June 2007 AT North Carolina

June 15 - 25, 2007
Hiking on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina

The first hikes are in southern North Carolina and end just north of the Fontana Dam as the trail enters the Smoky Mountain National Park. This completes our hiking the AT from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the Smokies. The last three days are sections just north of the Smokies.

June 15, 2007: Betty Creek Gap to Mooney Gap; 0.9 mi.; a very short section. It rumbled while we hiked. We also spotted a car for the next day.

June 16: Deep Gap to Betty Creek Gap; 12.2 mi.
After several previous attempts at doing this section we finally succeeded.

We left Deep Gap in fog and mist	On the summit of Standing Indian Mountain the views are supposed to be outstanding, but not for us
Flame Azalea	Catawba Rhododendron
	Ruffed Grouse

June 17: Tellico Gap to US19/74; 7.9 mi.

On Wesser Bald, which isn't bald

A "view" toward the ever hazy and blue Smokies

The end of this section is in the Nantahala Gorge and passes the office of the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)

June 18: Jenni's Birthday; Instead of hiking we went rafting with NOC

June 19: Stecoah Gap to Yellow Creek Gap; 7.6 mi.

Again it was foggy

and the views were limited

Afterwards we watched others rafting

June 20-21: US19/74, Nantahala Gorge to Stecoah Gap; 13.6 mi.; a 2-day/1 night backpack

Crossing the Nantahala on a nice bridge	Hiking through the green tunnel
Sassafras Gap Shelter	Talking to other hikers on Cheoah Bald
View from Cheoah Bald
Four south-bound hikers	End of the section They belong to a man that was providing support to a Scout group

June 22: Yellow Creek Gap to Fontana Dam; 8.8 mi.

	American Toad
Fontana Lake

The AT crosses Fontana Dam	and enters the Smokies

Shortly the trail leaves the road and climbs to the main ridge that traverses the Smokies

This next 34-mile section is a 3-4 day backpack.
Because of drought conditions, on this day there was no water at the shelters.
Our hike will resume here another day.