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  1. #1
    Registered User
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    10-10-2017
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    Dacula, Georgia
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    Default Hike from I40 -Standing Bear to Hot Springs at end of August 2020

    I plan to hike from the I40 overpass (Standing Bear) to Hot Springs. Anyone have recent issues with water availability and/or bear activity.

    Thanks

    Steady

  2. #2
    Registered User
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    04-04-2011
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    Asheville, NC
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    Water is too available around here lately. I'd wait a month. Seriously.

  3. #3
    Registered User Venchka's Avatar
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    02-20-2013
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    Roaring Gap, NC
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    Yep! Northwest North Carolina is totally soggy right now.
    And if the two Tropical Storms headed northwest across the Gulf drift northeast after making landfall you might need a life raft.
    Wayne

  4. #4
    Nalgene Ninja flemdawg1's Avatar
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    03-31-2008
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    Huntsville, AL
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    I did it it a little over a year ago and there was a problem bear staying near Standing Bear. Walked within 30 ft of him and he didn't move.

  5. #5

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    Very hot very muggy, low water, overgrown trail in places. That sums it up. I would wait till october if you can
    Trail Miles: 4,927.6
    AT Map 1: Complete 2013-2021
    Sheltowee Trace: Complete 2020-2023
    Pinhoti Trail: Complete 2023-2024
    Foothills Trail: 0.0
    AT Map 2: 279.4
    BMT: 52.7
    CDT: 85.4

  6. #6

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    I realize this was a request for conditions in August, but I just hiked this section last weekend (9/25 - 9/28). Weather was fantastic, water was plentiful, no bears or evidence of bears was seen. I stayed at a couple of tent sites and one night at Roaring Fork shelter. If I had to find a downside, it was that the trail was pretty overgrown. Still a good trip. I highly recommend the Guthook app for info on water sources.

  7. #7
    Registered User
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    10-10-2017
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    Dacula, Georgia
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    Just finished hike from I40 to Hot Springs. Hike from I40 to Snowbird Peak was mostly strenuous, sometimes arduous. Strenuous is when you are huffing and puffing but perservere. Arduous is when you have to stop and catch your breath. Great view. Groundhog Creek Shelter is minimal. Not level. I slept on the level part. My buddy slept at the bottom of the "V". Sounds of mice crunching during the night. I heard from several sources that bears were active at the beginning of October in the tenting area. We uploaded everything to the cables. No sign of bear. Max Patch on the next day was mostly clean. A few sites have trash. We did a pickup. Roaring Fork Shelter OK. Water.... High School Kids at tent sites. Actually hike was fairly easy. Spent the night around Phil's Gap. Plenty of sites. Made it to laughing Heart Shelter before a big rain. Highly recommend. We trained for this. Thoroughly enjoyable. Trees now changing colors. Hot Springs great as usual. Recommend Iron Horse Inn.

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