Leaving early Thursday morning from NOC parking lot. This section of the AT in the Nantahalas is quite rugged (compared to other areas the AT runs in the southern states). I completed a 55 mile section in the Nantahalas last week and expect to hike about 13-15 miles/day for this loop. A hiker recently measured this loop at 65 miles using GPS. (Trekking the Southern Appalachians says 55 miles, but I plan to allow five days either way.) This will be my last long hike of the spring and welcome any other hikers.