Backpacking At Smoky Mountains NP This W eekend

“Hey everyone... I am new to trail talk but not to backpacking newsgroups. I am planning to go backpacking this weekend at GSMNP and I was wondering if anyone would like to meet up. Someone directed me to this and said that it would be a good resource. Let me tell you some specs... I am 19 originally from MD but I am going to school in FL right now. (I got to get away back to the mountains!). I am also male. I am very interested in meeting up with someone mainly so we can give each other a lift (car) and perhaps more importantly someone to pass the time with. Unfortunatly I will be going alone this time. Sorry for cutting and pasting but I have some work to do tonight. Please respond to this post if you want to do something or answer some of the following questions! Thanks! Oh yeah, I may leave this thursday not friday (not sure yet)

I wrote this earlier in rec.backcountry

Hey there... Friday I am leaving to go to GSMNP. Right now I am just doing
some trail-planning and I am in a bit of a jam. Unfortunately I am limited
to the places I want to go because I am going by myself with 1 car. (I
wanted to hike the boulevard trail from newfound gap to Leconte, spend the
night and come down through alum cave or the rainbow falls trail). I was
hoping I could put them together somehow. I helped a group of college
students (my age)from Michigan state who came from the boulevard trail and
then down to alum cave then I took them back to newfound gap with my car.
Anyone have any ideas? Anyone going to GSMNP this weekend? Is there a
website where I could hook-up with some fellow hikers to go hiking? I also
think I am gonna go to Bone Valley in the park from Clingmans dome. Any
thoughts? Suggestions? I leave Friday afternoon and need to be back next
Wed. Morning.

Thanks you all!
John


Hope to hear from you!
John


Trip: Oct 18th-22 (Hope to see some nice Fall Foliage!)”

“I'm leading a group Oct. 18-20 starting at Newfound Gap and going to Icewater Spring and Mt. LeConte. Do you have reservations at the shelters? We have 6 in our group. Maybe we will meet along the way!”

“18th-20th might sound good. If I can get thursday off. About the reservations... Last time I went up to GSMNP (this time last year)I just walked in to the visitors center and said I want a reservation at the Leconte Shelter for tonight and they gave me one. How far in advance do I need them? I guess because this is Fall Foliage time it would be kinda crowded ey?

John”

“Are you just going to go to icewater spring in the morning and then backtrack and continue on the boulevard trail to Mt. Leconte shelter? Then call it a day? Are you coming back the blvd. trail or someplace else?”

“Spending the night at Icewater Spring shelter Friday night. Sat. hiking the Blvd. trail to LeConte and spending the night in the shelter there then Sun. hiking down the Alum Cave trail. By the way, my group got the last reservations for both shelters unless someone called and cancelled a reservation. That is unlikely. I have someone in my group who might cancel their reservation so I might have a spot open up.”

“John O - let me know if you need a ride. Its no problem for me to shuttle you!”

“I am leaving here on Thursday! I am gonna make plans now to stay at Leconte shelter for Friday. If it is full I will see if their is a waiting list or maybe someone will cancel and I can get the spot. When will you arive at Icewater shelter? Maybe I can come visit if you are early!

Thanks!”

“Hi smokygirl! That is very kind of you. This is all very superficial and I really don't want to hassle you if it is too much. Will you be hiking in the Smoky's this weekend? Please tell me more.

Thanks... Hope to hear from you!
John”

“They said that they just filled up the last friday Leconte shelter slot. Thursday has 2 open and Sunday has 1. I wonder what I should do now. I guess I could keep checking in with them to see if anyone canceled. But then nobody probably cares. I don't just want to show up. Maybe I need to make another plan.

John”

“Can't tell you how many times I've been at the shelters and extra people, not even through hikers show up. They used to keep two open spots at the shelters just for through people. I heard that's not the case anymore but not sure. Man there are plenty of loops with un rationed sites you could do. Still get into high ground. We're doing a loop out of Cataloochee (east side) to Laurel Gap 11/1.
Lots of luck
M”

“I usually try to hike in the Smokies every weekend if my schedule lets me. I haven't gelled my plans yet, but if you need a shuttle this weekend - let me know what time, and I can try to help you out! Also, there are usually one or two spaces open in the shelters. Every single time a shelter has been booked - there have been a few spaces left; however, the Smokies is crazy with people right now because of fall colors. You might want to pick an area with more solitude - Leconte is always very crowded and Alum Cave trail is one of the most popular trails. Icewater shelter is always crowded because it is so close to Newfound Gap, of course. I would hike around the Cosby area or hike up to Pecks Corner or Tri-Corner shelters. The stretch on the AT from Newfound Gap to Pecks is incredible!”

“I just made a reservation for Sunday. The operator said to keep calling back. I am gonna keep calling back 2 times a day till thursday so that I might be able to move that from Sun to Fri. She said that people call in and cancel all the time.

Your right Mtnman there are many unrationed sites. I just really wanted to see/stay at Leconte again on this trip.”

“I was just up hiking a 14 mile loop from Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer, Grassy Creek, Dry Sluice, and back to AT yesterday. I did a quick jaunt to the Jumpoff. It was beautiful, and I was walking in clouds. When I started out, Newfound Gap, and the stretch to Charlies Bunion was crazy with people. Icewater shelter was packed by 5:00. Just to let y'all know!”

“Yes, Leconte is a beautiful place! Good luck with getting a shelter!”

“I just had a cancellation for the trip that I told you about. you can email me at Adelicia1@aol.com and I will give you the time and location that we are meeting if you want to join my group.”

“Smoky girl:
Sitting on the AT at the Bunion last year a touron stomps by from the gap, minutes later stomps back and asks us where does this trail go? my pal replies- Main> Should have seen the guy's face, hee hee”

“Ha ha!!
I was hiking the AT from Fontana to Waterville. When I made it to Newfound Gap, a lady pointed at me and nudged her friend, "Look a Hiker! Hey, what kind of tree is this?"”