Pickens Nose and Albert Mtn from the Upper Nantahala River

We will begin the hike next to the Nantahala River. The trail generally follows a rushing creek, has beautiful scenery, and has a moderate amount of ascent (~1,000 ft) over it's 2.5 mile length. There are a number of small creek crossings along the route. When we reach the AT, we will hike on it for about 1/2 mi, with 500 additional feet of ascent, until we reach the summit of Albert Mtn. Albert Mtn stands at 5,250 ft, and has spectacular 360 deg views from the fire tower located on it's summit.

After spending a little time on Albert Mtn, we will hike south on the AT a couple miles unitl reaching Mooney Gap. At Mooney Gap, we will hike the forest service rd for less than a mile until reaching the Pickens Nose trail-head. We will then hike the .75 mi Pickens Nose trail, and explore numerous short side trails with fantastic views. After spending some time exploring and enjoying the views from Pickens Nose, we will return to the cars the way we came.

This hike will be 11-12 miles and has over 3,000 feet of ascent. If you do not have previous D4 or higher hiking experience with the club, your trip leader may be contacting you to determine if this hike is appropriate for you.

Note: I have not hiked any of these trails, which is why the hike is listed as 'exploratory'. I've done my homework, will have maps, compass, and GPS in hand, so there shouldn't be any issues.