I did this 34ish mile loop on 11/18. I got the idea and route from friend Rachel Corrigan, who did it with her boyfriend a few months ago.
I had considered signing up for the Looking Glass 100K, but I chose to do this instead. My wife will be out of town at a conference, I have a free place to stay at in the Smokies and I will save alot of money, compared to doing Looking Glass.
https://www.strava.com/routes/3145913529479081228
Start and parking is at Big Creek Campground-Big Creek Entrance Rd, Newport, NC 37821
Chestnut Branch Trail 2 miles and take LEFT on AT
Mount Cammerer mile 4.3 -4927 elevation
Sunup Knob mile 6 -5032 elevation
Crosby Knob mile 8.5 -5200 elevation
Ross Knob mile 9.1 -5082 feet elevation
Camel Humb Knob 5200 feet elevation
Inadu Knob 5251 feet elevation
Old Black 6358 feet elevation
Guyot 6624 feet elevation
Tricorner Knob 6145 feet elevation
Mount Yonaguska 6177 feet elevation
Thermo Knob 6089 feet elevation
Luftee 6213 feet elevation
Balsam Corner 6040 feet elevation
Big Cataloochie 6151 feet elevation
Big Butt 6030 feet elevation
Mount Sterling 5839 feet elevation with the highest fire tower on the East Coast
On AT until around mile 15.5 and take LEFT on Balsam Mtn Trail
At 21.2 stay straight onto Sterling trail ( Balsam goes RIGHT)
26.4 stay straight onto Baxter Creek (Sterling goes RIGHT) After Mt Sterling it becomes Baxter Creek Trail
Last big downhill starts at mile 26.93 End at Big Creek Camp Entrance Rd