Day 10 [NC: Mile 117.8 - Mile 136.9] Wine Spring Cam -> Nantahala Outdoor Center
Date: July 20, 2025 (Sunday)
Total Distance: 19.1 miles on AT
This is day that broke our daily milage again, and it is even tougher after yesterday’s long hike.
Mile 119.4 Gravel Road
This should not be a significant point on AT, but I would like to list it as the rhododendron flowers and scenery at this cross with the gravel road is so amazing in this foggy and dark weather.
Mile 119.5 Wayah Bald Trail Head
We knew we are close to something extraordinary when we noticed the plantation change. The tree became bold and woods thinned out. The trail head is a circle shaped roundabout with parking spaces. There are pit toilets and trash bins here. Then walking along the paved, wide Wayah Blad Road for about 0.3 mile, we came to the summit of Wayah Bald and its stone observation tower and picnic area. Unfortunately due to thick fog that morning, we again failed to capture the big mountain scenery around the mountain. But it is still a great experience. The trail continues on the opposite side of entrance, and I believe it overlaps with Bartram Trail for some miles from here, which is yellow-blazed and a more challenging trail in the area for what I heard.
Mile 120.6 Wayah Shelter
We did not stop for this shelter. There are a few nice tent sites next to the trail.
Mile 121.9 Locklog Gap
The bushes around the trail got a lot taller thicker in this section. Sometime bushwhack was needed to proceed. Our pants and shoes were wet from the dews on the leaves. About mile 122.7 is an opening in trees to have a nice view of the mountains.
Mile 124.2 Burningtown Gap/SR 139
It is a large dirt road roundabout with apple trees and parking spaces, skirting Burningtown Bald.
Mile 125.4 Cold Spring Shelter
This is the most effortless shelter we’ve ever experienced, as it literally sits next to the trail! No bench, no bar tables, but sufficient already for our needs of cooking a lunch and resting our tired legs.
Mile 126.1 Cooper Ridge Bald Lookout
It is a vista with nice views.
Mile 127.6 Big Branch Campsite
Passed without noticing it.
Mile 129.0 Tellico Gap/SR 1365
Saw the wooden sign before coming to intersection with SR 1365, and saw it again passing it, very thorough. This seems to be a popular area for day hikers, probably due to the Wesser Bald and the firetower sitting on top of the mountain. We ran into several day-hiking families on our ascend. There is a nice tent site near the top that is not marked on Farout.
Mile 130.4 Wesser Bald Observation Tower
100 yard south on a side trail is a former firetower with steel structure and a wooden platform on top offering panoramic views. We were blessed with a blue and crystal-clear sky to watch the nature beauty. Not sure whether the lake we see from far is the Fontana or not. From here, we start descending into Nantahala Gorge. This became the hardest descending we have ever tried on AT.
Mile 131.2 Wesser Bald Shelter
The shelter is right next to the road. The view was blocked by the trees, so we only saw some bear cables near the shelter. Soon we ran into another fallen tree, but managed to go through. The bushes got tall again and what worse is some have thorns that scratch the bare skin.
Mile 133.0 Jump-up Lookout
It is a rocky outcrop with outstanding views of the mountains on the left hand side of the trail. It has one of the best trail-side lookouts we’ve had. Could be a perfect spot for sunset watch. It is a monstrous 7-mile descent from the Wesser Bald to our destination of the day - NOC, and oh boy, this section is THE worst descent we’ve ever had. It is rocky and steep, and really tested our knees.
Mile 136.9 Nantahala Outdoor Center/US 19/US 74
By the time we crossed the bridge of NOC, it was almost dark. The through-hiking season is long gone, so people who are staying are mostly recreational crowds. We tried to find the lodge but realized that it needs reservation by the time we almost at the lodge in the mid of the hill. We should have checked with the general store in the front before hiking in and up. We called a hostel nearby but they couldn't pick us up. We were so tired to lift our leg to hike to it in the pitch black at that time. Ind desperation, we called Rambling Roots Hostel (828) 788-0027 (10904 Hwy 19 W, Bryson City, NC 28713), and the owner Bookie was so nice to offer us a room and a pick up. Later we learned that she just came back from vocation, so we were really blessed.
The hostel was clean, newly renovated, and cozy. Bookie even helped clean our clothes although it was almost midnight. She also owns cats and dogs who are all friendly and fun to be with.
