Agile Trekker: NC/TN Appalachian Trail - Sections 4-5 - Laurel Fork Shelter to Upper Laurel Fork Tent Site (Lynn only, backpack)

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
9/29/2022	13.7 miles	8 hours 26 minutes	1,856'	1.9	763.5

Parking:

Carvers Gap

Maps:

Gaia GPS app
Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Tennessee-North Carolina, Maps 1&2

Directions:

Hike northbound on the AT from Upper Laurel Fork Tent Site to Laurel Fork Shelter

Again today, we hiked more miles than originally planned, in order to reduce our miles on Friday, due to the hurricane still coming our way.

People had told us visiting Laurel Fork Falls was "worth it." We should have asked what "it" was. Turns out it was walking up and down many steep stone steps to see the waterfall. Yikes. I was very slow and careful going down them. It would not be a fun time on a rainy day. Luckily, we had a dry day.

Past the waterfall, we hiked in the gorge - along an interesting rock ledge above the river, against a tall stone wall. That's the best way I can describe it. That explains why there is an alternate high-water route. I'm assuming sometimes the rock ledge is under water. Next time (I'll need to re-hike this section with Glen who hasn't doneit), maybe I'll take the high-water route.

It was a long, hard day. At least it was warmer!

We decided to head to Laurel Fork Shelter, without reading the comments in Guthook.

The pros:

The shelter had cell service!
The shelter was away from the river so we wouldn't have a problem with condensation and would be warmer
The shelter was in a sunny spot, so we were able to dry out our tents and sleeping bags after they got damp last night from condensation

The cons:

Comments in Guthook said there was a copperhead snake living in the shelter. Obviously, that meant, none of us were willing to sleep in the shelter
The shelter had lots of trash under the floor (probably attracting mice, which attracted said snake)
The ground was very hard and rocky, and it was very challenging to get tent stakes to go in at all
The ground was very hard and rocky, making it impossible to dig a proper cathole (I just waited it out)
The very small clear area next to the shelter didn't have any level areas. I spent the night sliding down my tent.
I found a water source down a level but sketchy trail. The water source is a mini waterfall. But I had to step out onto wet rock (dangerous) in order to fill up my bottle.

It was the first night where it was warm enough in the evening that we could actually hang out outside after setting up. We didn't immediately climb into our sleeping bags to stay warm. So nice to actually be able to do that. I also didn't bother making a hot water bottle. Despite sleeping in the bottom half of my tent due to sliding downhill, I actually slept pretty well - probably because I was warmer. Still, a shelter I would avoid if I backpacked this area again.