18 Miles/Day

DOWNLOAD EXCEL FILE: 2012 PlanNobo18.xlsx

2010 NOBO fast plan @18 miles per day                    2/5/2010t				theATguide.com
					Elevation		Avg	Tot.
Day	Mi.	Destination	Comments	Food	gain	loss	mi/day	mi.
1	15.1	Gooch Mtn Shelter			3046	3828	15.1	15.1
2	15.6	Neels Gap	Mountain Crossings.  Hostel, meals, resupply shower.  Send home what you don’t need.	1	3876	3751	15.4	30.7
3	18.8	Blue Mtn Shelter			5037	4137	16.5	49.5
4	18.0	Hiawassee	Hitch from Dick’s Creek Gap is easy.  Buget Inn picks up; short walk to Top of GA Hostel.	3	4725	6075	16.9	67.5
5	16.7	Standing Indian Shelter	Tough climb up from Dick’s Creek Gap; enter North Carolina		5139	3054	16.8	84.2
6	14.4	Big Spring Shelter	Albert Mtn 13.8 miles into the day		3052	2872	16.4	98.6
7	20.1	Wayah Shelter	Winding Stair gap 9.1 mi – could go to Franklin, TN		4643	4773	17.0	118.7
8	16.3	NOC	Wesser, NC.  “Basecamp”, shower, laundry	1	2586	5673	16.9	135.0
9	16.0	Brown Fork Gap Shelter			5358	3281	16.8	151.0
10	12.7	Fontana Village	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.	3	2123	4148	16.4	163.7	Smoky Mtns
11	16.7	Spence Field Shelter	Long Climb up from Dam		5653	2513	16.4	180.4
12	19.8	Mt. Collins Shelter	Alternate: Hitch to Gatlinburg from Clingman’s Dome at 16.4 mi.		5445	4490	16.7	200.2
13	14.9	Peck’s Corner Shelter	Cross Newfound Gap:  another opportunity to hitch to Gatlinburg		2981	3571	16.5	215.1
14	23.3	Standing Bear Hstl	Full re-supply avail or use maildrop	1	4136	7616	17.0	238.4
15	20.3	Walnut Mtn Shelter			6373	3913	17.2	258.7
16	13.1	Hot Springs, NC	PO, Outfitter, grocery.  Elmer’s Hostel or Laughing Heart Hostel	2	2004	4938	17.0	271.8
17	19.6	Little Laurel Shelter			5978	3684	17.1	291.4
18	21.5	Hogback Ridge Shelter			5149	4514	17.4	312.9
19	27.0	Erwin, TN	Uncle Johnny’s, or one of many in-town lodging choices	3	5140	7695	17.9	339.9
20	16.6	Cherry Gap Shelter			4996	2634	17.8	356.5
21	22.7	Overmountain Shelter	Great views		6352	5864	18.1	379.2
22	9.2	Mtn Harbor Hostel			1606	3261	17.7	388.4
23	24.4	Kincora Hostel	Or Black Bear Resort, can get ride into Elizabethtown for supplies.	2	4143	4488	17.9	412.8
24	17.8	Vandeventer Shelter			4389	3429	17.9	430.6
25	16.9	Campsite			2937	2849	17.9	447.5
26	16.0	Damascas VA	PO, grocery, outfitter, hostels	2	2286	3956	17.8	463.5
27	15.8	Lost Mtn Shelter			3835	2363	17.8	479.3
28	12.2	Thomas Knob Shelter	High and exposed shelter – be prepared for cold		3474	1474	17.6	491.5	Grayson Highlands
29	16.0	Hurricane Mtn Shelter	This is a very scenic stretch of trail		2834	4376	17.5	507.5
30	19.7	Partnership Shelter	Showers-Pizza Delivery, phone at visitor center		3049	3651	17.6	527.2
31	11.6	Atkins VA	Relax Inn (where AT crosses US11)	3	1911	2747	17.4	538.8
32	23.0	Chestnut Knob Shelter			5965	3975	17.6	561.8
33	24.0	Helvey’s Mill Shelter	Watch water supply		3586	4906	17.8	585.8
34	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	17.8	604.0
35	22.4	Pearisburg VA	A couple of old hotels, church hotel long way from trailhead.  Good Hotel in Narrows will pick up.	3	4432	4327	17.9	626.4
36	19.3	Pine Swamp  Br Shl			3801	3471	17.9	645.7
37	18.5	Laurel Creek Shelter			3899	3709	18.0	664.2
38	22.5	Pickle Branch Shelter	No tenting areas at shelter  Tough dry terrain		4323	5198	18.1	686.7
39	14.6	Catawba Mtn Shelter			2889	2589	18.0	701.3
40	17.8	Daleville VA	Daleville has restaurants, grocery, outfitter, hotels…everything except hostel.	5	3421	4266	18.0	719.1
41	25.0	Cove Mtn Shelter			5182	4557	18.1	744.1
42	17.2	Thunder Hill Shelter			5285	3250	18.1	761.3
43	25.1	Punchbowl shelter			5932	7392	18.3	786.4
44	17.6	Hog Camp Gap	Tenting		4594	3609	18.3	804.0
45	14.6	The Priest Shelter			3167	2812	18.2	818.6
46	13.7	Maupin Field Shelter	or Royal Oak Hostel		3881	5001	18.1	832.3
47	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	18.2	853.1
