15 Miles/Day

Download Excel File: 2012 PlanNobo15.xlsx

NOBO plan @15 miles per day                        (last update 2/6/2010)				theATguide.com
				Re-	Elevation		Avg	Tot.
Day	Mi.	Destination	Comments	supply	gain	loss	mi/day	mi.
1	7.8	Hawk Mtn Shelter			1181	1763	7.8	7.8
2	8.7	Gooch Gap	Tenting		2266	2682	8.3	16.5
3	14.2	Neels Gap	Mountain Crossings.  Hostel, meals, resupply shower.  Send home what you don’t need.	2	3762	3421	10.2	30.7
4	10.8	Low Gap Shelter			2814	2889	10.4	41.5
5	15.0	Tray Mtn Shelter			4669	3519	11.3	56.5
6	11.0	Hiawassee	Hitch to town from Dick’s Creek Gap or two hostel choices	2	2436	3961	11.3	67.5
7	11.8	Muskrat Creek Shelter	Tough climb up from Dick’s Creek Gap; enter North Carolina		4079	2154	11.3	79.3
8	12.5	Carter Gap Shelters			2606	2666	11.5	91.8
9	15.9	Franklin, NC	Via Winding Stair Gap.  Albert Mtn 6.2 miles into the day.	2	3085	3775	12.0	107.7
10	11.0	Wayah Shelter			3147	2187	11.9	118.7
11	10.6	Wesser Bald Shelter	Alternate:  Hike 5.7 more miles to NOC		2361	3056	11.8	129.3
12	12.6	Sassafrass Gap Shelter	Stop at NOC for lunch and resupply.	1	3449	3234	11.8	141.9
13	15.2	Cable Gap Shelter			3271	4721	12.1	157.1
14	6.6	Fontana Dam Shelter	Alternates:  Stay at Fontana Village (call for ride from AT Crossing reception center) or Hike Inn (call for ride from Visitor’s Center).  Otherwise hitch to Fontana Village for resupply.  Fill out park permit.	4	1344	2449	11.7	163.7
15	13.8	Russell Field Shelter	Long Climb up from Dam		4805	2220	11.8	177.5
16	14.7	Silers Bald Shelter			4248	3148	12.0	192.2	Smoky Mtns
17	15.5	Icewater Spring Shelter	Alternate: Hitch to Gatlinburg from Newfound Gap at 12.5 mi.		3517	3057	12.2	207.7
18	12.6	Tricorner Knob Shelter			3012	3012	12.2	220.3
19	18.1	Standing Bear Hstl	Minimal supplies avail; use maildrop	1	2585	6705	12.5	238.4
20	15.4	Roaring Fork Shelter			5196	3046	12.7	253.8
21	18.0	Hot Springs, NC	PO, Outfitter, grocery.  Elmer’s Hostel or Duckett House	3	3100	5724	12.9	271.8
22	11.0	Spring Mtn Shelter			3636	1662	12.9	282.8
23	15.4	Jerry Cabin Shelter			4040	3190	13.0	298.2
24	14.7	Hogback Ridge Shelter			3568	3463	13.0	312.9
25	10.1	Bald Mtn. Shelter			2650	1805	12.9	323.0
26	16.9	Erwin, TN	Uncle Johnny’s, or one of many in-town lodging choices	2	2503	5903	13.1	339.9
27	16.6	Cherry Gap Shelter			4996	2634	13.2	356.5
28	16.0	Roan High Shelter	Highest Shelter on AT		5485	3272	13.3	372.5
29	15.9	Mtn Harbor Hostel	Resupply in Roan Mtn	1	2487	5867	13.4	388.4
30	12.6	Tenting	Near Laurel Fork		2688	2293	13.4	401.0
31	20.7	Hampton, TN	Braemar Hostel or Iron Mtn Inn.  Alternate:  Watuaga Lake Shelter 1.8 mi further	2	3355	4655	13.6	421.7
32	15.7	Iron Mtn Shelter			3993	1858	13.7	437.4
33	15.9	Abingdon Gap Shelter			2810	3155	13.7	453.3
34	10.2	Damascas VA	PO, grocery, outfitter, hostels	4	908	2760	13.6	463.5
35	15.8	Lost Mtn Shelter			3835	2363	13.7	479.3
36	12.2	Thomas Knob Shelter	High and exposed shelter – be prepared for cold		3474	1474	13.7	491.5	Grayson Highlands
37	11.0	Old Orchard Shelter	Take your time on this scenic stretch of trail.		1409	2759	13.6	502.5
38	14.1	Trimpi Shelter	Or church hostel in Troutdale 4.1 mi earlier.		2261	3411	13.6	516.6
39	10.6	Partnership Shelter	Showers-Pizza Hut Delivery-Phone		1886	1530	13.5	527.2
