14 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - NORTH CAROLINA - Sección 5. De Nantahala River, Wesser, a Cheoah Bald y Stecoah Gap, ruta US-143
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 14.36 mi
- Elevation gain
- 5,663 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 4,767 ft
- Max elevation
- 5,085 ft
- TrailRank
-
89
5
- Min elevation
- 1,617 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 9 hours 3 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1936
- Uploaded
- April 1, 2016
- Recorded
- April 2016
near Wesser, North Carolina (United States)
Viewed 1193 times, downloaded 25 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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Stage 14
⇐ Link to previous stage: 13 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - NORTH CAROLINA - Section 6.1 - From the Wesser Bald Shelter to the Nantahala River, Wesser, NC
⇒ Link to the next stage: 15 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - NORTH CAROLINA - Sections 4 and 3. From Stecoah Gap to Little Tennessee River, Fontana Dam
⇒ Link to the complete itinerary in North Carolina: 257.5 km - Appalachian Trail in the State of North Carolina (complete itinerary)
Tour of the Appalachian Trail (Appalachian Trail) as it passes through the state of North Carolina (United States), in a south to north direction, from the Nantahala River, Wesser, NC, to the intersection of the trail with the NC route -143, in Stecoah Gap, still inside the Nantahala National Forest .
The stage corresponds to section 5, according to the official distribution of sections of the Appalachian Trail, in the states of Georgia and North Carolina.
We begin the tour at the edge of the Nantahala River, at the magnificent facilities of the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) , in Wesser, NC, at the confluence of the trail with US-19, at about 1,723 feet above sea level (AT mile 137, from Springer, Ga.).
Start of the stage. Nantahala River. Nantahala River Outdoor Center (NOC)
The maps of the day anticipate that the first four hours of walking will be hard, since we will have to overcome a drop of about 3,500 feet, to reach the two most important summits of the day: Swim Bald (4,710 feet) and Cheoah Bald. (5,062 feet). For this reason, we left early, before dawn, covering the first stretch with spotlights. Slow, short and constant step.
The first breath of the climb is provided to us, after 2 km. walking, the Wright Gap (2,390 feet) , with just over half a kilometer of almost flat trail, but we quickly resumed the ascent of another kilometer and a half, towards Grassy Gap (3,050 feet).
Wright Gap
There is quite a lot of fog trapped in the valleys, after a rainy and stormy night, and as we go up we get above the low cloud layer, which makes it difficult to see the beautiful surrounding valleys.
About two miles past the Grassy Gap ridge, ever-continuingly up, and leaving behind continuous small streams and forests of rhododendrons, mountain laurel, and other shrubs reminiscent of the tropical rain forest, we reach the place known as The Jump-up . , with magnificent views of the Nantahala River Gorges (Nantahala Gorge).
the sun rises It looks like a tropical jungle
The Jump up. Panoramic view of the Nantahala River Valley
A little further on, just over a half mile from The Jump-up, the top of Swimp Bald disappoints a bit, as it doesn't offer wide, unobstructed views, as one would expect for its altitude (4,710 feet). From there, the trail descends moderately to the Sassafras Gap, and a short distance from it, the Sassafras Gap Shelter , a shelter built in 2002, with capacity for 14 people.
From Sassafras Gap, the trail resumes its ascent for another two kilometers, to overcome the 500-foot drop that still separates us from the summit of Cheoah Bald (5,062 feet) .
Summit of Cheoad Bald (5,062 ft)
The summit offers spectacular unobstructed views both to the south and east (Nantahala Gorge) and north and west (Great Smoky Mountains), and is the end point of the Bartram Trail , a major 125 km trail. longitude that from this place goes towards the west, through the states of North Carolina and Georgia.
Top of the Cheoad Bald. Panoramic views
The descent from the Checoah Bald into the Stecoah Valley across the ridge that bounded Cherokee territory in the early 19th century is gradual, though it presents some steep, stony, and muddy sections, with several small hills that at one point Continuous ups and downs they discover us, among the trees and in the distance, the meadows, cultivated fields and small farms of Stecoah.
