2
Start: Pancake breakfast @ Rambling Roots Hostel. Shuttle back to trail @ NOC @ mi. 136.9.
End: Brown Fork Gap Shelter @ mi. 153.1, el. 3761'
· Elevation total gain/loss: 5787'/3753'
· Water: yes, piped spring
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: yes, "6 person"
· Tent sites: yes
· Trees for hammocks: yrs
· Bear protection: none mentioned
· Note(s): "~0.1 off the AT"; some cell service per FarOut comments
Day: 6 | Date: Thu, 5/14
· Mileage: 13.2 back to cars
· Start: Brown Fork Gap Shelter @ mi. 153.1
· End: Fontana Dam @ mi. 166.2
· Elevation total gain/loss: 2310'/4291'
· Then, head home, or, if additional hiking-related vacay preferred, on Fri-Sun, 5/15-5/17, Chris (Pyro), Pam (Boujee) & friends will be attending Trail Days! (Everyone is on their own for accommodations.)
● "Thank you for booking with Rambling Roots Hostel. We look forward to meeting you. Check-in is between 3 - 9pm. Text if you need an early check-in. We are a dry hostel, and we appreciate your support. (Go to ramblingrootsnc.com for additional policies). We have animals that live on site.
AT shuttles to and from the NOC are scheduled @7am, 9am, 3pm, and 5pm. Please text to confirm a shuttle. Resupply shuttle to Dollar General is also free. Additional shuttles are available upon request, for a fee.
The main floor of the hostel has a full kitchen available to you as well as a large common area. The downstairs has bathrooms, showers, sleeping quarters, and another common area. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. 828-788-0027
The crew from RRH!"
● Food re-supply. See notes above on Day 3 itinerary for shuttled re-supply. Also an option for a Dollar General trip on the night of Day 4.
● For each night: General intention is to sleep at relatively established areas (existing tent-sites, flowing water source, & shelters where possible) each evening large enough for a group of perhaps 10 or fewer when on-trail & one or more hostel-stays sprinkled in.
● Taking suggestions & feedback if you have anything you prefer to share as the itinerary is being crafted.
● All are at their own risk and are expected to be aware of their own capabilities for a section hike like this one. Make sure you know all of your gear, navigation, food needs, etc, and provide for yourself accordingly.
● We will need to connect with new faces to make sure they have had prior experience a section hike like this requires and is comfortable with the itinerary, etc.
● Please let us know if you have any questions.
