Itinerary
Friday, October 4, 2024
Drive or fly into Asheville Airport (AVL).
The best time to arrive is between around 9AM-1PM, earlier is generally better.
Asheville is a small airport so flights may be limited. If you have to arrive
later that may be fine as long as the group can leave Asheville by around 4PM.
Call or text us and we will pick you up and take you to a local hotel where we will assemble
We will assemble at:
TBD, To Be Determined
You should have already done an online shakedown pre-trip, but guides will still ask you a few
questions and give you a "mini equipment shakedown"
Make your own trail mix from our selection of nuts, fruits and sweets
Go to
Diamond Brand Outdoor Shop,
2623 Hendersonville Rd. • Arden, NC 28704 • 800-459-6262 • info@diamondbrand.com for last minute equipment if necessary
"Before" body composition measurements taken
All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.
At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: Big Creek Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC. Site(s): 001 & 002 Elevation: 1700'
Shuttling will take about 2 hours
Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner
at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)
Camp at Big Creek Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC. Site(s): 001 & 002 Elevation: 1700'
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Begin hiking on the Big Creek Trail for 5.1 miles past Midnight Hole Falls and Mouse Creek Falls to
campsite #37 (Big Creek Campsite)
Camp at the Big Creek Campsite #37, elevation 3700'
Miles today: 5.1. Total miles: 5.1
Possible bailout: Big Creek Campground
Sunday, October 6, 2024
Hike 4.2 uphill miles on the Swallow fork Trail to the junction with the Mt. Sterling Trail
at Pretty Hollow Gap, elevation 5150''
This is a great place to take a break
Turn right onto the Mt. Sterling Trail and hike 4.1 enjoyable miles along a remarkably level ridge line
to the junction with the Balsam Mt Trail, elevation 5500'
Hike 0.2 downhill miles to the Laurel Gap shelter
Camp at the Laurel Gap Shelter, elevation 5460’
Miles today 8.5, total 13.6
Possible bailout: Cataloochee or Balsam Mtn Road.
Monday, October 7, 2024
Hike 0.2 uphill miles on the Balsam Mt Trail back to the junction with the Mt. Sterling Trail,
elevation 5500'
Keep left on the Balsam Mt Trail and hike 5.8 cumulatively uphill miles to the junction with the AT
(Appalachian Trail), elevation 5950'
Turn left on the AT and hike 0.2 miles to the Tricorner Knob shelter on the AT, elevation 5920'
Camp at Tricorner Knob shelter, elevation 5920'
Miles today: 6.2, total 19.8
Possible bailout: Balsam Mtn Road or Cosby campground
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Hike 3.0 mostly undulating miles on the AT over Mt. Guyot to the Snake Den Ridge Trail,
elevation 5750'
Hike 3.0 downhill miles to the Camel Gap Trail junction, elevation 4700'
Hike 1.7 uphill miles to the Cosby Knob shelter
Camp at the Cosby Knob Shelter, elevation 5800'
Miles today: 7.7, total 27.5
Possible bailout: Cosby campground
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Hike 0.9 downhill miles (500') on the AT to Low Gap, elevation ?'
Hike 2.1 uphill miles (800') on the AT to the junction with the Mt Cammerer Trail, elevation 4900'
Drop packs and day-hike 1.2 round trip miles to the Mt. Cammerer fire tower for
sweeping views of the Eastern side of the Smokies, elevation 4928'
Retrieve packs and hike 4.2 steadily dowhill miles to the Davenport Gap shelter
Camp at Davenport Gap shelter, elevation 2600'
Miles today: 8.4. Total miles: 35.9
Possible bailout: Big Creek campground or Davenport Gap.
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Hike 1.0 miles on the AT back to the Chestnut Branch Trail, elevation 2900'
Hike 2.1 dowhill miles on the Chestnut Branch Trail to the Big Creek Trail and our vehicles,
elevation 1700'
End of hiking
Possible bailout:
Miles today: 3.1. Total miles: 39.0
Shuttle back to local hotel:
TBD, To Be Determined
Gather your off-trail items from storage
After body composition measurements taken
Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)
Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)
This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at
the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew
and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if
this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.
Friday, October 11, 2024
Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber
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