40	11.6	Atkins VA	Relax Inn (where the Trail crosses US11), or hitch to Comfort Inn	5	1911	2747	13.5	538.8
41	14.0	Knot Maul Shelter			3169	2709	13.5	552.8
42	16.0	Davis Farm Campsite			3698	2978	13.5	568.8
43	17.0	Helvey’s Mill Shelter			3041	3551	13.6	585.8
44	18.2	Camp – Dismal Falls	Campsites on side trail to falls.  Be aware that there is road access from far side of Dismal Creek; weekends draw visitors.  Alternates: campsites near Kimberling Creek (16.2 mi) or at Trent’s Grocery (16.3 mi).		2770	3765	13.7	604.0
45	12.0	Woods Hole Hostel	Alternate:  Doc’s Knob Shelter 2.2 mi further		2352	1065	13.7	616.0
46	10.4	Pearisburg VA	Rendezvous Motel near trail	5	2080	3262	13.6	626.4
47	19.3	Pine Swamp Branch Shelter	Hard to avoid this hard day; long resupply stretch here.		3801	3471	13.7	645.7
48	12.7	War Spur Shelter			2364	2554	13.7	658.4
49	12.2	Sarver Hollow Shelter	Climb at end of the day		3254	2194	13.7	670.6
50	16.1	Pickle Branch Shelter			2746	4301	13.7	686.7
51	17.0	Campbell Shelter	Just past McAfee Knob		3882	3147	13.8	703.7
52	15.4	Daleville VA	Nice morning view from Tinker Cliffs or backtrack to McAfee.  Daleville has estaurants, grocery, outfitter, hotels…everything except hostel.	2	2428	3708	13.8	719.1
53	18.5	Bobblets Gap Shelter			4161	3541	13.9	737.6
54	18.4	Cornelius Creek Shelter			4845	3620	14.0	756.0
55	19.9	Glasgow, VA	Pavillion tenting.	4	4025	6435	14.1	775.9
56	20.0	Brown Mtn Creek Shltr	Near Pedlar Village site		5066	4406	14.2	795.9
57	15.8	Steely-Woodworth Shelter			4825	2450	14.2	811.7
58	20.6	Maupin Field Shelter			5618	6668	14.4	832.3
59	20.8	Waynesboro, VA	Get ride from Rockfish Gap visitor’s center. Mail home winter gear?  Resuppy minimally because food readily available in SNP.	1	3195	4013	14.5	853.1
60	20.0	Black Rock Hut	Get backcountry permit as you leave skyline drive.  Camping is permitted in SNP, but nearly impractical because you are not supposed to tent within sight of buildings (waysides), shelters, roads or the trail (how does one find a campsite that you can’t see from the trail?)		4682	3939	14.6	873.1	Shenandoah NP
61	13.2	Pinefield Hut	Loft Mountain Campground (7mi into day) for food		2489	2704	14.5	886.3
62	20.6	Bearfence Mtn Hut	Stop by Lewis Campstore for food just before reaching shelter		4675	3995	14.6	906.9
63	11.5	Rock Spring Hut	Big Meadows for meals & supplies		2170	1815	14.6	918.4
64	14.0	Luray, VA	Town with everything but a hostel. Resupply a day light & make it up a Elkwallow wayside.	2	2628	3786	14.6	932.4
65	14.4	Gravel Springs Hut	Elkwallow Wayside 8.6 mi for lunch		2822	2649	14.6	946.8
66	18.6	Jim & Molly Denton Shelter	Alternate:  Go into Front Royal 5 mi earlier		3249	4419	14.6	965.4
67	18.4	Rod Hollow Shelter			3421	3891	14.7	983.8
68	17.8	Blackburn Center	“Roller Coaster” early in the day		4803	3993	14.7	1001.6
69	12.4	Harpers Ferry WV	This mileage is to Shenandoah St.  Town’s Inn and other lodging choices.  Another hostel 1.5 north of town.	3	1128	2508	14.7	1014.0
70	17.3	Dahlgren BP Area	Shower. Restaurant nearby.		2697	1977	14.7	1031.3
71	13.9	Ensign Cowall Shelter	Or Free State Hostel.  North from Pine Knob Shelter is significantly rocky.		2174	1734	14.7	1045.2
72	14.5	Deer Lick Shelters	Rocky Trail up until Pen Mar Park (9.6 mi), fairly smooth afterward.  Can call for pizza delivery at Pen Mar Park.		2831	2841	14.7	1059.7
