GET READY TO HIKE THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Not wanting to brag on all our natural amenities and offerings, I will let the words of a community posting near us do the honor. This is from http://www.sprucepineonline.com/burnsville.htm

"Surrounded by breathtaking sights and lush landscapes, this rural mountain community is surrounded by more than 32,000 acres of protected National and State forested lands. Filled with abundant wildlife, a wealth of natural resources and numerous pristine rivers and streams, Burnsville is filled with fun things to experience. The Blue Ridge Parkway meanders through Yancey County and the Appalachian Trail follows the southern boundary of the county, creating some great spots to hike, mountain bike, and enjoy nature. The Toe River also crosses through Burnsville NC, and many visitors to the area want to stay in Burnsville to be close to exciting NC Whitewater Rafting and spectacular NC Fly Fishing."

Each of these will be highlighted in future blogs, but today is about the world's most celebrated trail, the Appalachian Trail, most commonly known as the AT. It can be accessed right here in Yancey County. Here are the comments of hikers on the trail in our area.
From http://www.ibiblio.org/kelly/vnc/at/:

"The 5,516 foot Big Bald, a mountain on the Tennessee-North Carolina Border, has one of the best views of any peak on the trail. A bald is an open grassy area on top of a mountain. Many of these are found in the southern Appalachians in North Carolina, and they offer spectacular views. Big Bald is the highest mountain on the trail between Roan Mountain and the Smokies."

And from http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGD044-001http://

"Each spring nearly 1,500 people hoist unbelievably heavy packs onto their backs and strain down a misty trail, intent on accomplishing the most difficult task of their lives: going the length of the Appalachian Mountains. The footpath links a tree-covered mountaintop in Georgia and a rock-capped summit in central Maine. The trail winds for 300 miles across western North Carolina, home to some of its highest elevations and most spectacular scenery."

If the breathtaking beauty of our great outdoors doesn't get you up and out, or if the testaments of these experienced hikers don't motivate you, then maybe this will. Many of the hikers estimate they expend between 5,000-6,000 calories a day while hiking the AT. They MAKE themselves load up on carbs and comfort foods! So start training today to enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery you will ever see in your lifetime, experience again the youthful exuberance of meeting a difficult challenge, and keep as a memento the lean, well-toned body you earned during your Appalachian Trail hiking experience.

Training to hike: http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-hike-the-appalachian-trail

Serious training for the thru-hiker:
http://www.gorp.com/hiking-guide/travel-ta-hiking-injury-prevention-sidwcmdev_057970.html

Photos of the North Carolina AT: http://www.ibiblio.org/kelly/vnc/at/ and http://www.masterbuilderfellowship.com/