Winter Solstice AT Section Finishing Hike With A Yule Bonus...Fort Foster

Well, Saturday was the Winter Solstice and what better way to celebrate the heart of Yule than a hike. However, this was no ordinary hike but another key swap hike with the Mid-Appalachian Hiking Club. This time the hike was Indian Grave Gap to Chestoa, just outside Erwin. 

For me personally, this hike completed the Appalachian Trail (AT) section Iron Mountain Gap to Chestoa (more on that later). Well, the section was actually finished when I reached Nolichucky Campground as I hiked to here back in 2017. For this hike, we were starting at Indian Grave Gap while the Johnson City Hiking Club (JCHC) was starting at Chestoa. If you haven't guessed ours was the mostly downhill part. Another thing that made it feel like the Winter Solstice...snow. While it was not too cold in Johnson City at Indian Grave Gap it was cold and there was still snow lying around.

The highlight of the first half was a side trip to Fort Foster. If you haven't heard of it I hadn't either. It is not on any AT map and the reason is people from both clubs basically bushwhacked the 0.2-mile trail to this beautiful rock outcrop. It wasn't a bad trail, but one of my fellow hikers said it was a lot more grown over in Summer. Still, the outcrop (which can be seen on the drive up) provides wonderful views of Unaka Mountain, Indian Grave Gap, and Erwin. But, it was windy and cold, that is why I care about a thermos of hot tea.

After returning to the AT we headed down to Curley Maple Gap. You first pass the remains of the old shelter before reaching the current one (it is where we met the JCHC crew). This block and wood shelter was originally built in 1961 and refurbished in 2010. It is a double-deck shelter that is roomy as it sleeps 14.

Once leaving the Gap the AT flattened out with a lot of footbridges. When we reached the trail junction to the Nolichucky Campground the section was done but not the hike. It was 1.3 more miles to Chestoa and our vehicles. Overall it was close to nine miles and we actually finished before the JCHC...win!