Amazing Appalachians - Backpacking/Packrafting the AT and Nantahala River

[BJett]

I've been mapping out a lot of packrafting linkups in the southeast this year in Kentucky and Tennessee...Red River Gorge, Big South Fork, Obed area...but I've had my eye on a few further east in North Carolina. I generally avoid the Appalachian Trail but on this trip it was a means to an end. Starting at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in the Nantahala National Forest I hiked UP a steep 8 mile section of the AT to 5,080' Cheoah Bald and setup camp with an incredible view. After waking up above the clouds I began the 6 mile descent down the Bartram Trail to the Nantahala River, which conveniently ended up right at the put-in for the popular gorge section. I met up with a friend here and we paddled 8 miles of river back to the car at the NOC. The river is cold dam release class 2 with one class 3 at the end, Nantahala Falls. We used to run this section all the time back in the day in kayaks, this was my first in a packraft.

The beginning...

Sassafras Gap shelter on the AT. I stopped here for water and continued another mile to Cheoah Bald

Cheoah Bald. Camp for the night.

Not a bad sunrise from the bald

Thistle, and bees, were everywhere up here

Zpack tents are great...ultralight and you can use trekking poles if you forget the tent poles. And if you forget both like I did, just use a breakdown paddle

Cold brew above the clouds

The great finale. Checking out the clouds at Nantahala Falls after paddling 8 miles.

Good line at the falls. I paddled my new Alpacka Refuge, the lightest whitewater packraft they make. Added thigh straps and a foot brace to make it more sporty, and it still weighs in under 6 pounds.

My friend Bethany lines it up...

About to count fish...

Oopsie...

And she's up! Nice roll.

This trip was a smashing success

The route

 

[wsp_scott]

looks like a great couple of days

I usually avoid the AT as well, but I've thought about doing a piece through NC to check out the balds.

 

[BJett]

looks like a great couple of days

I usually avoid the AT as well, but I've thought about doing a piece through NC to check out the balds.

I only saw 4 people, but it was mid week.
If you can avoid weekends this fall, the Art Loeb section 3 in the Shining Rock Wilderness is like backpacking for miles on a bald. Views forever up there.
a lot of the best parts of NC are getting hit hard with crowds these days.

 

[zionsky]

Great report and photos. Brings back memories of doing the nantahala in my teens. I don't remember exactly where we put in but the river was pretty calm.

 

[BJett]

Great report and photos. Brings back memories of doing the nantahala in my teens. I don't remember exactly where we put in but the river was pretty calm.

There are two sections, the Cascades above the gorge are class 4-5 but only run when they release extra water from the dam. The regular section is chill class 2 with the fun class 3 falls at the end. Its always fun to hang out there and watch the carnage.

 

[wsp_scott]

I only saw 4 people, but it was mid week.
If you can avoid weekends this fall, the Art Loeb section 3 in the Shining Rock Wilderness is like backpacking for miles on a bald. Views forever up there.
a lot of the best parts of NC are getting hit hard with crowds these days.

4 people is awesome.
I keep meaning to get back to Shining Rock Wilderness, I think this just moved it back to the top for November, unfortunately it would be a weekend trip so there will be other people, but maybe the potential cold weather will thin the crowds a bit