This is a very good description of the trail. I just did this trail and wanted to add a couple comments. The trailhead at Bolen's creek can be found at the end of a private road called Water Shed Road. In some online critiques, the trail is described as overgrown. I think the Ecomonic Recovery act has pumped some $ into trail maintenance. We could see where small trees have been cut that were in the middle of the trail and growth on the side of the trail has been cut back. We saw workers on another trail that had the "Ecomonic Recovery $ at work" sign posted. We did the trail in one day, with approx 35lb packs. 9:30am to 7:00pm. Very strenuous day. Hit Deep Gap at 3:30 and decided to keep going. We did not get water at deeep gap, but from talking to other hikers, it's a steep hike/climb down to the water.
Good to see some trail work being done. Generally the trail (from my experience from year to year) tends to get overgrown in the late spring and early summer.
There are smaller springs (during times of good rainfall) on either side of Deep Gap without having to descend too far. But in dry years you have to go down pretty far to find reliable water.
MikeBelu - Oct 18, 2010 5:07 pm - Hasn't voted
Oct 2010 updateThis is a very good description of the trail. I just did this trail and wanted to add a couple comments. The trailhead at Bolen's creek can be found at the end of a private road called Water Shed Road. In some online critiques, the trail is described as overgrown. I think the Ecomonic Recovery act has pumped some $ into trail maintenance. We could see where small trees have been cut that were in the middle of the trail and growth on the side of the trail has been cut back. We saw workers on another trail that had the "Ecomonic Recovery $ at work" sign posted. We did the trail in one day, with approx 35lb packs. 9:30am to 7:00pm. Very strenuous day. Hit Deep Gap at 3:30 and decided to keep going. We did not get water at deeep gap, but from talking to other hikers, it's a steep hike/climb down to the water.
BobSmith - Oct 18, 2010 5:10 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Oct 2010 updateThanks for the information!
Good to see some trail work being done. Generally the trail (from my experience from year to year) tends to get overgrown in the late spring and early summer.
There are smaller springs (during times of good rainfall) on either side of Deep Gap without having to descend too far. But in dry years you have to go down pretty far to find reliable water.
It's a heck of a trail to do in one day!