Category: Appalachian Trail

Current Status:

All sections of the Appalachian Trail within the Pisgah National Forest (North Carolina) officially remain closed, specifically TEHCC Maintenance Sections 14a-16b from Doll Flats to just north of Iron Mountain Gap.

While the A.T. is shown as “Open” for Cherokee National Forest (Tennessee), it does not mean it is safe and/or cleared for passage.  Some sections yet to be reached are reported to take four to five hours just to travel two to three miles.

Moreland Gap Shelter is closed due to roof damage.  Cherry Gap Shelter is smashed down to the sleeping platform.

Progress as of mid-November:

Club trip reports indicated that over 2,000 volunteer hours have been invested in 48 events to clear a basic path through 33 miles of the A.T.  Sections that have been touched include:  2.3 miles north of Abingdon Gap Shelter to McQueens Gap, US421 to Iron Mtn Shelter, Wilbur Dam Road to 2.75 miles north, Bitter End to Elk River, Curley Maple Gap Shelter to the former Chestoa Pike bridge, Nolichucky River to Cliff Ridge, and just south of No Business Knob Shelter to Devils Creek Gap.  Note that these are not continuous and with the difficult tangles left for professionals to resolve.

Near-term efforts:

Weather permitting (especially with winter approaching), crews of 4-10 members with multiple sawyers and swampers are being dispatched on Tuesdays, Thursdays, plus 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays to not wear out the volunteers.  Sawyers must have current first aid training and certification by the US Forest Service.  Typically 35-50 blowdowns are cut per day per crew with some filling in of holes caused by root balls torn out of the ground.  Specific plans are not made until the week (or maybe two) prior.  Volunteers are added to a distribution list, then reply when available (no need for regrets) to allow for right group size and equipment.  Inquiries have been received, including OH and VT.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is hiring a four-person professional saw crew (USFS fire fighters) for first two weeks of December to clean up some of the challenging damage. 

Ongoing plans:

Four weeks of Konnarock Crew to be scheduled for 2025. 

Volunteers from other A.T. clubs could be organized into crews, especially sawyers. 

It is currently uncertain, especially with winter weather, if the entire A.T. path along NC/TN border will be opened when 2025 NOBO hikers begin to pass through the region, thus may recommend a partial “skip and return” hike.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is formally publishing a policy that strongly recommends backpackers and others who camp overnight on the A.T. use an approved food storage method.  First type are provided by land managers, such as cable systems, metal pole with arms and bearproof metal boxes.  While the policy cites that 40% of AT designated overnight sites have these options, none exist on the TEHCC section.  The metal pole at the former Watauga Lake Shelter was ineffective, likely being too short thus was removed from the field.  Second acceptable option type is a personal bear-resistant container carried by the backpacker.  TEHCC has two 440 cubic inch BearVault Solo bear-resistant food storage containers (suitable for weekend trips) available in the rental program. 

The ATC policy strongly discourages the food hang as a method of protecting food and other consumables from bears and other wildlife.  The ATC Register blog cites that 67% of reported bear encounters involve food hangs and storage that the bear “defeated”.   Bears have successfully adapted to this approach while the increasing number of overnight visitors incorrectly execute the food hang, thus the policy recommends eliminating this ineffective method of protecting food on the Appalachian Trail.

The policy advocates that land managers along the A.T. should develop policies either strongly recommending or requiring that an acceptable food storage method (as described above) be used across the entire A.T.  North Carolina Forest Service already requires bear canisters in several areas, including Shining Rock Wilderness and Panthertown (latter signed May 3, 2022). 

ATC continues to request that all encounters with bears along the A.T. be reported using this form.

January 2022: This closure notice has been formally lifted by Cherokee National Forest.

USFS naturalist has determined that a camping closure notice is appropriate due to the multiple recent bear encounters shared below.

The notice reads: CAMPING IS CLOSED On the Appalachian Trail From Above Double Springs Shelter to Backbone Rock side trail (mile marker 451 to appx. mile marker 464) until further notice DUE TO AGGRESSIVE BEAR ACTIVITY. Map

Double Springs Shelter is open for use. Abingdon Gap Shelter is closed.

November: Current plan is to lift the restrictions at end of 2021 calendar year.

5/28: NOBO ~455 – South of Low Gap/US 421. Over 20 minutes before sunrise, a single bear tore holes in the side of a tent and its floor, bit a water bottle, and was unsuccessful at getting into a Ursack. The bear retreated after the pair of backpackers made noise and yelled.

5/25: NOBO Mile 458 – About half mile south of McQueen Knob, where there is a spring at an old farm site. The report states that a momma bear and two cubs stole PCT-hung food bag that was on an arcing tree, which they figured out how to climb. The food bag was hauled away to later be rummaged. The bears did not get much food as the backpacker was nearing Damascus for resupply.

A second part of the incident was that a backpack, hanging from a hammock strap, was bitten leaving puncture holes thru all layers of a pair of folded pants. This encounter was not seen as the hiker was asleep in the hammock – roughly three feet away!

5/18: NOBO Mile 457.7 – About quarter mile from above incident, two different campsites. Bear with two Cubs attempted to steal an Ursack AllMitey food bag tied to a tree – but was unsuccessful due to the properly secured sack. After being confronted, bear eventually retreated but returned to campsite two additional times that night.

Guthook logs are reporting even more bear activity by the momma and two cubs.

Please take necessary precautions to limit risk of encountering a bear,  Hikers should camp 200 feet away from where their food and “smellables” are stored for their own safety. For most adults, 200 feet is about 80 steps.  Bear canisters should be sealed correctly and not stored in shelters. (Certified list)  Proper use for Ursacks are to tie securely to the trunk of a tree.  (Link to their How to Use page) For more information about bear safety, see ATC’s safety page on bears where there is a video for PCT Method for hanging your food.