{"id":747,"date":"2017-09-19T01:59:50","date_gmt":"2017-09-19T01:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/?p=747"},"modified":"2017-09-19T12:47:55","modified_gmt":"2017-09-19T12:47:55","slug":"hump-hike-17-30-miles-from-noc-to-fontana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/2017\/09\/19\/hump-hike-17-30-miles-from-noc-to-fontana\/","title":{"rendered":"Highlander Hump Hike 2017. 30 Miles from NOC to Fontana"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A well deserved rest after day 2 and the infamous Jacob’s Ladder ascent.<\/p>\n

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This is Cheoah Bald which was gained after one of the most grueling climbs on the whole Appalachian Trail.<\/p>\n

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Take note of the elevation gains here. \u00a0It is approximately 20,000 feet up and down. \u00a0That comes to 666 feet per mile, which make this the fifth most difficult section of the entire Appalachian Trail. \u00a0https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/seven-hardest-day-hikes-appalachian-trail<\/a><\/p>\n

The Southernhighlander Hump hike was a tradition I started many years ago. \u00a0Back in the day I took a bunch of newbies who were green to hiking on their first multi day trip. \u00a0This year, I was a guest of Frank and invited AJ and Bill P. AJ is not a newbie but Bill is taking to the trail as if he has been doing it all his life. \u00a0The last couple of years have found Frank and I completing section hikes of the AT. \u00a0The completion of this section gives me all the AT from Dick’s Creek Gap to Damascus Virginia. \u00a0All I lack is from Springer Mtn, GA to Dick’s Creek, which Frank has already completed.<\/p>\n

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This is straight up out of the NOC in Wesser, where we ended last Fall. \u00a0Look at the elevation profile on this stretch.<\/p>\n

\"first\u00a0 It was as grueling as the chart indicates. \u00a0We hobbled into Locust Cove in varying states of disrepair.<\/p>\n

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(the Jump Up, a celebrated photo spot on the climb)<\/p>\n

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And this little guy was willing to do it.<\/p>\n

\"tn_P1070745\"\u00a0I needed a little talk with Treebeard. \u00a0He advised me to keep moving.<\/p>\n

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Far be it for me to ignore the sage wisdom of a tree.<\/p>\n

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A couple of things happened at Locust Cove. \u00a0AJ made a valiant and triumphant entry in great time before dusk.<\/p>\n

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As a result, I was forced to build a fire. \u00a0Said fire drew our only companions of the trip.<\/p>\n

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this is Hot Pants, or as I called him, Hot britches, and Home Ec, a couple of SOBO thru-hikers from Vermont.<\/p>\n

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And this is YO-YO photo bombing Hot Britches and Home Ec. \u00a0Home Ec has an interesting story about her trail name that involves sewing while in a shelter. \u00a0I found it quite original. Hot Britches, not so much. \u00a0Great people, though. \u00a018 miles they did this day.<\/p>\n

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Do you like Yo-Yo’s tarptent? \u00a0I do. \u00a0It is a sub two pound beast.<\/p>\n

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And there is my sad sack shelter. \u00a0During the night, we were bothered by a Bigfoot who ascended an oak and started throwing things during the night. \u00a0No kidding. \u00a0Some animal, very large, climbed in a nearby tree and raised cane all night long, throwing things down and keeping us all awake. \u00a0But not AJ. \u00a0I can assure you he was unbothered.<\/p>\n

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Saturday morning dawned beautifully as did all weather on this trip. \u00a0We were blessed. \u00a0Big miles awaited, about 12 or so. \u00a0And we needed to climb Jacob’s Ladder. \u00a0This is one of the steepest climbs I can remember along the AT. \u00a0It reminds me of the backside of Jenkins Ridge in the Smokies.<\/p>\n

\"Image-1499678510\"\u00a0 Look at this climb on Jacob’s Ladder. \u00a0We took a breather at Bown Fork<\/p>\n

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Gap shelter where acorns exploded like grenades on the tin roof.<\/p>\n

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AJ and Bill came rolling in with celerity, unphased by the climb.<\/p>\n

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Saturday was getting longer by the minute with this section proving unrelenting in its offerings to this Hump Hiking group. \u00a0But we made it across Cody Gap, a beautiful spot and back down for the final climb into Cable Gap.<\/p>\n

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We were alone here and in good spirits. \u00a0A peaceful evening awaited.<\/p>\n

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Yo Yo and Otis share a warming blaze and are soon to link arms and join in a heartening and classic Highlander spiritual entitled “Camptown Ladies”. AJ still thinks that he can somehow negotiate a raise by repping for his employer, Octonorm. \u00a0I can tell you that AJ is a lot of remarkable things, but “norm” is not one.<\/p>\n

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Bill is not disappointed with the decision to lug a chair. \u00a0Some things justify their weight. \u00a0My pack was hovering around 25 lbs without water. \u00a0These guys were toting 36 lbs easy. \u00a0I am very impressed with both Bill and AJ and their perseverance and fortitude. This was Bill’s second or third backpacking experience and I can safely say it is in his blood. \u00a0AJ is an old hat and Frank is the ultralight king.<\/p>\n

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Cable Gap is a nice spot with a privy. \u00a0And it was not Livvid.<\/p>\n

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Forest Bathing is my new sport and I got three days worth. \u00a0Ever notice how, when you have been out in the woods on a journey such as this, when you return to work, how cleansed your body and soul feels as a result? \u00a0We burned a crap ton of calories and went through gallons of water each. \u00a0That alone is a purification ritual. \u00a0But to exist on the cusp of Autumn in the shadow of Fontana in the heart of Nantahala in mid September when the days breathe whispers of impending dew? \u00a0That is about as close to Heaven as we can ever expect on this troubled earth.<\/p>\n

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Hints of our objective beckoned as Lake Fontana peeped from her watery lair.<\/p>\n

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I couldn’t have asked for more, other than perhaps to have had Laurel there. \u00a0She is now with power in Florida following the big weather event. \u00a0We experienced blowdowns from the residue but nothing overly significant. \u00a0No yellow jackets and surprisingly no snakes. \u00a0That is remarkable. \u00a0Many thanks to Frank, AJ and Bill P for a great memory. I now have an even 400 miles of Appalachian Trail completed. \u00a0Want to see how many you have done? \u00a0Use this handy tool. \u00a0http:\/\/www.atdist.com\/atdist<\/a><\/p>\n

—Buff.<\/p>\n

p.s. \u00a0It’s coming. \u00a0Gonna be a good one.<\/p>\n

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A well deserved rest after day 2 and the infamous Jacob’s Ladder ascent. This is Cheoah Bald which was gained after one of the most grueling climbs on the whole Appalachian Trail. Take note of the elevation gains here. \u00a0It … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=747"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":783,"href":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747\/revisions\/783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southernhighlanders.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}