Date: 08/06/2024
Name: Yellow Patch-AT Loop Trail + Pickens Nose
Distance: 7.74
Difficulty: Moderate
Total Climbing Elevation: 1,214
Type: Loop
Notes: REVIEW:The Yellow Patch section of this trail could be very nice, but unfortunately has suffered from lack of maintenance with serious overgrowth and numerous blowdowns. The trail is blazed, but the blazing is absent at several key points where one could miss a turn. It is passable with care, however, and should be considered a moderately difficult adventure hike. NOTES: Another "great hike" to beat the summer heat with partly cloudy skies and temperatures between 68°F & 75°F throughout the day. The first part of our hike to Pickens Nose was fairly easy even with a steep initial climb. This hike is full of great overlooks with one to the east and three to the west. . . . and if you order now, you will get to climb down a steep rock formation to view a cave beneath it. Thanks to Terre for pointing out this cave and Heather for leading our climb down. Our second hike on the Yellow Patch Trail was one none of us had completed before. The AT sections of the hike were as expected with a wide range of conditions, some good and some quite rocky and rooty. However, the Yellow Patch portions of this loop were more challenging than expected for the reasons noted in my review above. Wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts is advisable to protect from the extensive blackberry growth and thorns. Plenty of berries, however. One section of the Yellow Patch Trail had lots of bear scat, but no bears were seen. Having a GPS is also a must, but even then we got off trail at an inconspicuous split in the old logging road we were were following. A little bushwhacking by some and backtracking by others got us back on track. Just a few wildflowers, most notably a beautiful patch of red Bee Balm on the AT. It was still worth the effort to check out this trail. TODAY'S HIKERS: Heather Wall, Rex Wade, Edwin Pruitt, Terre Pratt, Don Pratt, Ken Kellerman & Cutie Pie, Mike Bell, Jenny Bell & Matt with Toby.
AllTrails Link: Yellow Patch-AT Loop Trail + Pickens Nose near Otto, NC
Additional Search Terms: August