AT Hike - Winding Stair Gap to Clingmans Dome

“A fifteen miler outa Fontana dam is too aggressive. Sure it's doable enough, but doing a group hike thing it's a bit too much.

When the shelters are full, you've got 2 choices. Sleep on the dirt floor or tent. If the weather is wet or cold, the floor space will be limited. I never cared for that bit, and prefered to tent. I also wasn't much on racing onto the shelter to make sure I had a spot. Like I said earlier, it'd blow you away how many thru-hikers don't carry any type of shelter with them whatsoever.”

“Amen, NA.”

“Thanks NA. I will review the mileage and adjust accordingly based on the feedback of those who want to go. None of this is set in stone.

As far as the shelters go, I personally don't care if they are full because I hate staying in them anyway. I much prefer to tent.”

“any new hikers welcome?been about 10yrs that i hiked in the smokies,tn.and just retired from the army res.last yr.(22yrs)and i havent PT for that long,so looking to get back to hiking now.”

“hikingshoes1963,

I am x-mil also and looking for a partner to backpack with in the Smokies NP this spring. Post back here if you are interested”

“Hikingshoes and itrek, please feel welcome to join this trip! We would love to have you along.”

“Thanks for the invite CD. I just made the offer to HS due to his just getting back into backpacking like myself and thought that you guys might not want a couple of newbies slowing you down. The Smokies NP does have quite a few leg burner pulls in it. Just looking at the topo of the AT in the park looks like quite a challange to those just gettting their trail legs back. Group hikes are fun, I just don't want to slow down the pace too much for anyone. With that said, I am still interested if everyone involved is ok with it.”

“I used to backpack a lot several years ago. But rediscovered the fun this last spring. I have completed several hikes in the Red River Gorge and at the Mammoth Cave NP over the last year. Plus going on hikes while car camping with my wife in our state parks. But trying to get friends to backpack with you,and then get that blank stare back makes it difficult to find hiking partners as it has been mentioned on this site. I do like soloing, but there are places that are better traveled with a partner or group for the safty factor.

Just a little blurb so you can get to know the newbie.

Be safe,

IT”

“Sounds like a fun trip but that mileage is a little ambitious for me.

And the privy of death is Sassafras Gap shelter. I was there back in April and it looked like a strong wind would knock it over.

~shoe~”

“Itrek, I understand about the blank stares. I stop talking to my non-hiking friends about backpacking when they look at me with that glossed-over look.

As far as the pace goes, generally everyone hikes at their own pace on these trips rather than as a group. If everyone in the group hikes around the same pace, we tend to hike together. If not, eventually the group gets spread out on the trail and we meet up at the end of the day or maybe gather for lunch.

I think you are smart to look at a map and determine if this hike is for you. You obviously have plenty of experience, but as you pointed out, having your trail legs and knowing your abilities and limitations while you are getting back into backpacking is important too.

Anyway, I hope you join us on trip this year. Keep checking the trips page and welcome to TT.”

“Itrek,
sorry to get back so slow but its that time of the yr.but im looking at hiking this coming weekend(new yrs) in the smokies.”

“CD,
thanks alot but i dont want to slow you down.maybe down the trail will hike some,be safe take care.Charles
last edited: 12/30/08 5:22:17 PM”

“Thanks for the welcome CD...I did look at the map...The elevation changes might be a bit much for me to keep the pace you are wanting to do...We will see...”

“Did you make your hike over the weekend?...By the way...Where are you from if I may ask?”

“I would like to hike to my car, rather than shuttle back to Franklin at the end. I know we can't leave a car at Clingman's Dome and that we will have to get a ride to whereever we leave a car. But do you guys have any ideas on where to leave my car near Clingman's Dome? Gatlinburg maybe?”

“I jumped the gun on this. I just called the Chief Ranger's Office and overnight parking is permitted in the Clingman's Dome parking lot.”

“We would still need a shuttle.. unless we get a few cars down there and do our own shuttling...

http://www.awalkinthewoods.com/pages/wd_aboutus.htm

Both Erik and Vesna are certified in Wilderness First Aid, and Non-lethal Aversive Bear Conditioning.”

“Im new to the concept of a seven day trip over that many miles. I wonder about carrying enough food for that many days.”

“You can re supply at Fontana”

“You can also re-supply at the NOC, and there are restaurants at both Fontana and the NOC.”

“Nemster, you really are new at this...

Here's what you need to know..

1) Hikers are very generous. I don't carry food.. When I get to a Shelter I give a sob story about forgetting to pack my food bag. Through others generosity I usually eat very well.

2) Picnicers are also a good source of food.

This has several advantages:
a) It REALLY lightens your load,
b) You eat more of a variety as not everyone packs the same food.

Remember, you are not begging, you are 'yogieing'

Also, to really lighten your load... 'forget' your tent as well.. Yeah you look like an idiot, but no respectable backpacker is going to let you suffer in the rain if they have a tent and you don't..

The other option is to play REALLY dumb.. Upon arriving at the shelter stand there in utter disbelief that the shleter isn't bigger. Then say something like 'I didn't think anyone packed a tent'..

