I couldn't have asked for better visibility during my hike to Wesser Bald in Nantahala National Forest. I started at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and followed the Appalachian Trail south. This long hike begins around 1,700 feet in the Nantahala Gorge and climbs nearly 3,000 feet along the northwestern Nantahala Mountains. Shortly past the midpoint the AT passes through wildfire damage from 11/16 on a fun, narrow ridge culminating in The Jump Up. This landmark has good views, but pales in comparison to Wesser Bald. The ascent to The Jump Up was steep and was the first significant stretch of ice. Unfortunately I forgot my microspikes and descending this was brutally slow on the return.
The fun ridgeline continues along Fork Mountain, then the AT drops into a shallow gap meeting the Wesser Creek Trail and the Wesser Bald Shelter. This is an excellent stop for a weekend backpack, and the summit is less than a mile away. The going was slow though, this whole stretch still had a lot of packed snow. The small summit of Wesser Bald (4,627 feet) is home to a wooden observation tower built in 1993 to replace the original steel live-in cab. Standing 30 feet above the ground, this open platform has some of the best views I've encountered in NC.
The 360-degree views include many Blue Ridge subranges, most of them higher than Wesser Bald but far enough away to have wide open panoramas. The AT continues south climbing Copper Ridge Bald, and you can see the towers of Wine Spring Bald on the distant right. The Tusquitee and Valley River Mountains form the imposing Fires Creek Gorge to the southwest. Some of the high peaks of Georgia can be seen between the Tusquitee and Nantahala Mountains. Due west are the Snowbird Mountains, with the towers on Teyahalee Bald clearly visible. Further right are the much bigger Unicoi Mountains including Huckleberry Knob, plus you could see The Hangover poking up above the Cheoah Mountains. The clearing on Cheoah Bald is visible, rising thousands of feet above the gorge. The Great Smoky Mountains span the northern horizon, with the massive broad, blackish summit of Clingmans Dome as its centerpiece. You could see the towers on Cowee Bald northeast, with the craggy, clustered Plott Balsam Mountains behind. The Great Balsam Mountains are the dominant range ENE, with the Cowee Mountains rising east above the Little Tennessee River Valley. Yellow Mountain, Shortoff Mountain, and Whiteside Mountain all easy to pick out. You really have to check this out with clear skies, the views are unrivaled for this region.
Hike was 13.3 miles in 6 hours and 45 minutes.
Hike location
https://goo.gl/maps/qEXPfooPutg2DsCQ8
Hike report
https://www.hikingupward.com/NNF/WesserBald/
