Standing Indian Loop Day 1 4K

Twelfth backpacking trip of 2024 ... November 1, 2024
included ... Mom, Sally & I
Day 1... 6.96 miles / 2,507' elevation gain
Mom came down and joined Sally & I for a weekend backpacking trip. This time we decided to do a loop around the Standing Indian area. This was a great moderate loop (well other than the fogged-out views on our third day - more on that later)! We arrive at the backpacker's lot off of the forest service road (which is paved to that point) and load up our gear (after reviewing the area map at the trailhead). I was carrying about 29lbs and mom was about 28.5 ... we had extra weight due to our plan for camping on the summit for the night. Off we go, going counterclockwise we head off on Long Branch trail towards the main campground area - after crossing a little log bridge we hang a left to cross over the Nantahala River to take an immediate right onto Park Ridge trail - where we passed a nice beachy area for Sally to play in the water for a bit.
After a short ways - we come to a junction with multiple trails - we hang a right onto Kimsey Creek which will eventually connect up to the AT (at Deep Gap where I'd been the previous weekend). To this point the trail had been pretty easy - but a short distance up Kimsey the climbing started (as we passed above the group camp sites). At what appeared to be an old forestry road ... we took a right to stay on Kimsey Creek. From here for awhile it followed the hollow alongside the stream. It does crisscross the stream but there is one major wet foot ford (not super deep when we crossed - but the water was chilly!) where the bridge has gotten dislocated from a tree uproot. As we continued climbing - we passed by a couple of lovely small cascades (one by a footbridge and one just beside the trail). Just as the climb started getting steeper through several beech trees - the rain decided to pick up and the fog/clouds settled in. The few moments of sun we'd glimpsed earlier in the day were long gone. As we arrived at the junction with the Appalachian Trail at Deep Gap at 4.2 miles - the fog/clouds were heavy and the rain picked up. We headed northbound along the AT - pushing up the climb with our heads down - praying the rain would end so we could set up the tent without rain. As we got near the summit - the tree/fog combinations got eerie just the bare trees surrounded by fog. Just a perfect setting for something horrible like a bear to pop its head out of the dense fog! Thankfully, we made it to the summit just as the rain seemingly let up for a bit - to give us time to figure out how to set up the new tent (it's second time being setup and first time on the trail!). Thankfully, Hyperlite made the tent setup process super easy (aided by the fact that I'd connected the inner and outer at home, so all I had to do was set the carbon fiber pole and throw our packs inside! Once inside, we changed into dry clothes (well layered our warm clothes over our damp ones - so they'd dry out by the next day!). We peaked back outside - where the sun tried to make a reappearance but the fog was headstrong and refused any sort of sunset view! We scarfed down our delicious meals and I enjoyed my hot cocoa ... before putting everything away into the bear bags and hanging them away from camp. The fog had somehow become even more dense - so we just curled up in our sleeping bags and fell asleep early!
Things to note... there's plenty of parking at the trailhead and the road in is fantastic (paved all the way to the parking area. Kimsey Creek trail was really nice - and the two cascades were a nice surprise!
There's plenty of water along this trail since it follows the creek for most of the trail. The one footbridge is out - so you'll probably have wet feet but it's not a deep crossing just might be cold! We crossed just before the tree uproot. There's a nice water pipe just before the junction with Deep Gap - so that's probably going to be a nice place to get water if you're continuing to the summit (though there's a nice campsite right there as well!). There's one shelter between Deep Gap and the summit - Standing Indian shelter - and there was already a group there (honestly, we're glad - because they'd planned on staying on the summit but bailed because of the weather). If you want to stay on the summit - either go during the week or get a really early start on a Friday or go in less than desirable weather!

[@hikingwithrae]

This makes me want to be back out there!!

[@roselee_explores]

I know it ... it's such a beautiful area! I've been off trail for the past 2 weeks and I'm chomping at the bit to get back out there! Hopefully, you'll be able to get back out there too :)