Stony area on the descent
At the Stecoah Gap , the end point of the journey, there is ample parking, with picnic tables, and the trail intersects US-143. From there you can get supplies in the town of Robbinsville, NC, located 10 miles to the west, although the closest town of Stecoah, 3 miles to the east, also offers some services, among others, lodging.
Stecoah Gap. Intersection of the trail with US-143. End of the stage. A group of volunteers awaits the arrival of the hikers, to offer help, water, fruit...
Typically, hostels and hostels in the area offer free shuttle service to and from the Stecoah Gap. The Cabin in the Woods is a good option.
PPI Index: 107 HKG
Total distance: 21.93 km
Desn. cumulative ascent: 1368.69 m
Desn. accumulated descent: 931.99 m
Maximum height: 1530.2 m
Minimum height: 523.9 m
Total time: 9:03:16 h
Moving time: 7:40:36 h
Stopped time: 1:22:40 h
Total average speed: 2.42 km/h
Average moving speed: 2.86 km/h
IBP index. IBP index is an automatic assessment system that rates the difficulty of a route traveled
⇐ Link to previous stage: 13 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - NORTH CAROLINA - Section 6.1 - From the Wesser Bald Shelter to the Nantahala River, Wesser, NC
⇒ Link to the next stage: 15 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - NORTH CAROLINA - Sections 4 and 3. From Stecoah Gap to Little Tennessee River, Fontana Dam
⇒ Link to the complete itinerary in North Carolina: 257.5 km - Appalachian Trail in the State of North Carolina (complete itinerary)
Tour of the Appalachian Trail (Appalachian Trail) as it passes through the state of North Carolina (United States), in a south to north direction, from the Nantahala River, Wesser, NC, to the intersection of the trail with the NC route -143, in Stecoah Gap, still inside the Nantahala National Forest .
The stage corresponds to section 5, according to the official distribution of sections of the Appalachian Trail, in the states of Georgia and North Carolina.
We begin the tour at the edge of the Nantahala River, at the magnificent facilities of the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) , in Wesser, NC, at the confluence of the trail with US-19, at about 1,723 feet above sea level (AT mile 137, from Springer, Ga.).
Start of the stage. Nantahala River. Nantahala River Outdoor Center (NOC)
The maps of the day anticipate that the first four hours of walking will be hard, since we will have to overcome a drop of about 3,500 feet, to reach the two most important summits of the day: Swim Bald (4,710 feet) and Cheoah Bald. (5,062 feet). For this reason, we left early, before dawn, covering the first stretch with spotlights. Slow, short and constant step.
The first breath of the climb is provided to us, after 2 km. walking, the Wright Gap (2,390 feet) , with just over half a kilometer of almost flat trail, but we quickly resumed the ascent of another kilometer and a half, towards Grassy Gap (3,050 feet).
Wright Gap
There is quite a lot of fog trapped in the valleys, after a rainy and stormy night, and as we go up we get above the low cloud layer, which makes it difficult to see the beautiful surrounding valleys.
About two miles past the Grassy Gap ridge, ever-continuingly up, and leaving behind continuous small streams and forests of rhododendrons, mountain laurel, and other shrubs reminiscent of the tropical rain forest, we reach the place known as The Jump-up . , with magnificent views of the Nantahala River Gorges (Nantahala Gorge).
the sun rises It looks like a tropical jungle
The Jump up. Panoramic view of the Nantahala River Valley
A little further on, just over a half mile from The Jump-up, the top of Swimp Bald disappoints a bit, as it doesn't offer wide, unobstructed views, as one would expect for its altitude (4,710 feet). From there, the trail descends moderately to the Sassafras Gap, and a short distance from it, the Sassafras Gap Shelter , a shelter built in 2002, with capacity for 14 people.
