AT Hike: Winding Stair Gap to Albert Mountain

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 7am. We’ll drive to Franklin, NC for a final pit stop at the Ingles. Once we’re ready, we’ll head towards the Winding Stair Gap Parking Area and be on the trail by 10am. We’ll hike approximately 3.8 miles (2,080 feet ascent and 1,120 descent) to Rock Gap Shelter and eat our lunch. Once we are finished eating, we’ll head back on the trail and hike 3.5 miles to Long Branch Shelter (1,280 feet ascent, 360 feet descent) where we will make camp before lightening our load and summit Albert Mountain. The shelter has a privy and water source. 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. Once we are set up and ready, we’ll hike 2.5 miles to the summit of Albert Mountain (760 feet ascent, 200 feet descent). After we take in the views, we’ll hike back down to Long Branch Shelter (200 feet ascent, 760 feet descent). At Long Branch Shelter, we’ll cook our dinners and fellowship until we decide to hit our tents/hammocks. Today, we will hike approximately 12 miles with 2,240 feet of ascent and 1,320 feet of descent. 

The next day we will wake up, eat breakfast and break camp and head back to our cars and Winding Stair Gap. We’ll hike approximately 6.9 miles with 1,120 feet of ascent and 2,080 feet of descent.

In total, we will be hiking approximately 20 miles with an ascent and descent of 4,160 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.

Winding Stair Gap, Murphey, NC US64