48	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 can’t be seen from the trail?)		4682	3939	18.2	873.1	Shenandoah NP
49	21.4	Hightop Hut	Stop by Loft Mountain Campground (7mi into day) for food		4650	4120	18.3	894.5
50	23.9	Rock Spring Hut	Stop by Lewis Campstore & Big Meadows for meals & supplies		4621	4331	18.4	918.4
51	28.4	Gravel Sprngs Hut	Elkwallow Wayside for food		5449	6434	18.6	946.8
52	13.4	Front Royal	Access to Front Royal, Hostel, P.O.	2	2056	3586	18.5	960.2
53	15.2	Dicks Dome Shelter	Small shelter, plan to tent		3121	2841	18.4	975.4
54	18.3	Bears Den Hostel			4397	4327	18.4	993.7
55	20.3	Harpers Ferry WV	This mileage is Shenandoah St.  A couple of hostel choices, Harpers Ferry Hostel 3 miles north of town.	2	2997	4027	18.4	1014.0
56	17.3	Dahlgren BP Area	Shower. Restaurant nearby.		2697	1977	18.4	1031.3
57	13.9	Ensign Cowall Shelter	North from Pine Knob Shelter is significantly rocky.		2174	1734	18.3	1045.2
58	27.7	Fayetteville PA	Trail is rocky up to Pen Mar Park (9.6 mi), afterwards fairly easy. Caledonia Park or lodging in town to the west.		4517	4987	18.5	1072.9
59	19.9	Ironmaster’s Hostel	Pine Grove Furnace – ice cream challenge, more food available		2563	2703	18.5	1092.8
60	19.2	Boiling Springs, PA	Camping 0.5mi south of town Labor Day to Memorial Day (porta-privy), Allenberry is a great deal.  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	18.5	1112.0
61	25.7	Duncannon, PA	Doyle Hotel	2	2675	2815	18.7	1137.7
62	24.6	Camping			3506	2446	18.7	1162.3
63	22.1	501 Shelter			2655	2615	18.8	1184.4
64	23.7	Port Clinton, PA	Pavillion tenting, Port Clinton Hotel or hitch to Hamburg,PA. Short resupply because there are 2 towns in the next 3 days.	1	2039	3099	18.9	1208.1
65	22.6	Allentown HC Shelter			3893	2943	18.9	1230.7
66	17.7	Palmerton, PA	Jailhouse Hostel		1625	2595	18.9	1248.4
67	20.4	Wind Gap, PA			2688	2088	18.9	1268.8
68	15.6	Delaware Water Gap	Church Hostel, restaurants, outfitters, supplies	2	1676	2136	18.9	1284.4
69	24.8	Brink Road Shelter	Get lunch at Mohican Outdoor Center		3189	2599	19.0	1309.2
70	15.3	Rutherford Shelter			1758	1523	18.9	1324.5
71	23.2	Vernon, NJ	Church Hostel	2	2466	3361	19.0	1347.7
72	17.1	Wildcat Shelter	Approx 44 miles from Vernon to Bear Mtn, NY deceptively difficult.  Ice Cream at NY 17 2 miles before shelter.		2472	1742	19.0	1364.8
73	14.3	Fingerboard Shelter			2823	2703	18.9	1379.1
74	14.1	Fort Montgomery, NY	Or continue 6.5 miles to Graymoor	2	2396	3572	18.8	1393.2
75	25.3	RPH Shelter			4891	4665	18.9	1418.5
76	16.8	Telephone Pioneers Shelter			2674	2114	18.9	1435.3
77	21.1	Mt. Algo Lean-to Kent, CT	0.3mi from road leading into Kent, CT.  Could make trip into town in the afternoon or morning for resupply, laundry and  & meals, but there are no inexpensive lodging options.	2	3857	4112	18.9	1456.4
78	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	18.9	1473.7
79	15.7	Salisbury, CT	Two hostel-like homes.	3	2090	2465	18.9	1489.4
80	14.2	Glen Brook Lean-to	Climb Bear Mtn and Mt. Everett, good swimming holes in Sages Ravine		3444	2259	18.8	1503.6
81	19.6	Mt. Wilcox S. Lean-to			3151	3316	18.8	1523.2
82	15.8	Upper Goose Pond			2695	2932	18.8	1539.0
83	20.6	Dalton, MA	Use PO, places to eat.  Resupply short and pick up extra food/meals in Chesire and N. Adams.	3	2416	2699	18.8	1559.6
84	13.7	Mark Noepel Lean-to	Eat in Chesire, 9.3 mi from Dalton		3124	1524	18.7	1573.3
85	16.5	Seth Warner Shelter	Finish Climb of Mt. Greylock early in morning.  Get food at North Adams 9.6 miles into the day.  At 13.7 mi, enter Vermont and join Long Trail.		3400	4020	18.7	1589.8
86	21.6	Goddard Shelter	This is a hard day.  Alternate:  stop at Bennington, VT		4665	3305	18.7	1611.4
87	19.3	Stratton Pond Shelter			3239	4214	18.7	1630.7
88	10.7	Manchester Center, VT	Resupply short: meals/supplies available before Hanover.  Even less needed if you plan to go into Rutland.	2	1041	1806	18.7	1641.4
