Customer Reviews

Hiking North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail

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I used this book as I went against the grain and attempted the MTS from Blowing Rock to Cherokee-backwards. I guess this is a one way trail! De Harts book is strictly from "left to right". Its plentiful in anecdotal ways and vague in ways that make it occasionally unreliable for the person attempting this trail-especially if you are going "backwards".

On the MTS trail, those seeking deep wilderness experience will have to be very tolerant. Through-hikers seeking to decompress and exit the infrastructuremania (much less human imprint altogether) might find this trail aggravating. If that doesn't get you then the the incredible inconsistency in the quality level of its marking will: some places are marked with excellence and intelligence, others are marked very poorly. No fault of Allen De Hart's.

Although there are many very long walking interludes away from the busy Blue Ridge Parkway, The MTS trail in the mountains is largely defined by this amazing asphalt strip. Hiking alongside, hidden in the woods, this trail has a walker moving within yards of and often with clear sight of a good bit of the BRP(or should I say the Harley Davidson Parkway?)often with incessant and persistent sound of traffic. When not on trail that mirrors the BRP one hikes along a fair amount of forest service road.

From Boone to Gatlinburg there is a spectacular, majestic wilderness with cascading creeks, lush forests, gorgeous waterfalls and timeless vistas. This vast, magical wonderland has been absolutely indundated, dissected, and overrun by bustling auto-tourism, commerce, and modern human living. Walking this trail brings this truth clearly to the user.

The MTS trail links together and passes through much exquisite ground. Without its traffic, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a wonderful,serene place (and would make a terrific trail-ask George Washington Vanderbilt!). If you are seeking to spirit away into a long-distance, primeval experience the MTS trail may not be the walk for you.

De Hart's maps are faint and of minimal use while on trail.

This book was publised in 2000 and is very outdated. The trail has been changed since, only section one eastbound is accurate. Visit the Friends of the NC Mountain to Sea Trail website for the most updated information.