25 Oct Day 3 – Bartram – AT Loop
Wayah Shelter to trail side camp – 17.5 miles
I was up at 6:30 am and after oatmeal and nuts I was on the trail in the dark. Nice views from Wayah with a guide to show horizon with named mountains, distances, and compass bearings. Standing Indian was the easiest to pick out.
View from Wayah Bald before sunrise
It had been a warm and muggy night and the day was hot and humid.
After short ascent on old logging road, It was very tough long steep knee shattering descent to the lake. What ever happened with the idea of switchbacks?.
Nantahala Lake
Lake End Marina Restaurant is on the Bartram trail. I don’t usually do food photos, but this catfish sandwich was so good after 3 trail days.
This is a concrete ford through the Nantahala river. They control the water and bypass the river, but I wouldn’t want to cross here when they decide to let the river flow.
Here is the gauge at the ford. At 6 near top of stick, water would be nearly chest high as I cross here. Now it is a tiny stream.
Out of the woods and 2 mile walk on this gravel road that runs alongside the empty river
Hunting dog farm. They raise the dogs in these barrels. I think most of the dogs were out hunting. There must have been 100 dog barrels at least. Plenty of hounds howling at me when I passed. Just one of the sights on the Bartram.
Dog houses
Applehouse Group Camping. Lot of trails come through here.
The trail past Applehouse Group Camping followed the bank of the Nantahala. The trail meandered through thick dog hobble, briers, and rhododendron. I watched with envy as an occasional truck passed on a gravel road that followed the opposite river bank. Rather than fight the undergrowth, it would be an easy matter to cross the tricke that was the river after Duke Power had diverted it and walk with ease. It was a relief when the trail left the river.
My camp literally in the trail. Beyond the river the trail followed a logging road with many flat spots to set up tents. no real campsites though.
Hiked On – Sunday, October 25, 2015