US East Running the Trans America Trail (TAT) from WV to the OR coast

[Zombie]

We're all having a great time on this adventure! Yesterday was a rest day and I had Wi-Fi.

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[armyRN]

Yesterday was a half day. We got to Blowing Rock NC about 1100, and checked in at the Julian Price campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway around noon. Very nice campground . I did laundry in Boone NC, went to the grocery store, and since the campground had showers, I took a shower. Driver's meeting is at 0800 this morning, then back on the TAT! Got a full tank of gas and ready to go. Sunny and nice this morning.

 

[DEADBEEF]

Today was our firsts backtrack. After driving out a long way on the south toe river road, we ran into a road closed condition. Had to backtrack all the way to the BRP. Not too bad, it all part of the adventure, but it threw us off our timeline and we wound up spending the night in an Ingles parking lot in Mars Hill, NC. Not a bad “dispersed” camping site.
I am including a marked up section of the TAT showing the closure and our reroute. There is a waypoint indicating the position of the road closure and the backtracked route is high listed. The path we took down the BRP is in red.

 

[Deleted member 75301]

Today was our firsts backtrack. After driving out a long way on the south toe river road, we ran into a road closed condition. Had to backtrack all the way to the BRP. Not too bad, it all part of the adventure, but it threw us off our timeline and we wound up spending the night in an Ingles parking lot in Mars Hill, NC. Not a bad “dispersed” camping site.
I am including a marked up section of the TAT showing the closure and our reroute. There is a waypoint indicating the position of the road closure and the backtracked route is high listed. The path we took down the BRP is in red.

I've seen this gate in other TAT videos but the location was never included, so thank you for this helpful trail report!

 

[Mrprez]

Apparently, the road is closed due to a major washout.

 

[Levine98]

Today was our firsts backtrack. After driving out a long way on the south toe river road, we ran into a road closed condition. Had to backtrack all the way to the BRP. Not too bad, it all part of the adventure, but it threw us off our timeline and we wound up spending the night in an Ingles parking lot in Mars Hill, NC. Not a bad “dispersed” camping site.
I am including a marked up section of the TAT showing the closure and our reroute. There is a waypoint indicating the position of the road closure and the backtracked route is high listed. The path we took down the BRP is in red.

Yeah we encountered that yesterday. In Balsam Mountain campsite tonight (Sunday). Tomorrow my partner has to bail north re: having overheating problems and he wants to slow roll 2 lane to CO where he can store his vehicle with his family.

So I’m looking to attach to another team—is anyone near this location and or close? 35.56504, -83.17436 I’d be happy to either layover or highway it westerly to connect as I prefer not to go it solo

 

[Deleted member 75301]

Yeah we encountered that yesterday. In Balsam Mountain campsite tonight (Sunday). Tomorrow my partner has to bail north re: having overheating problems and he wants to slow roll 2 lane to CO where he can store his vehicle with his family.

So I’m looking to attach to another team—is anyone near this location and or close? 35.56504, -83.17436 I’d be happy to either layover or highway it westerly to connect as I prefer not to go it solo

@Levine98 You are currently 105 miles from the main group in this thread if you take the most direct routing and highway. Thats just 3 hours according to Google. You could probably intercept them tomorrow if you get a jump start to your day. Use this Garmin inReach link to track the group location: Garmin Explore™

 

[Levine98]

Yeah we encountered that yesterday. In Balsam Mountain campsite tonight (Sunday). Tomorrow my partner has to bail north re: having overheating problems and he wants to slow roll 2 lane to CO where he can store his vehicle with his family.

So I’m looking to attach to another team—is anyone near this location and or close? 35.56504, -83.17436 I’d be happy to either layover or highway it westerly to connect as I prefer not to go it solo

@Levine98 You are currently 105 miles from the main group in this thread if you take the most direct routing and highway. Thats just 3 hours according to Google. You could probably intercept them tomorrow if you get a jump start to your day. Use this Garmin inReach link to track the group location: Garmin Explore™

Thanks. They are too far ahead of me at this point. I’ve connected with another chap who is closer and his schedule works well for me. Cheers

 

[NØMAD]

We continue onward through the scenic Smoky Mountains of TN. Great campsite after a day of trails running up and down the slopes.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

They just opened Tincup!

 

[armyRN]

It has been wild. Water crossings, steep rocky ascents, and never for sure till you're there where we'll be camping for the night. We've camped in an Ingals grocery store parking lot, a Wal-Mart parking lot, national park campgrounds, and an open field along the TAT.

Last night was a heavy thunderstorm. It was still raining in the morning, so we packed everything wet. Detoured off the TAT to a gas station to gas up, put on dry clothes, and get some food.

