A nice, humid day made nicer by two waterfalls. I also left North Carolina again (had no idea that was going to happen), and hiked along the river bank where I saw devastation from Hurricane Helene.
| AT Miles | Triple B Miles | Total AT Miles Hiked | Miles Remaining |
|---|
10
0.4
177.5
2020.9
DAY STATS
| ⏰ TIME TO COMPLETE: 5hrs 10min | 👣 TOTAL MILES TODAY: 10.4 |
| 📍 STARTING POINT: Campbell Hollow Rd | 🤠 MOOD: Neutral |
| 📍 ENDING POINT: FS 293 | 🤕 INJURIES: Hurt Bum |
| 🏔️ ELEVATION GAIN: 1848.4 ft | 🐻 WILDLIFE: None |
| 🏔️ ELEVATION LOSS: 1814.6 ft | 🌡️ WEATHER/TEMP: 75, Sunny, Humid |
| 📐 TOTAL GRADE: 366 ft/mi | 💰 EXPENSES: $100 (Hostel & Dinner) |
Today’s hike took me from Campbell Hollow Rd to FS 293. It was pretty uneventful and not really much to see. I did run into another hiker today. Her trail name is Cub, and like usual, I forgot to take a picture.
We chatted for a while about trail conditions and what to expect along the trail. She is doing a LASH from Damascus to Springer, going SOBO, and I am headed NOBO.
Jones Falls
Jones Falls is the first of two waterfalls I saw today. It is 0.1/mile off the trail, and Cub said it was well worth the detour.
She was right! The 100-foot cascading waterfall was gorgeous, even with the downed trees. I am glad I did this short Triple B.
I couldn’t find any history about these Jones Falls. I assumed there would be all kinds of news stories about injuries and possibly even deaths due to the sign that was posted (and you can just tell how dangerous it would be to try to step on the rocks), but I couldn’t find a single story. Either way, it would be stupid to attempt to climb these falls.
Leaving NC Again!?
So, it turns out Doll Flats is NOT the last time you leave NC. You, in fact, step into NC again for a couple of steps right before you start hiking along Elk River.
Helene Devistation
Speaking of the Elk River, you hike along it for about a mile before you head back up. While much of the debris has been cleaned up, or perhaps it was so overgrown that I couldn’t see it all, there was still a lot there. It was honestly just a little overwhelming. I came across children’s toys, pieces of houses, boots and shoes, and what appears to be part of a shuffleboard.
This material wasn’t just found along the riverbank; it was also visible as you began climbing back up into the trees. It’s almost unbelievable that the water got that high!
Mountaineer Falls
The last waterfall I came to was Mountaineer Falls, and it was a welcome sight. I was super hot, and this one you could easily stand under. I took that opportunity to cool off before finishing the last 4-5 miles.
The rest of the hike was super uneventful.
APPALACHIAN TRAIL DAY 35 VIDEO
AT Gear List
Interested in finding out what I carry on my Appalachian Trail Backpacking Trip? Check out my gear list here:
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