BJett
Member
- Joined
- May 3, 2013
- Messages
- 564
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...
![IMG_1625.jpg IMG_1625.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112769-b687077b944ba590847417cb5200306b.jpg)
Sassafras Gap shelter on the AT. I stopped here for water and continued another mile to Cheoah Bald
![IMG_1629.jpg IMG_1629.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112770-994ecd80d74179fc9e5db709ec150866.jpg)
Cheoah Bald. Camp for the night.
![2A4A2253.jpg 2A4A2253.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112771-422a28403431a7b606a36d55458c6bbb.jpg)
Not a bad sunrise from the bald
![2A4A2268.jpg 2A4A2268.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112772-9f2855333c3934de5f8528572668e4ff.jpg)
![2A4A2280.jpg 2A4A2280.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112773-14c3fc43e1fcdf7b33a5d519cc7b60e3.jpg)
Thistle, and bees, were everywhere up here
![IMG_1640.jpg IMG_1640.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112774-44fb76a683051cb7c69407a018ed8d37.jpg)
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![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![IMG_1650.jpg IMG_1650.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112775-bcfac7ceba385991a35485479aaffebe.jpg)
Cold brew above the clouds
![2A4A2313.jpg 2A4A2313.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112776-00d8a4262c860f066bdaae3448bf355f.jpg)
The great finale. Checking out the clouds at Nantahala Falls after paddling 8 miles.
![7aqGPyp5Ka9ve.jpg 7aqGPyp5Ka9ve.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112777-7e52eb15db55131069bec94038fe8a8c.jpg)
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.
![IMG_0371.JPG IMG_0371.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112778-5c867e4e05b6a01fa695e5365402eeb5.jpg)
My friend Bethany lines it up...
![IMG_0380.JPG IMG_0380.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112779-7c12ccb50c7de327712ea4edc7ad8e44.jpg)
About to count fish...
![IMG_0382.JPG IMG_0382.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112780-65c43013a1b8562efc68397ea517fcd3.jpg)
Oopsie...
![aRL2rw21Q2zG1.jpg aRL2rw21Q2zG1.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112782-9f96d45b42daf09fc131e0d3c849ec12.jpg)
And she's up! Nice roll.
![rD9qO0ww3nyb2.jpg rD9qO0ww3nyb2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112783-899c0321fdac10550e42ef1c0a14b942.jpg)
This trip was a smashing success
![IMG_1665.jpg IMG_1665.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112784-365c9118d3e5005e12bc30fe1ab8cabf.jpg)
The route
![nanty.jpg nanty.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112785-3e0f641907cab86e6edef3efa822574f.jpg)
The beginning...
![IMG_1625.jpg IMG_1625.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112769-b687077b944ba590847417cb5200306b.jpg)
Sassafras Gap shelter on the AT. I stopped here for water and continued another mile to Cheoah Bald
![IMG_1629.jpg IMG_1629.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112770-994ecd80d74179fc9e5db709ec150866.jpg)
Cheoah Bald. Camp for the night.
![2A4A2253.jpg 2A4A2253.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112771-422a28403431a7b606a36d55458c6bbb.jpg)
Not a bad sunrise from the bald
![2A4A2268.jpg 2A4A2268.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112772-9f2855333c3934de5f8528572668e4ff.jpg)
![2A4A2280.jpg 2A4A2280.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112773-14c3fc43e1fcdf7b33a5d519cc7b60e3.jpg)
Thistle, and bees, were everywhere up here
![IMG_1640.jpg IMG_1640.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112774-44fb76a683051cb7c69407a018ed8d37.jpg)
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
![IMG_1650.jpg IMG_1650.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112775-bcfac7ceba385991a35485479aaffebe.jpg)
Cold brew above the clouds
![2A4A2313.jpg 2A4A2313.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112776-00d8a4262c860f066bdaae3448bf355f.jpg)
The great finale. Checking out the clouds at Nantahala Falls after paddling 8 miles.
![7aqGPyp5Ka9ve.jpg 7aqGPyp5Ka9ve.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112777-7e52eb15db55131069bec94038fe8a8c.jpg)
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.
![IMG_0371.JPG IMG_0371.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112778-5c867e4e05b6a01fa695e5365402eeb5.jpg)
My friend Bethany lines it up...
![IMG_0380.JPG IMG_0380.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112779-7c12ccb50c7de327712ea4edc7ad8e44.jpg)
About to count fish...
![IMG_0382.JPG IMG_0382.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112780-65c43013a1b8562efc68397ea517fcd3.jpg)
Oopsie...
![aRL2rw21Q2zG1.jpg aRL2rw21Q2zG1.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112782-9f96d45b42daf09fc131e0d3c849ec12.jpg)
And she's up! Nice roll.
![rD9qO0ww3nyb2.jpg rD9qO0ww3nyb2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112783-899c0321fdac10550e42ef1c0a14b942.jpg)
This trip was a smashing success
![IMG_1665.jpg IMG_1665.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112784-365c9118d3e5005e12bc30fe1ab8cabf.jpg)
The route
![nanty.jpg nanty.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/112/112785-3e0f641907cab86e6edef3efa822574f.jpg)