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).