Smoky Mtn - Lake Fontana Backpack - BMT Sec 20b-22b

This is an advanced backpack and requires prior backpacking experience! If you do not have a history of D5+ backpacks with the club, I will be contacting you to confirm that you have experience with this type of backpack.

Summary:

This is a point-to-point backpack on a 37-mile section of the Benton Mackaye Trail through the Great Smoky Moutain National Park. This trail section travels near the spectacular Lake Fontana for most of its distance. There should be opportunity to swim in the Lake at camp both nights and during lunch on days one and two.

Day 1: Saturday Aug 30 - 10 mile hike starting at the Lakeview trailhead. We will park in the lot just before the tunnel on Lakeshore Drive (i.e. The "road to nowhere" . About 1-2 hours will be required before starting the hike in order to shuttle at least one car to our finish point at Twenty mile ranger station. The trail will travel just to the north of Lake Fontana joining it at several points. The campsite wil be near the Lake, which should provide swimming opportunities during our stay.

Day 2: Sunday Aug 31 - 14 mile hike from camp 98 to camp 86. The trail continues on the north side of Lake Fontana, with additional swimming opportunities at lunch and after pitching camp.

Day 3: Monday Sept 1 - 13-mile hike to our finish at twenty-mile ranger station. After retrieving the car left at "the tunnel", we will return to Atlanta. If there is interest, we will stop at a restaurant for some refueling during our return trip.

About The Trail:

The Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) is a footpath of nearly 300 miles through the Appalachian mountains of the southeastern United States. It is designed for foot travel in the tradition of the Appalachian Trail (AT).

Running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Big Creek Campground on the northern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the Smokies), the BMT passes through some of the most remote backcountry in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, including eight federally designated Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas.

 A summary of the BMT trail through the Smokies can be viewed here:

http://www.bmta.org/sections/BMT-SecDescrip-Smokies.pdf

A map of the park can be viewed here:  http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/maps.htm

Some good reading on the "road to nowhere: http://www.wildlifesouth.com/Locations/NorthCarolina/NC288-FontanaDam-TheRoadToNowhere.html

Directions:

Take US Hwy 74 to exit 67 (Bryson City Exit, turn right onto Veteran's Blvd. At the 1st light turn right onto Main St. To Next light turn Left onto Everett St. Go straight for about 6-7 miles. you will pass the Swain county High school and keep going until you go into the Great Smokey Mtns Nat'l Park and until you cross the bridge "Nolands Creek" up to the parking area next to the barricade. Walk 1/4 mile through the tunnel and to the end of the road.