We haven't been making the miles a day like we had hoped. Hard to rack up the miles on rough gravel roads, and some in the group are on a time limit. And having 8 to 9 vehicles in the group makes things go slower. So after lunch a few of the vehicles decided they were going to split off and be the fast group. So that left three vehicles the "less fast" group including me. My TJ definitely is not fast.

So we actually jumped ahead a bit on the TAT after that. After a while, rough gravel roads with trees on both sides gets repetative. Here's where we are tonight.

Since we packed everything wet this morning, we're trying to dry things out this evening.

 

[shortbus4x4]

Sweet. I got covid the beginning of June and there went all my time off. Was hoping to join you in southern WY but it's not going to happen now.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

It has been wild. Water crossings, steep rocky ascents, and never for sure tillyoure there where we'll be camping for the night. We've camped in an Ingals grocery store parking lot, a Wal-Mart parking lot, national park campgrounds, and an open field along the TAT.

Last night was a heavy thunderstorm. It was still raining in the morning, so we packed everything wet. Detoured off the TAT to a gas station to gas up, put on dry clothes, and get some food.

We haven't been making the miles a day like we had hoped. Hard to rack up the miles on rough gravel roads, and some in the group ate on a time limit. And having 8 to 9 vehicles in the group makes things go slower. So after lunch a few of the vehicles decided they were going to split off and be the fast group. So that left three vehicles the "less fast" group. My TJ definitely is My fast.

So we actually jumped ahead a bit on the TAT after that. After a while, rough gravel roads with trees on both sides gets repetative. Here's where we are tonight.

Since we packed everything wet this morning, we're trying to dry things out this evening.

It looks like the other group turned back to Lafayette, GA. Do you have plans to regroup?

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Sweet. I got covid the beginning of June and there went all my time off. Was hoping to join you in southern WY but it's not going to happen now.

Aww, bummer. I had it in November so I can relate.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

It looks like the other group turned back to Lafayette, GA. Do you have plans to regroup?

If nothing else, I hope you can regroup near Trinidad, CO if not before. It'll become more interesting. Plus I'd sure like to meet everyone.

 

[jeepers29]

It has been wild. Water crossings, steep rocky ascents, and never for sure tillyoure there where we'll be camping for the night. We've camped in an Ingals grocery store parking lot, a Wal-Mart parking lot, national park campgrounds, and an open field along the TAT.

Last night was a heavy thunderstorm. It was still raining in the morning, so we packed everything wet. Detoured off the TAT to a gas station to gas up, put on dry clothes, and get some food.

We haven't been making the miles a day like we had hoped. Hard to rack up the miles on rough gravel roads, and some in the group ate on a time limit. And having 8 to 9 vehicles in the group makes things go slower. So after lunch a few of the vehicles decided they were going to split off and be the fast group. So that left three vehicles the "less fast" group. My TJ definitely is My fast.

So we actually jumped ahead a bit on the TAT after that. After a while, rough gravel roads with trees on both sides gets repetative. Here's where we are tonight.

Since we packed everything wet this morning, we're trying to dry things out this evening.

That looks like a great place to be. Enjoy the slow group, you will see more and more relaxing for sure.

 

[armyRN]

It has been wild. Water crossings, steep rocky ascents, and never for sure tillyoure there where we'll be camping for the night. We've camped in an Ingals grocery store parking lot, a Wal-Mart parking lot, national park campgrounds, and an open field along the TAT.

Last night was a heavy thunderstorm. It was still raining in the morning, so we packed everything wet. Detoured off the TAT to a gas station to gas up, put on dry clothes, and get some food.

We haven't been making the miles a day like we had hoped. Hard to rack up the miles on rough gravel roads, and some in the group ate on a time limit. And having 8 to 9 vehicles in the group makes things go slower. So after lunch a few of the vehicles decided they were going to split off and be the fast group. So that left three vehicles the "less fast" group. My TJ definitely is My fast.

So we actually jumped ahead a bit on the TAT after that. After a while, rough gravel roads with trees on both sides gets repetative. Here's where we are tonight.

Since we packed everything wet this morning, we're trying to dry things out this evening.

It looks like the other group turned back to Lafayette, GA. Do you have plans to regroup?

No.

 

[armyRN]

It looks like the other group turned back to Lafayette, GA. Do you have plans to regroup?

If nothing else, I hope you can regroup near Trinidad, CO if not before. It'll become more interesting. Plus I'd sure like to meet everyone.

Not sure if the fast group is going to stay together once they get to CO. Some may want to continue west instead of North through CO.

 

[NØMAD]

Beautiful scenery on the #Georgia part of the #TransAmericaTrail

 

[armyRN]

Sweet. I got covid the beginning of June and there went all my time off. Was hoping to join you in southern WY but it's not going to happen now.

Bummer.