17-03-2025
Free ferry over Nolichucky for Appalachian Trail hikers launches
ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) — A group of local business owners and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) launched a free ferry service on Monday intended to help hikers on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) better cross the Nolichucky River post-Hurricane Helene.
The project was an effort among the ATC, Wahoo's Adventure Nolichucky, Unicoi County Economic and Community Development, the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development and Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel Cabins & Camping.
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The free daily ferry service aims to assist A.T. hikers in crossing the portion of the Nolichucky that washed away the Chestoa Bridge during Hurricane Helene. That bridge was the primary river crossing for A.T. hikers going through Erwin.
Since the bridge's collapse, a 3.6-mile detour was established to get hikers across the river. Organizers said the detour poses some risks to hikers due to flood debris, damage and dump truck traffic.
Thanks to the ATC's Resilience Fund, a solution to the detour came in the form of a raft. Wahoo Nolichucky Adventures was then called in to offer a shuttle across the river.
Uncle Johnny's Hostel and Outfitter Owner Terry Wise told News Channel 11 that he expects 3,000 hikers to pass through the area within the next 2-3 months.
'This is also a tremendous help to the rafting community because Slayton [Wahoo's owner] bought his company. How long ago? A year ago today? Yeah, one year ago he bought it,' Wise said. 'And then, unfortunately, Helene hit and all of the rafting community is not getting permits from the forestry service this year. So this will benefit the rafting community as well as the hiking community. '
Wise said he's heard from hikers he's recently met that fellow hikers they pass already know of the ferry and are excited to use it.
'The ones that are showing up can't wait to do it. There's a lot of chatter down the trail that people are dying to come and do it. And the ones that, the hikers that already passed, we're excited for the people to behind them.'
The ferry will operate from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through June and will be the official route of the A.T. during its operation this spring.
Wahoo's owner Slayton Johnson said he's proud to be able to assist A.T. hikers during a time he's unable to use his rafts for his own business operations. He said he also gets to provide his employees some work for the first time since Helene struck.
'The people, they're having a great time,' Johnson said. 'It's much better than the reroute, they get to enjoy a beautiful section of river and I get to put some river guides back to work, which is really awesome.'
The exact location of the ferry service is northbound mile 344.6 on the Appalachian Trail.
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