The road to Newfound Gap is the main road (441) that crosses the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We came in from Gatlinburg, TN. The drive up into the mountains is very pretty, and to me, it compares to a drive in the Western national parks.You get deep forest to an almost subalpine and if you continue on the road you can also do Clingman’s Dome trail to the lookout.
At Newfound Gap, you can visit both Tennessee and North Carolina in the same parking area.
At the state line. Elevation of 5,046.
True to the AT, the trail begins immediately with an uphill climb into the woods. We headed north from the trailhead.
It follows the ridge and eventually flips to the other side.
It’s a very rocky and has many steps kind of section.
Walker was, of course, quite comfortable being carried.
Trekking poles are a necessity when you are front carrying an infant. – because if you stumble (since it is hard to see over the baby) you can catch yourself.
I was counterbalancing his front weight with a daypack on my back, which helps with neck strain.
Kirk ahead of me, leading us. The views through the trees were very pretty, being that it was early October and the leaves were starting to thin out.
By a White Blaze.
We hiked until the weather started shifting – we had crossed the ridge, and the wind got very cold. With a little one, we decided to turn back and get him warm in the minivan. It was a nice day out, and Walker’s first adventure on the AT.
~Sarah