73	15.8	Fayetteville, PA Quarry Gap Shelters	Eat and resupply, move on 3 miles further to nice shelters.  Alternate: Caledonia Park or lodging in town to the west.  Short resupply because food is available next two days.	1	2578	2543	14.7	1075.5
74	17.3	Ironmaster’s Hostel	Pine Grove Furnace – ice cream challenge, more food available		1758	2393	14.8	1092.8
75	19.2	Boiling Springs, PA	Camping 0.5mi south of town Labor Day to Memorial Day (porta-privy), or Allenberry Lodge, or check ATC info board: sometimes locals take in hikers or allow yard camping.  Food available at Green Mountain store (8.6 mi) into the day.  No camping for next 14.3 mi.		2649	2969	14.8	1112.0
76	14.3	Darlington Shelter			1384	634	14.8	1126.3
77	11.4	Duncannon, PA	Doyle Hotel	3	1291	2181	14.8	1137.7
78	11.2	Peter’s Mtn Shelter			1652	832	14.7	1148.9
79	18.0	Rausch Gap Shelter			1988	2188	14.8	1166.9
80	17.5	501 Shelter			2506	2026	14.8	1184.4
81	23.7	Port Clinton, PA	Pavillion tenting.  Short resupply because there are 3 towns in the next 5 days.	2	2039	3099	14.9	1208.1
82	15.2	Eckville Shelter			2538	2338	14.9	1223.3
83	13.3	Tripoli Campsite			2026	1226	14.9	1236.6
84	11.8	Palmerton, PA	Former “Jailhouse Hostel” now closed.  Food/supplies available		1176	2196	14.9	1248.4
85	20.4	Wind Gap, PA	Climb in Morning; rest of day very level.  Hotel very near trail.		2688	2088	14.9	1268.8
86	15.6	Delaware Water Gap	Church Hostel, restaurants, outfitter, supplies	3	1676	2136	14.9	1284.4
87	10.5	Mohican Outdoor Center	Bunks or camping.  Meals available but little supplies.  Enjoy short day; scenic trail, Sunfish Pond.		1614	1014	14.9	1294.9
88	20.9	Gren Anderson Shelter			2437	2237	15.0	1315.8
89	13.0	High Point Shelter			1435	1475	14.9	1328.8
90	18.9	Vernon, NJ	Church Hostel, restaurants and grocery near hostel	2	1862	2692	15.0	1347.7
91	17.1	Wildcat Shelter	Approx 44 miles from Vernon to Bear Mtn, NY are  difficult.  Ice Cream at NY 17, 2.0 mi before shelter.		2472	1742	15.0	1364.8
92	14.3	Fingerboard Shelter			2823	2703	15.0	1379.1
93	14.1	Fort Montgomery, NY		3	2396	3572	15.0	1393.2
94	18.3	Tenting	Fahnestock SP		3838	3062	15.0	1411.5
95	16.0	Morgan Stewart Shelter			2681	2296	15.0	1427.5
96	16.5	Wiley Shelter			2151	2696	15.0	1444.0
97	12.4	Mt. Algo Lean-to	0.3mi from road leading into Kent, CT.  Make trip into town in the afternoon or morning for resupply, laundry and  & meals, but lodging is expensive. Alternate:  Hitch north to Cornwall Bridge and arrange a slackpack from Rte 341 (1455.9)  to Rte 4 (1467.0)  CALL FIRST.  Cornwall Bridge lodging will be expensive on weekends.	1	2596	2681	15.0	1456.4
98	17.3	Pine Swamp Br Shelter	Cornwall Bridge, CT 11.4 mi. from Mt. Algo Shelter and 0.9mi from trail is alternative to Kent for resupply.		3346	2926	15.0	1473.7
99	15.7	Salisbury, CT	Two hostel-like homes, or White Hart Inn.  Resupply one day short; supplement in Dalton or Chesire.	4	2090	2465	15.0	1489.4
100	14.2	Glen Brook Lean-to	Climb Bear Mtn and Mt. Everett, good swimming holes in Sages Ravine		3444	2259	15.0	1503.6
101	19.6	Mt. Wilcox S. Lean-to			3151	3316	15.1	1523.2
102	15.8	Upper Goose Pond			2695	2932	15.1	1539.0
103	17.6	Kay Wood Lean-to			2357	1980	15.1	1556.6
104	16.7	Mark Noepel Lean-to	Skip Breakfast, wait till you get to Dalton.  Eat in Chesire, 9.3 mi from Dalton.		3422	2482	15.1	1573.3
