Amazing Appalachians - Backpacking/Packrafting the AT and Nantahala River

BJett

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May 3, 2013
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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...
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Sassafras Gap shelter on the AT. I stopped here for water and continued another mile to Cheoah Bald
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Cheoah Bald. Camp for the night.
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Not a bad sunrise from the bald
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Thistle, and bees, were everywhere up here
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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 :)
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Cold brew above the clouds
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The great finale. Checking out the clouds at Nantahala Falls after paddling 8 miles.
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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.
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My friend Bethany lines it up...
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About to count fish...
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Oopsie...
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And she's up! Nice roll.
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This trip was a smashing success
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The route
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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. :)
 
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
 
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