As you get more advanced with this approach, you may 'be nice' and ask to borrow a tent. Once you have aquired one, you can play dumb and express a lack of knowledge at setting it up. Then you can eat dinner (someone elses of course, as you watch them set it up). This allows you to go to sleep on a full stomach, and sleep in a tent away from the snorers in the shelter.


Get back to me once you have mastered these techniques, and I'll teach you how to convince that gorgeous blonde that you forgot your sleeping bag....

'32oz”

“Nemster, here is a great link to see who you want to 'yogie' off of..

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/52821,1.php

I would suggest Wildbill.. I recently hiked with him and he carries a boatload of food...

yours in hikin'

'32oz”

“... or bring your own water and suck up to Nigal...

'32oz”

“True dat! I always carry lots of food, of course not as much as I did this last trip.

BTW I have ordered a new smaller pack and my Shasta is now listed on ebay. Bigger is not always better.”

“That shasta really was a sweet pack though...

What did you order?

'32oz”

“Granite Gear Latitude Vapor 3800.
The Shasta is a nice pack, but I just don't need a 7lb 5500 cubic inch pack anymore. My summer pack I use is only 2200 c.i. and 2 lbs. I am pretty sure that's one reason I bummed my knee. When I was younger it was no big deal to carry 40+ lbs, but I ain't no spring chicken any more.”

“That is my next pack... that or the nimbus latitude..

They are some sweet packs!!!!!!!!!

'32oz”

“http://sourcetosea.net/the-most-popular-pack-on-the-appalachian-trail/

Here's an interesting study on the most popular pack used on the AT the last couple of years.”

“The GG packs rock. You guys will love these packs”

“We are getting way off target here...

I was trying to teach nemster how to slack pack...

'32oz”

“Exactly! That's why you make sure you have a small pack to begin with, that way there is no way to be over loaded.
CD that is one of the reasons I looked into the GG packs. I saw a ton of the Vapor Trails on my thru-hike and no one I met had a complaint. I met one guy whose pack started ripping and the GG company sent him a new one at no charge. That kind of service is hard to beat.”

“You don't need 3800cu.i. to slack pack..

I just carry my Talon 44 when I'm yogiing..

My goal is to thru-hike with an Osprey Talon 11..

http://www.bcexp.com/product_info.php?products_id=1063

'22oz
last edited: 1/07/09 10:13:05 AM”

“LOL! Good luck!”

“I plan on following you after your resupplies...

LOL

'22oz”

“I am learning I am newer at this than I thought. I grew up in Illinois and never been near any mountains or anything until I moved out this way. I have never done camping like what you do. I have also been a solo person and have never done a group thing. So, as far as the shelters you talk about, I have no idea. Do I have to really master the other techniques before you teach me the one about the blond? That really sounds like the first thing I need to get mastered.”

“In my opinion, I think it is good for newbes to do group hikes. It doesn't have to be with 20 people, but just a few. You can learn a lot from others, heck I am still learning. You can check out what type of gear everyone is using, watch how and what they cook. I have gotten a lot of ideas from other hikers.”

“I will probably have to bite the bullet and get over the solo stage and do a group trip. Just never been overly socialable. Hard to teach an old dogs new tricks sometimes.”

“If you are new, group things may not be the best.. You wind up comparing equipment and feeling inferior....

'32oz”

“I dont think I would feel inferior as much as uncomfortable being around people I dont know.”

“I just penciled this trip in my schedule. I can't make the whole thing, but can do the first two days from Winding Stair Gap to the NOC.”

“yeahhhhhhhh! I think I got a taker...maybe!

what the heck? I just checked the sign up and I think I've got two!
last edited: 1/09/09 10:06:35 AM”

“By the way, I am going to work out more details on this trip over the weekend and make edits to the trip page.”

“Do you have a trail map of this trip? I wanted to see where it will be.”

“I would love to make this trip and get the chance to meet, for the first time, some of the TTers. That fine? But, having said that, I'm still confirming my departure date for the Peace Corp which may prevent me from coming along.”

“I don't recall many, perhaps 1 or 2, individuals thruhiking without tents or hammocks in '05. Considerably less than 1% of the total. A night or so out in the cold because other hikers refused to vacate their spot in the shelter for the unprepared usually resulted in shelter purchases in the next town.”

“http://www.atctrailstore.org/

nemster, the maps I have are the ATC North Carolina (Bly Gap to Fontana Dam), and the National Geographic Great Smoky Mountains map. You might be able to find these at your outfitter, or you can get them from the ATC.”

“Hope you can join us Words.

Where do you hope to serve with the Peace Corp?”

“If you can wait a few weeks the new 2009 revised maps and guidebooks will be out. The current version was last revised in 2005.”

“Which books and maps are being revised from 2005?

Thanks,

IT”

“Woops, The Tennessee - North Carolina Books are being redone this year, the Georgia - North Carolina books were re-done in 2008. Sorry, next time I will think before I type.”