Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 23

Above: The Nantahala Outdoor Center is hiker-friendly. Right: The Wesser Bald Lookout Tower was originally built in 1936.

pretty much guaranteed to see at least
the painted and large-flowered trilliums along the scenic brook. The blossoms become fewer in number as the
trail leaves the creek and steepens
close to towering cliffs.
Upon reaching the present-day AT
(near the Wesser Bald Shelter side trail)
at 6.2 miles, turn left and ascend the
white-blazed pathway to a short side
trail leading to the Wesser Bald
Lookout Tower at 7 miles. There is no
doubt: This is the primary reason to
have climbed approximately 3,000
feet in elevation. The wooden observation deck, erected upon the structure of the original Civilian
Conservation Corps-built fire tower of
1936, provides such a sweeping vista
that you can take in the Nantahala,
Great Smoky and Snowbird mountains
to the northwest (as well as Fontanna
Lake), Cheoah Bald to the west, the
Cowee Mountains to the east, and
Wayah Bald to the south. Snaking
northward almost directly below is the
rugged terrain you'll be traversing to
finish the hike.
Retrace steps back toward the
shelter and continue northward on
the AT's relocated route to the
Jump-Up at 9.4 miles. It's aptly
named, only you will be jumping

down the steep and rocky outcrop
that provides another fine view of the
surrounding countryside. The trail
doesn't get any easier (it's still a lot of
rock work and a loss of more than
1,000 feet in less than a mile in one
segment), but there is the compensation of an abundance of flowers, such
as squawroot, Indian pipe, mountain
fetterbush, cucumber root, lady's slippers, starry campion and umbrella
leaf. The trail finally levels out a bit
before reaching the A. Rufus Morgan
Shelter at 12.7 miles.
In the trail's early days, it was hard
to find people who were willing, or
able, to work on the pathway as it
passed through western North
Carolina. In 1941, Morgan, an
Episcopal minister, voluntarily took on
the responsibility. For 27 years, until
the formation of the Nantahala Hiking
Club in 1968, he maintained 55 miles
of trail through this area, earning the
nicknames "one-man hiking club"
and "one-man trail crew."
It's only .8 mile from the shelter to
your parked car at the outdoor center.
If you've planned correctly, there is a
rented cabin and a shower waiting to
help you rest and prepare for the rafting adventure you've reserved for
tomorrow. 

when you go

hike Details
The Hike: A moderately strenuous
13.5-mile circuit hike in western
North Carolina that takes in former
and present-day routes of the AT,
with an elevation that ranges from
1,723 feet to 4,627 feet to a
360-degree view from Wesser Bald.
Getting There: From Bryson City,
North Carolina, follow U.S. 19S for
13 miles to the Nantahala Outdoor
Center (828-488-2175; noc.com)
and, after asking permission, leave
your car in the parking area. (If you
do not wish to do the road walking
described in the text, drive a second
car back toward Bryson City for .9
mile, turn right onto Wesser Creek
Road and continue another 2.6 miles
to the Wesser Creek Trailhead. If you
do not have two cars, you may be
able to arrange a shuttle with one of
the employees of the outdoor center
during their free time.)
Trail Information: "The Appalachian
Trail Guide to North CarolinaGeorgia" is available from the
Appalachian Trail Conservancy (atctrailstore.org; 888-AT-Store).
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 | 23

http://www.noc.com http://www.atctrailstore.org http://www.atctrailstore.org

Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014

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