tkb
New Member
Posts: 3 
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Post by tkb on Mar 21, 2017 1:49:25 GMT -8
I am looking for a 70ish mile backpacking trip. I'd prefer a loop, but would do a point to point with a safe, reliable shuttle. I want serious solitude, plentiful water, and beautiful scenery.
We have done Big South Fork, Foothills, Linville Gorge, Shenandoah, Mt Rogers, Cranberry Wilderness, and Quehanna. We fell in love with the scenery around Big South Fork, and want to see more like that but the Red River Gorge is entirely to overpopulated for us.
We are open to any and all ideas.
Sheltowee Trace?
Pisgah National Forest?
Part of the Mountains to Sea Trail?
Dolly Sods.....I don't think we can get anywhere near our milage.
Somewhere in the Smokies, away from people?
Many thanks!
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Post by kevinumberger on Mar 21, 2017 6:23:03 GMT -8
point to point---BMT.........
start in smokies and go south......
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Post by kevinumberger on Mar 21, 2017 6:29:43 GMT -8
or art loeb trail.
but thats less than 70 and unless you do the whole stretch of shining rock in one day---you would need a bear canister...
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Post by rwtb123 on Mar 21, 2017 18:47:12 GMT -8
The MTS trail is on my list mainly due to the opportunities for side excursions into scenic wilderness areas such as Shining Rock,Linville Gorge,etc. and the Blacks.If you didn't do side excursions,loops, etc.,exploring the SNP you missed most of the solitude,challenge,water and much of the scenery the park has to offer.
Depending on your timing the Georgia loop which connects the AT,Duncan Ridge and BMT trails into a 55-60 mile loop would offer solitude and challenge even on the AT section and starting and ending at Amicalola would up it to your mileage range.I did the Approach trail(out and back) in November and only saw one day hiker and three bears(all were eager to move on and find solitude).If the thru-hikers are in Ga when you schedule, then the AT section just south of the SNP would offer solitude,scenery, water, and challenge as unlike the AT in the SNP there is more up and down as it drops down to the Tye and James Rivers,the Pedlar Dam/Lynchburg reservoir etc. and there are quite a few waterfalls as well.
As far as the Smokies,I did a few trips there in the 70s starting out so Kevin will know more than I do about that area but you can make loops with the BMT and/or the AT there as well though of course the AT while scenic will have more of the crowded areas particularly during peak thru-hiker season.
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VAN
Trail Wise!
Posts: 133
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Post by VAN on Mar 22, 2017 6:40:31 GMT -8
If you are willing to come to a different ecosystem, think about the northern part of the Florida Trail, or through Ocala National forest  |
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null
Trail Wise!
Posts: 578 
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Post by null on Mar 26, 2017 15:35:43 GMT -8
Although I've never been there, I've heard good things about the Pinhoti Trail
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