Fri, Jun 29 2012 - Backpacking Bartram Trail: Nantahala Gorge to Wayah Bald (View Original Event Details)
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So this was a spectacular hard and rewarding backpacking trip. I found the itinerary in backpacker magazine and wanted a challenge for my 40th birthday. Ordered a Topo posted an exploratory and for some reason people signed up:)
DAY 1
After a lot of driving around and finding unmarked FS roads we headed out, all of us loaded down with 10-15 lbs of water in addition to gear. The first day was up some switchback FS roads then into the woods to climb rattlesnake knob. The itinerary called for us camping 4.5 miles in but everyone wanted to make for the river. There were some fast hikers there so I told them to go ahead. The planned next camp was at winter spring bald. The fast hikers took off and I stayed with my wife who was having issues with her feet (too tight boots) we hiked another 3-4 miles along a beautiful river. At some point I decided that the others must have gone to the river behind us for a swim and not left a trail marker, as it was starting to get dark we set camp on a relatively flat spot on the trail and I cooked dinner and took a dip in the nearby river. At this point I thought I might be the only AOC TL to lose 60% of the group but not knowing if they were ahead or behind and with dark closing in I was confident they could weather the night. We went to bed prepared catch up in the morning.
DAY 2
Woke up with the birds around 6:30 made some coffee and broke camp. As you all know it was a record hot weekend and we wanted to get moving while it was cool. At this point I was still convinced the rest of the group was behind us. We hiked another 5 or so miles through rather moderate terrain and estimated we'd get to the next camp around 1 or 2 PM (we were very very wrong). Part of the Bartram carries onto Wylah road where we encountered a store and a dinner. We had lunch at the dinner while keeping an eye out for the people we thought were behind us. After lunch there was much talk about what to do but with no cell service I said we should just stick to the plan and go to winter spring bald. We hiked down the road about .6 miles and then the Bartram goes uphill for about 2600 ft over 5.6 miles. This was the death march. It never really lets up just uphill for all the way. My time based estimation of distance was way off as I think we may have averaged as little as 1mi/h. Around 6PM with night coming on I started to get a bit worried and was exhausted (we'd been hiking with heavy pack for 10hrs). Kathy went ahead of me to escape the horrible gnats that were plaguing us. I was pretty much at the point of exhaustion when I heard voices ahead. That gave me a boost of energy and when I reached the top of the bald there was the group. They had camped only 15 minutes or so ahead of us on fri. So not behind like I had guessed. Thankfully they also stuck to the plan. We had dinner and discussed all the near misses we had. We had even come across their campsite but I decided they must not have slept there as the fire was cold.
DAY 3
Got up around 6:30. Broke camp. Had a light breakfast and hiked around 1.8 miles up the AT to Wyah bald. Went up to the stone fire tower for some view then back to the start with my car where we had a great chat with a forest ranger before heading home.
Epilogue
If something goes wrong stick to the plan. Don't second guess yourself.
Wear you boots loosely.
Adversity makes people more interesting.
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