Dan and I are leaving today for a 5-day backpacking trip. In case you might be wondering where we are going, here’s the itinerary that I sent to him (a Word doc., so the formatting will be a little off). It’s a little detailed, but hey, that’s the way I am. Obviously, blogging won’t take place, so hope to be back in the saddle early next week. Cheers!
Fall Backpackin’ Trip
[Thursday, October 13-Monday, October 17]
Day One: Thursday, October 13
~ Weather Forecast: Partly Cloudy High 71 – Low 52
>> Campsite: Cades Cove Campground (1.800.365.CAMP) $17.00 ID# 2298309 :: Reservation #: 4770089
miles traveled: 315 (5 ½ hours)
I-64 (75 miles); I-75 (173 miles); I-40 (28 miles); Hwy 129 (15 miles); Hwy 321 (20 miles)
Day Two: Friday, October 14 :: Smokies ::
~ Weather Forecast: Sunny High 72 – Low 51
- Abrams Falls (7:00 a.m.) 5.0 mi hike Cades Cove Cir. 20 ft. falls
- Spruce Flats Falls (10:00 a.m.) 2.0 mi hike Little River Rd. 25 ft. falls
- Laurel Falls (1:00 p.m.) 2.6 mi hike Little River Rd 85 ft. falls
- Chimney Tops (3:00 p.m.) 4.0 mi hike Newfoundland Gap Rd. (US 441)
- Clingsmans Dome (5:00 p.m.) 1.5 mi hike Newfoundland Gap Rd (US 441) to Clingsman Dome Rd
- Fontana Lake (7:00 p.m.) no hike NC 28
Total hiking: 15.1 miles
>> Campsite: Tsali Campground (828.479.6431)
- miles traveled: 50 (1 ½ hours)
BRP; 212; US 441 (Newfoundland Gap), NC 28; US 321; Little River Road
Day Three: Saturday, October 15 :: Balsam Mountains ::
~ Weather Forecast: Sunny High 69 – Low 45
- Blue Ridge Parkway (8:00 a.m.) no hike BRP
- Graveyard Fields (10:00 a.m.) 3.2 mi hike BRP 418.8 Upper 120 ft./Lower 60 ft. falls
- Devil’s Courthouse (2:00 p.m.) 1.7 mi hike BRP 422.4
- Looking Glass Falls (4:00 p.m.) 0.2 mi hike Hwy 276 60 ft. falls
- Looking Glass Rock (5:00 p.m.) no hike
Total hiking: 5.1 miles
>> Campsite: Shining Rock Wilderness (828.877.3265)
- miles traveled: 70 (2 hours)
BRP, Hwy 64, NC 1600, NC 106, NC 281, US 176
Day Four: Sunday, October 16 :: Nantahala ::
~ Weather Forecast: Sunny High 65 – Low 39
- Pearson Falls (8:00 a.m.) 0.3 mi hike US176 90 ft. falls
- Whitewater Falls (10:00) 0.4 mi hike NC 281 411ft. falls
- Cullasaja Falls, Dry Falls (2:00) 0.1 mi hike Hwy 64 250 ft. / 120 ft. falls
- Glenn Falls (3:00) 2.8 mi hike NC 106 180 ft. falls
- Whiteside Mountain (5:00) 2.0 mi hike NC 1600 Massive crags and cliffs
- Horespasture Waterfalls 5.6 mi hike NC 281 200 ft. falls (five falls)
Total hiking: 11.2 miles
>> Campsite: Van Hook Campground (828.526.5912)
- miles traveled: 110 (3 hours)
US 176, Hwy 64, NC 281, NC 106, NC 1600
Day Five: Monday, October 17 :: Tennessee/Kentucky ::
~ Weather Forecast: Sunny High 70 Low 54
- Ocoee River (7:00 a.m.) no hike Hwy 64 possible cave exploration
- Cumberland Falls (2:00 p.m.) 2.2 mi hike 68 ft. falls
miles traveled: 435 (7 ½ hours)
Hwy 64 (125 miles); I-75 (155 miles) to Cumberland Falls; I-75 (83 miles); I-64 (75 miles)
Total Miles Driven: 980
Total Miles Hiked: 33.6
Total Waterfalls: 18
Total Destinations: 20
I’d like someone from the Provocations and Pantings travel agency division to contact me. This is the most well-thought-out example of the inner workings of the mind of one with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder I have ever seen and I would pay good money for it. Have a great trip and DO NOT get off schedule…:)
Whiteside mountain is great I hear maybe when you get back you can give me some info and some tips. Have fun
Obsessive Compulsive huh? I need to add that to my list (ADD, excessive, insomnia, etc.).
As far as getting off schedule, well I admit I can be anal about that, but I this schedule is the “loaded version” (of which I predict we will do at least 80%). Who knows? Nature brings great inspiration. Maybe we will just pretend we got lost and hang out for a while. Oh wait, my wife would not like that. Sorry.
Brad, by the way, thanks for the advice you have been giving me lately. I truly appreciate it.
Trae, Whiteside is breathtaking. There is a 360 panoramic view at the top of the mountain (approx. 6000 feet) on a trail which allows you to see for hundreds of miles. Simply amazing.
For the first time going outdoors, I will have a camera with me (hence site emphasis versus wilderness packing). Dan and I are hoping to shoot about 10 GB of photos this weekend. Hopefully, I will be able to share them with you when we get back!