From Sassafras Gap, the trail resumes its ascent for another two kilometers, to overcome the 500-foot drop that still separates us from the summit of Cheoah Bald (5,062 feet) .
Summit of Cheoad Bald (5,062 ft)
The summit offers spectacular unobstructed views both to the south and east (Nantahala Gorge) and north and west (Great Smoky Mountains), and is the end point of the Bartram Trail , a major 125 km trail. longitude that from this place goes towards the west, through the states of North Carolina and Georgia.
Top of the Cheoad Bald. Panoramic views
The descent from the Checoah Bald into the Stecoah Valley across the ridge that bounded Cherokee territory in the early 19th century is gradual, though it presents some steep, stony, and muddy sections, with several small hills that at one point Continuous ups and downs they discover us, among the trees and in the distance, the meadows, cultivated fields and small farms of Stecoah.
Stony area on the descent
At the Stecoah Gap , the end point of the journey, there is ample parking, with picnic tables, and the trail intersects US-143. From there you can get supplies in the town of Robbinsville, NC, located 10 miles to the west, although the closest town of Stecoah, 3 miles to the east, also offers some services, among others, lodging.
Stecoah Gap. Intersection of the trail with US-143. End of the stage. A group of volunteers awaits the arrival of the hikers, to offer help, water, fruit...
Typically, hostels and hostels in the area offer free shuttle service to and from the Stecoah Gap. The Cabin in the Woods is a good option.
PPI Index: 107 HKG
Total distance: 21.93 km
Desn. cumulative ascent: 1368.69 m
Desn. accumulated descent: 931.99 m
Maximum height: 1530.2 m
Minimum height: 523.9 m
Total time: 9:03:16 h
Moving time: 7:40:36 h
Stopped time: 1:22:40 h
Total average speed: 2.42 km/h
Average moving speed: 2.86 km/h
IBP index. IBP index is an automatic assessment system that rates the difficulty of a route traveled
Waypoints
River
1,798 ft
Inicio de la etapa. Nantahala River. Nantahala River Outdoor Center (NOC)
Inicio de la etapa. Nantahala River. Nantahala River Outdoor Center (NOC)
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Intersection
2,994 ft
Intersección del AT con el Grassy Gap Trail
Intersección del AT con el Grassy Gap Trail
Fountain
Panorama
3,667 ft
Vista panorámica y sendero. El valle con nubes
Vista panorámica y sendero. El valle con nubes
Panorama
3,830 ft
The Jump-up. Vista panorámica del valle del río Nantahala
The Jump-up. Vista panorámica del valle del río Nantahala
Summit
Wilderness hut
Mountain pass
Photo
3,905 ft
Pequeña colina y vistas del valle de Stecoah
Pequeña colina y vistas del valle de Stecoah
Intersection
3,273 ft
Stecoah Gap. Intersección del sendero con la ruta US-143. Fin de la etapa
Stecoah Gap. Intersection of the path with the US-143 route. End of the stage
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Comments (5)
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Maravilla de sendero https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-outdoor/14-appalachian-trail-north-carolina-seccion-5-de-nantahala-river-wesser-a-cheoah-bald-y-stecoah-gap-12786298#wp-12786305/photo-7904386
Una pasada https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-outdoor/14-appalachian-trail-north-carolina-seccion-5-de-nantahala-river-wesser-a-cheoah-bald-y-stecoah-gap-12786298#wp-12786307/photo-7904411
Ahora todo el mundo se altera !!! https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/14-appalachian-trail-north-carolina-seccion-5-de-nantahala-river-wesser-a-cheoah-bald-y-stecoah-gap-12786298/photo-7903056
Fantástico !!! https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-outdoor/14-appalachian-trail-north-carolina-seccion-5-de-nantahala-river-wesser-a-cheoah-bald-y-stecoah-gap-12786298#wp-12786300/photo-7903028
Un excelente recorrido. Muy buena descripción. Muchas gracias