89	16.5	Big Branch Shelter	Nice, with big brook rumbling out front		2973	3313	18.6	1657.9
90	16.9	Clarendon Shelter	Whistle Stop Restuarant and convenience store available from Rte 103, 1.0 mi before shelter.		3276	3546	18.6	1674.8
91	16.4	Rutland, VT	Bus/hitch into Rutland, Inn at Long Trail, or Mtn Meadows a few miles further.	2	3582	2892	18.6	1691.2
92	19.9	Winturri Shelter			4380	4360	18.6	1711.1
93	20.4	Happy Hill Shelter	General store closed in 2014; may re-open.  Some homeowners invite hikers to tent in their yard; check at  library.		3042	3542	18.6	1731.5
94	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)	3	322	1191	18.5	1737.3
95	23.4	Fire Wardens Cabin			6379	3670	18.5	1760.7
96	19.9	Glencliff, NH	Hikers Welcome Hostel.  Some gear and food at the hostel, but not much else at this town except a PO.  Can carry less from Hanover if you send a maildrop here.		3850	5950	18.5	1780.6
97	17.0	Eliza Brook Shelter	Alternate: Hitch to North Woodstock/Lincoln from Kinsman Notch and arrange slackpack to Franconia Notch (would shorten this day to 9.5 mi and tomorrow’s slackpack would be 16.3).		5999	4639	18.5	1797.6	White Mountains
98	8.8	North Woodstock, NH	Via Franconia 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	2205	3255	18.4	1806.4
99	10.3	Garfield Campsite	Tough climb up to Franconia Ridge.  Once up, beautiful open stretch of trail.		4933	2883	18.4	1816.7
100	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	18.3	1831.2
101	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	18.3	1845.2
102	14.9	Gorham, NH	En route:  Can get meal/supplies from summit shops on Mt. Washington.  By way of Pinkham Notch.  In Gorham:  White Mtns Lodge & Hostel, The Barn Hostel, Hikers Paradise, and many motels.  Lodging/meals/supplies also available at the notch.		3343	6293	18.2	1860.1
103	21.1	Gorham, NH	Return to town via Rte 2.  Slackpack opportunity.  It is a challenging day with or without a pack.  Fortunately, the last 3 miles are a reprieve.	2	6036	7326	18.3	1881.2
104	11.8	Gentian Pond Shelter			3601	2195	18.2	1893.0
105	14.7	Speck Pond Camp	Tough day including  Mahoosuc Notch and Arm.		4850	3516	18.2	1907.7
106	14.9	Andover, ME	Via East B Road.  A couple of nice hostel choices.	1	3872	5887	18.1	1922.6
107	18.8	Bemis Mtn Lean-to	Alternate:  Slackpacks easy to arrange from Andover (East B to South Arm Rd) or Rangeley (Rte 17 to Rte 4)		6196	4881	18.1	1941.4
108	17.7	Rangeley, ME	Via Rte 4	1	2904	4104	18.1	1959.1
109	18.7	Spaulding Mtn Lean-to	Climb the Saddleback peaks		5562	4022	18.1	1977.8
110	13.5	Stratton, ME		3	3448	5188	18.1	1991.3
111	15.3	Little Bigelow Lean-to			4463	4103	18.1	2006.6
112	17.3	Pierce Pond Lean-to			2055	2655	18.1	2023.9
113	22.8	Moxie Bald Lean-to	Reach Kennebec River (3.7mi) in time for 9-11am ferry.  PO in Caratunk close by if needed.  Nice shelter near pond.		4250	4190	18.1	2046.7
114	17.9	Monson, ME	A couple of hostel choices.	5	1903	1908	18.1	2064.6
115	15.1	Long Pond Stream Lean-to	Enter 100 mi wilderness		2399	2674	18.1	2079.7	100-Mile Wilderness
116	20.8	Carl Newhall Lean-to	Probably go further if you skip Gulf Hagas		4543	3623	18.1	2100.5
117	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	18.1	2119.4
118	21.6	Nahmakanta Str Campsite			649	1009	18.1	2141.0
119	11.8	Rainbow Stream Campground			2130	1530	18.1	2152.8
120	21.1	The Birches Lean-to Abol Bridge	Stop at Abol Bridge store (11.2 mi) for food.  A little further along there is a sign-up board for the Birches.	1	1617	1667	18.1	2173.9
121	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	18.0	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 7 zero days would reduce the mi/day average to 17.  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. Food:  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).