AT Day 12: Down to the Nantahala River & Up!

Daily Miles: 17.3, Total Miles: 144.3

The wind was blowing but not as noisy as I thought it might be. It was chilly on the mountaintop – warm in the quilt but not excited to put the hiking clothes on. Wore my balaclava and gloves for a few hours this morning.

Hot Lips and Caveman came by while I was packing up and I passed them later in the morning. The trail first took me to Weser Bald which probably offered the best views yet. Just had to climb stairs to a tall observation tower with an open deck.

Then came the long, steep, and somewhat sketchy descent with several logs and trees across the trail. At the bottom was the Nantahala Outdoor Center next to the Nantahala River. This is a major outfitter and a popular destination for rafting, ziplining, biking and hiking. I couldn’t pass up a cheeseburger at the restaurant on the river.

Topped off the clear and cool day with an eight-mile ascent up the other side, gaining 3,000 ft in elevation. On the way, I crossed a dirt road and was asked by a lady in a jeep to carry water up the trail to her husband. He was coming southbound down the mountain and apparently had lost his water filter. I have to say the water I have seen thus far has been the best of any of my hikes. She wanted me to carry two liters of water up to him. I said no way and we compromised on one liter. I met him about two hours later just after he had crossed a perfect good stream. I told him he had a very caring wife – he agreed. Passed by Sassafras Gap Shelter which had quite a crowd and camped just below the summit of Cheoah Bald.

I have an observation and maybe a suggestion – the AT needs more switchbacks!