Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Packing List
Itinerary
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Drive or fly into Asheville Airport (AVL).
The best time to arrive is between around 9AM-1PM, earlier is generally better.
Asheville is a small airport so flights may be limited. If you have to arrive
later that may be fine as long as the group can leave Asheville by around 4PM.
Call or text us and we will pick you up and take you to a local hotel where we will assemble
-- hotel TBD
You should have already done an online shakedown pre-trip, but guides will still ask you a few
questions and give you a "mini equipment shakedown"
Make your own trail mix from our selection of nuts, fruits and sweets
Go to
Diamond Brand Outdoor Shop,
2623 Hendersonville Rd. • Arden, NC 28704 • 800-459-6262 • info@diamondbrand.com for last minute equipment if necessary
"Before" body composition measurements taken
All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.
Shuttle to Big Creek frontcountry campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
stopping for dinner at a local restaurant along the way (Dinner cost not included in trip price)
Front Country camp at Big Creek Campground, site(s) TBD, elevation 1700’
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Begin hiking on the Big Creek Trail for 5.1 miles past Midnight Hole Falls and Mouse Creek Falls to
campsite #37 (Big Creek Campsite)
Camp at the Big Creek Campsite #37, elevation 3700'
Miles today: 5.1. Total miles: 5.1
Possible bailout: Big Creek Campground
Monday, October 23, 2023
Hike 4.2 uphill miles on the Swallow fork Trail to the junction with the Mt. Sterling Trail
at Pretty Hollow Gap, elevation 5150''
This is a great place to take a break
Turn right onto the Mt. Sterling Trail and hike 4.1 enjoyable miles along a remarkably level ridge line
to the junction with the Balsam Mt Trail, elevation 5500'
Hike 0.2 downhill miles to the Laurel Gap shelter
Camp at the Laurel Gap Shelter, elevation 5460’
Miles today 8.5, total 13.6
Possible bailout: Cataloochee or Balsam Mtn Road.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Hike 0.2 uphill miles on the Balsam Mt Trail back to the junction with the Mt. Sterling Trail,
elevation 5500'
Keep left on the Balsam Mt Trail and hike 5.8 cumulatively uphill miles to the junction with the AT
(Appalachian Trail), elevation 5950'
Turn left on the AT and hike 0.2 miles to the Tricorner Knob shelter on the AT, elevation 5920'
Camp at Tricorner Knob shelter, elevation 5920'
Miles today: 6.2, total 19.8
Possible bailout: Balsam Mtn Road or Cosby campground
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Hike 3.0 mostly undulating miles on the AT over Mt. Guyot to the Snake Den Ridge Trail,
elevation 5750'
Hike 3.0 downhill miles to the Camel Gap Trail junction, elevation 4700'
Hike 1.7 uphill miles to the Cosby Knob shelter
Camp at the Cosby Knob Shelter, elevation 5800'
Miles today: 7.7, total 27.5
Possible bailout: Cosby campground
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Hike 0.9 downhill miles (500') on the AT to Low Gap, elevation ?'
Hike 2.1 uphill miles (800') on the AT to the junction with the Mt Cammerer Trail, elevation 4900'
Drop packs and day-hike 1.2 round trip miles to the Mt. Cammerer fire tower for
sweeping views of the Eastern side of the Smokies, elevation 4928'
Retrieve packs and hike 4.2 steadily dowhill miles to the Davenport Gap shelter
Camp at Davenport Gap shelter, elevation 2600'
Miles today: 8.4. Total miles: 35.9
Possible bailout: Big Creek campground or Davenport Gap.
Friday, October 27, 2023
Hike 1.0 miles on the AT back to the Chestnut Branch Trail, elevation 2900'
Hike 2.1 dowhill miles on the Chestnut Branch Trail to the Big Creek Trail and our vehicles,
elevation 1700'
End of hiking
Possible bailout:
Miles today: 3.1. Total miles: 39.0
Shuttle back to our local hotel
TBD
Your off-trail items will be retrieved from storage
After body composition measurements taken
Dinner and awards Ceremony (Dinner cost not included in trip price)
This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at
the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew
and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if
this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.
Saturday, October 28, 2023
We will drop you at the Airport or pay for a shared cab / Uber
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