Picking a sub-300 mile trail

[BreckDown]

I'm going to clarify my situation as I appear to have confused enough people with my original post. I by no means intend this reiteration to be an insult.

- I want to do a sub 300 mile thru-hike of a trail east of the Rockies. I used to live in CA and have experienced the Sierras and will be returning their multiple times over the next few years so I don't want to use this trip for the JMT or other trails out there.

- My wife will not be going with me. She has two rods in her back and camping is extremely uncomfortable for her plus we have a 13 month old and we both can't take a long vacation without him.

- My wife doesn't want me going alone on this trip. Though my pride says, "I'll be fine." I have to agree that for safety sake, it is much better to hike with at least one other. I don't think those pics of the helo medivacing the hiker we found with a broken ankle on our last trip helped my sales pitch for a solo hike. Plus, who am I going to share stories with?

- I cannot go until 2011. I just moved from CA to IN in the last days of December, bought a house, and re-established my department at work here in this regions office. Between the work expectation this year and my son only being 13 months old, I'm not willing to take off until next year when my wife has a better support system out here. We only know 4 people in the state and they are all over an hour away. By next year we should have babysitters and may even be able to coordinate a girl friend of hers coming out for a vacation while I'm gone.

- Why am I planning for 2011 now? I like to work towards a goal each year in everything i do. Last year for hiking it was a 4 day trip to Yosemite. If I set a goal to do a 300 mile trail in 2011 I will spend the next year building towards achieving that goal. I start with how many miles a day I need to do to meet the goal and map out a build up plan using local trails. This gets me out and exploring more. I look for trails with the types of features I want to work on, distance or elevation. I'll guesstimate my pack weight for the final trip and load down my with extra water, gear, or old dive weights throughout the build-up hikes. If I plan to do 15 miles a day, I'll train to meet over 20 miles a day. I plan for a 24lbs pack, I'll carry 30 on the build up hikes. In the end it all helps me get in shape, allows me to enjoy my final hike more, and just gives me something else to think about besides work.....or what color my wife wants to paint every wall in this house.

- This year I'm most likely get out for one or two different outings of 5-7 days each. My old hiking buddy works in our CA office and we'll write off at least one trip to the owners as a department team building exercise. One of these trips may be the Foothills Trail. I looked into it last night and with posts here mentioning waterfalls and Rhododendrons I have to say that it's a trail meant for me to do.

[swampfox]

That's a great plan, SBreckinridge.
If you can make it to upper South Carolina, you won't be disappointed with the Foothills Trail.

Here are few pictures from a May trip.
The flowers by the river was at my campsite on the Chatooga River. I was sitting on a rock, enjoying breakfast.
The waterfall is Upper Whitewater Falls.

[swampfox]

Well I am E2E'ing the LT this summer, Planning on leaving January 26 ish

You're late.

[lazy river road]

You're late.

LMAO yeah im pretty late for that leave date, I guess Ill have to push it back to June 26 (my mistake meant to say June the first time). Any ways if I went this time of year id freez my a$$ off up their this time of year.

[rigidpsycho]

The Sheltowee Trace here in KY is 269 miles. It starts at the northern terminus near Morehead, KY and travels South through KY to Pickett Stae Park in TN. There have been people who has thru hike the whole trail in 2 weeks, but depending on how many miles per day you are wanting to do you could turn it into a 3 week trip. It travels through the Cave Run Lake, Red River Gorge, and The Big South Fork areas of KY just to name a few.

[KerMegan]

is there a place we can find some/all the trails grouped by length/duration/difficulty /location? it would make trip planning a lot easier..
KM

[rigidpsycho]

For the Sheltowee trace there is a book called day and overnight hikes on the Sheltowee. In the back of the book is a detailed intenery of thru hiking the trail, it actually starts at the southern terminus of the trail in the book.

[bdpalace]

http://www.sheltoweetrace.com.The downside to the ST is the amount of road hiking. I would estimate that 40 miles or so will be on the road. Also there are limited resupply options but, much like this forum, the online community is quick to offer support. There are a couple of thru journals on the site that will give you a good idea of what to expect. Good luck!

[Shug]

Here is a great blog on Sam Haroldson's SHT thru hike. Day by day, play by play.....http://samh.net/backpacking/?do=showproduct&id=112
and a reference sheet .... http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/sPZ2S69...WO%20PAGES.pdf

Good luck choosing ....
Shug

[Schneiderlein]

- This year I'm most likely get out for one or two different outings of 5-7 days each. My old hiking buddy works in our CA office and we'll write off at least one trip to the owners as a department team building exercise. One of these trips may be the Foothills Trail. I looked into it last night and with posts here mentioning waterfalls and Rhododendrons I have to say that it's a trail meant for me to do.

I can only recommend the Foothills Trail. I have hiked it twice so far, and will go back this year for another thru-hike, probably in late April. It is perfect for hammockers. It does get pretty hot in the summers, probably best to go in the Spring or Fall. I live fairly close by, if you need any help with a shuttle from GSP, let me know.