Smoky Mountains Insanity! Charles Bunion + Mt. Leconte

(Promo photo courtesy of Denise Millon and Geri Dominguez)

This has a ton of driving and is also a shuttle hike to add some variety.  We will probably get back to Atlanta between 9pm - 10pm.

We will try to hike at least 3mph to keep the pace going.  If you cannot maintain this pace for 20 miles, you probably should not sign up.  Also, if you have no recent difficult AOC hikes on your resume, I have the right to keep you on the Wait List and promote others who have experience.  We must stick together for safety reasons due to high bear activity this time of year.

We leave the carpool at 6:00 am and head North for 3 hours.  Drop off everyone at the Newfound Gap parking lot on HWY 441.  Take all vehicles and park them at Alum Cave Trailhead.  Take one back with all drivers to NewFound Gap and begin the hike, hopefully starting our hike no later than 9:30 am.

Head north on the AT for about 1.7 miles, then veer right onto the Sweet Heifer Creek Trail.  Hike for another 3.5 miles and we will arrive at the Kephart Shelter.  We take a quick break, then proceed onto the Grassy Branch Trail.  After 2.5 miles and an 1800-foot climb, we will turn left onto Dry Sluice Gap Trail.  After 1.3 miles we join the AT and reach Charlies Bunion where we can rest for a bit and have lunch. 

After enjoying the view, we quickly turn around and head south on the AT to Icewater Spring Shelter.  Shortly after we take the Boulevard Trail (taking a quick stop to "The Jumpoff" along the way) up to Mt. Leconte, a historic and cool mountain resort with a restaurant and cabins.  We will rest up and look around, then head down the Alum Cave Trail back to the cars (I'd like to be finished by 6:00 pm at the latest).  We will most likely stop somewhere on the way back to have a quick meal, hence this will be a full but fun day.

Looking at several maps from other sites, I estimate this will be right around 20 miles with over 4000 feet of elevation gain, hence the D6 rating.  If the mileage or elevation turns out to be less, I will adjust the D-Level accordingly, but I feel that these numbers are fairly accurate.  Plan to be prepared for a long day of hiking.  

From Indian Trail, take I-85 North to I-985 North.

I-985 North eventually becomes Lanier Pkwy, which becomes US-23, which becomes to US-441.

The GPS coordinates and location of the Newfound Gap Parking Lot is approximately:

U.S. 441
Bryson City, NC 28713
35.611052, -83.425662

No dogs allowed for this event.