105	9.6	Williamstown or North Adams, MA	Williamstown has more places to stay.	3	1403	3553	15.1	1582.9
106	14.1	Congdon Shelter	Enter VT, join Long Trail		2964	1554	15.1	1597.0
107	14.4	Goddard Shelter	Steep descent to / climb up from Rte 9 (leads into Bennington)		3698	2218	15.1	1611.4
108	16.3	Stratton Mountain	Tent, or continue 3 miles to shelter		3337	2941	15.1	1627.7
109	13.7	Manchester Center, VT		2	1207	3343	15.1	1641.4
110	16.5	Big Branch Shelter	Nice, with big brook rumbling out front		2973	3313	15.1	1657.9
111	16.9	Clarendon Shelter			3276	3546	15.1	1674.8
112	16.4	Rutland, VT	Bus/hitch into Rutland, or Inn at Long Trail.	2	3582	2892	15.1	1691.2
113	19.9	Winturri Shelter			4380	4360	15.1	1711.1
114	20.4	Happy Hill Shelter	Can get food at West Hartford, (16.4 mi).  Some homeowners invite hikers to tent in their yard; check at general store.		3042	3542	15.2	1731.5
115	5.8	Hanover, NH	Short hiking day – much to explore in town.  Check DOC for lodging options, or continue 6.1 mi to Etna, NH (Tigger’s Tree House).  Resupply short 1 day to be made up at Glencliff. * GET WINTER GEAR *	2	322	1191	15.1	1737.3
116	16.7	Trapper John Shelter			3856	3042	15.1	1754.0
117	12.0	Hexacuba Shelter			3309	2674	15.1	1766.0
118	14.6	Glencliff, NH	Hikers Welcome Hostel, post office.		3290	4130	15.1	1780.6
119	9.5	North Woodstock, NH	Via Kinsman Notch.  Many lodging options here and in adjacent town of Lincoln.  Short resuppy in expectation of meals at huts.  If hut stays do not pan out, pick up more supplies at Crawford Notch or on Mt. Washington.	2	4076	3404	15.0	1790.1	White Mountains
120	11.5	Kinsman Pond Shelter	Two alternate plans: 1) Continue 2.1 mi and try for WFS at Lonesome Lake Hut, 2) Continue 4.8 mi to Franconia Notch and hitch back to North Woodstock/Lincoln (arrange slackpack).		4556	2618	15.0	1801.6
121	15.1	Garfield Campsite	Tough climb up to Franconia Ridge.  Once up, beautiful open stretch of trail.  Alternate:  Try for WFS at Greenleaf Hut (risk:  steep, mile long side trail & return if no WFS / reward: fewer hikers competing for WFS, 2 days on Franconia Ridge)		5035	5285	15.0	1816.7
122	14.5	Ethan Pond Campsite	Stay at Zealand Falls Hut (9.7 mi) if WFS is available.  4 mi. Section from hut to campsite is easy, smooth and level.		2810	3360	15.0	1831.2
123	14.0	Lake of Clouds Hut	At Crawford Notch, can hitch down to Willey House for lunch and short-term supplies.  Tough climb back up from Notch.		4789	2739	15.0	1845.2
124	14.9	Gorham, NH	By way of Pinkham Notch.  In Gorham:  Barn Hostel/lodging/meals/supplies.  Alternate:  Lodging,  meals, supplies also available at the notch. (WFS Camp Dodge)	4	3343	6293	15.0	1860.1
125	13.1	Imp Campsite	Rugged day.  Shelter and many tent sites.		5062	3862	15.0	1873.2
126	14.9	Trident Col Campsite	7 mile “easy” stretch after Mt. Moriah.  Alternate:  Make a short, 8-mi day of it and return to Gorham via Rte 2.		3484	4714	15.0	1888.1
127	14.5	Full Goose Shelter			4069	3059	15.0	1902.6
128	12.0	Baldpate Lean-to	Tough day including  Mahoosuc Notch and Arm.		4469	4839	15.0	1914.6
129	8.0	Andover, ME	Via East B Road.  A couple of nice hostel choices – section to South Arm road could be slackpacked.		2034	3209	14.9	1922.6
