AT Hike: Albert Mt. to Carter Gap

Join me as I hike the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina! 

We’ll meet at the Indian Trail Park and Ride for a carpool departure at 8am. We’ll drive to Clayton, GA for a final pit stop at the Ingles. Once we’re ready, we’ll head towards the Albert Mountain parking area off of FS67 for an 11am hiking time. We’ll take our lunch/water and hike a steep, over 400 feet, half-mile summit of  Albert Mountain and  have lunch at/near the fire tower. Once we are finished eating and taking in the views, we'll head back to our vehicles and get our packs. We’ll hike SOBO to the Carter Gap Shelter where we will make camp for the night. The shelter has a privy and water source that is down a hill. Although we will be camping near a shelter, do not plan on staying in the shelter because the shelter might be filled with thru hikers on the way to Maine. On this day we will hike approximately 6.2 miles with an ascent of 1,200 feet and descent of 1,400 feet. 

For day two, we’ll wake up, make some breakfast, break camp and head back to our cars NOBO. Today, we’ll hike in reverse 6.2 miles with an approximate ascent of 1,400 feet and descent of 800 feet. We actually won’t summit Albert Mountain, unless we want to. Once we reach our cars, we’ll change and head back to the city. 

We’ll hike approximately 12.4 total miles with an ascent of 2,600 feet and descent of 2,200 feet.  

Since this is a D5, you must have prior D4/5 experience or a history of backpacking. The Trip Leader reserves the right to move a participant to the Wait List if they do not have adequate experience.

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Trail Parking- Albert Mountain Summitt via Bear Pen Gap

Parking for the Albert Mountain Fire Tower in North Carolina is available at a small, gravel trailhead parking area located at the end of a forest service road (near FR 67), which provides direct access to a short 0.2-mile hike to the tower via the Appalachian Trail.