Walking the AT requires a project management level of coordinating data and options. Climate is one of the critical inputs. We are all prepared to hike in the rain. We have equipment that can withstand various severe weather events; However, getting caught in a storm is one thing, but it is better to avoid it. Avoidance is a good strategy, as we have heard stories of people who spent many days soaked in water walking into storms. This past week has been frustrating as weather apps have made us change plans several times. The AT is fairly well covered, except in a few spots above 6,000 feet. Now that I’m from California, 6,000 feet is where the summit ridges begin and the mountains rise to 12,000 and 13,000 in many places. In California, however, it is fairly certain that no major fronts will pass through the mountains from June to October, and the hour-long convection-generated thunderstorms that can typically occur in the afternoon are a type of passing event where temporary coverage can be found. The lower elevation of the East Coast gives a false sense of security when in reality the intensity of the storms may seem like they should be lower, but they are not. The amount of moisture that comes with associated humidity, lightning and thunder is more dangerous than it is given credit for. The Appalachian Trail has some very exposed areas where the trail passes just above high elevation bald spots that formed due to many different reasons. There is no rescue coverage and the trail shows no mercy to those caught in a storm in the middle of a bald patch. Currently ahead of us are the last portions of the AT above 6,000 feet all the way to Mount Washington in New Hampshire. We have been on the Nolichucky River, which is about 1300 feet up, since Friday and it has rained every day. As we packed up today, we started at 4000 feet in the fog and wet and had steady rain at the lower elevations. The accuracy of weather reports has been essential in trying to make plans. I use an app that has been accurate in the snow season for finding powder. I spoke to them before my AT adventure and they told me that they keep the app up to date in the summer and that the models are valid. They are proud of their forecasts and the hour-by-hour predictions have been pretty good so far. The trick is to get the location and elevation details close enough to where the app models are tuned from the available weather stations.
The “Stand By Me” trestle train
“Stand By Me” is the name of a coming-of-age film in which, in one scene, a group of children cross a river on the trestle of a train. They had not verified the presence of trains by feeling the vibrations on the rails. They had to jump from the bridge into the river to avoid being hit by an approaching train while they were in the middle of the trestle. The 2024 flood didn’t take out the Nolichucky River train trestle, so I had to go take a look. The trestle is upstream from Uncle Johnnys. It is built with supports and weight-bearing beams much larger than the highway bridge that was washed away. It has to withstand the continuous load of a line of 180,000-pound train cars crossing it. It is also located in a different location relative to the river flow dynamics than where the destroyed highway bridge was located. Now, when I was looking at the bridge, the photo below shows me at the public right-of-way railroad crossing. I wouldn’t want to trespass the trestle as the locals who told me about the bridge mentioned that it is dangerous to think about using it to cross the river. It is followed closely. It creates a temptation as it connects the north side of the AT to the south side where Uncle Johnny’s is located.
The Wonderful Smoothie
After the Slack Pack train trestle adventure. The usual 4pm shuttle took several of us into town for dinner. I chose to try the Groovy Smoothie. It was amazing. A fantastic red fruit salad and a “Mystery Machine” smoothie. The ingredients list is «trust us.» And to top it all off, Scooby Doo was playing in the video.
Roan Highlands
Patience paid off. We arrived in the highlands on the perfect day. We are truly blessed. Words cannot describe the views of the balds. It looked like a scene from the Lord of the Rings movies where the Riders of Rohan charged on horseback over endless mountain fields like the balds of Roan Highland. What you can’t see in the pictures below is the way the green and gold bald grasses swayed in the wind. The windrows really inspired the feeling of “amber waves of grain.” Here are some images below as words really don’t do it justice. The bald guys played the guitar a lot. Simply the best views from Springer.
This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!
For more information, visit the About page of this site.