130	10.1	Andover, ME	Via South Arm Road.  Alternate:  get supplies on previous day and do short (6mi) or long (18mi) day to shelter before or after road.	3	3259	3334	14.9	1932.7
131	17.0	Sabbath DayPond Lean-to	Alternate:  Slackpacks easy to arrange from Andover (East B to South Arm Rd) or Rangeley (Rte 17 to Rte 4)		4803	3823	14.9	1949.7
132	11.2	Piazza Rock Lean-to	Alternate:  Rangeley, Me Via Rte 4 (9.4 mi)		1631	1956	14.9	1960.9
133	16.9	Spaulding Mtn Lean-to	Climb the Saddleback peaks		5145	4070	14.9	1977.8
134	13.5	Stratton, ME		3	3448	5188	14.9	1991.3
135	15.3	Little Bigelow Lean-to			4463	4103	14.9	2006.6
136	17.3	Pierce Pond Lean-to			2055	2655	14.9	2023.9
137	18.7	Bald Mtn Brook Lean-to	Reach Kennebec River (3.7mi) in time for 9-11am ferry.  PO in Caratunk close by if needed.		3054	2914	14.9	2042.6
138	13.0	Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to			1848	2278	14.9	2055.6
139	9.0	Monson, ME	Shaws.	7	1330	985	14.9	2064.6
140	15.1	Long Pond Stream Lean-to	Enter 100 mi wilderness		2399	2674	14.9	2079.7	100-Mile Wilderness
141	10.9	Chairback Gap Lean-to			3053	2063	14.8	2090.6
142	9.9	Carl Newhall Lean-to	Add 5.2 Gulf Hagas loop trail, a recommended diversion.		1555	1625	14.8	2100.5
143	18.9	Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to	First 5.8 mi of day, to top of White Cap Mtn is last significant climb until Katahdin.  View of Katahdin as trail descends the mountain.  Picturesque shelter setting.		3560	4540	14.8	2119.4
144	21.5	Wadleigh Stream Lean-to	Alternate: White House Landing (13.8mi)		1294	1489	14.9	2140.9
145	19.6	Hurd Brook Lean-to			2267	2242	14.9	2160.5
146	13.4	The Birches Lean-to	Stop at Abol Bridge store (11.2 mi) for food.  A little further along there is a sign-up board for the Birches.		973	613	14.9	2173.9
147	5.2	Katahdin	5.2 More miles to get back down to the Birches, the closest location accessible by car.  If you have a ride arranged (family or friends picking you up?), consider descending north side of Katahdin and having them pick you up at the Roaring Brook Campground, 5.47 mi via Saddle Trail and Chimney Pond Trail or 4.46 on Knife Edge and Helon Taylor Trail.		4374	176	14.8	2179.1
Notes:   Deviation from plan is encouraged!  For and Excel version of this plan, contact Awol. Day:  Zero days are expected, but omitted from the spreadsheet because there’s no reason to attempt planning them in advance.   Adding 14 zero days would reduce the mi/day average to about 13.5 mi/day.  Shelters are specified far more than any other destination, but this is not meant to promote shelter use.  Most shelter locations also have tent sites. Comments: Comments apply to the hiking day that ends at “Destination”. Elev gain/loss:  The sum (in feet) of elevation gain/loss during this segment of trail.  This is a very crude measure of  trail difficulty. Resupply:  This is the number of days worth of supplies that should be purchased at this location.  The number always assumes that meals (dinner and breakfast at least) will be eaten at the towns where the supplies are obtained.  Sometimes this number is LESS than the number of days until the next resupply; this is usually due to an opportunity to get meals at points in-between.  Food is the heaviest “variable” in your pack, so this plan encourages resupplying often and eating meals when available (if budget permits).