Georgia/Smoky Mountain Backpacking

“Me and a couple friends want to go backpacking in march. I'm the only one with any experience which is only one trip. But we were looking for a weekend trip that we might be able to do some fishing. We live just north of Atlanta so any surrounding place would be nice.”

“Hey Chris, a few of us are from ATL, North GA, and around the smokies. Use the search feature first and go through some old threads and bounce them up to the top for some new info if you don't find what you need. Trust me...you'll find tons.

if you have AIM or Y! hit me up - opie1979 Always looking for hikers in the area, and i'll shoot you some suggestions.”

“March could have great conditions, could be very bad. I'd stay close to car or at least keep a short distance. Fishing will keep you low. Look at Ellicot Rock, Standing Indian; in Smokies look out of one of the sites low; ie Deep Creek, Cosby, Cataloochee, Big Creek, etc. You will be limited going up along many streams because most will involve crossings. You don't want to get creamed with a bad storm 7 miles from your car in March in the Smokies.”

“so what is a good time to go to the Smokies--to avoid large crowds, snow, etc?”

“Really depends. I've been deep in backcountry and seen very few people in mid-summer. One summer between the Bunion and Big Creek I think we saw 2 people, thats like 30 miles. You'll tend to see more south of Newfound than north. Access is easier (except along Fontana). Crowds congregate at Newfound, the Dome, LeConte, and trail out to Bunion. Most visitors never get more than 1/2 mile from their car and the big campsites on the park borders

Tree lookers in October, through hikers in April.

Snow usually December to March. Really variable. Gatlinburg can get an inch, LeConte 2 feet. And you can get creamed in a big storm on the ridgeline(all day postholing 6 miles)

If your in Virginia drop me a line, if you want suggestion on hiking (married, no criminal record)”

“LMAO@edoc

i enjoy moonlit strolls along the beach, and am actively searching for pple on the internet to steal livers from.

welcome to the boards dude. We're a good bunch.”

“Avoid the AT in March. It's usually pretty loaded with people starting their thru-hikes.”

“two words:
Cohutta Wilderness.

Easy access from Chatsworth, Elijay, or Blue Ridge.

Conasauga River is easily accessable - even by newbie standards - and can accomodate sustenance fishing (that means goooood fishing - lol!).

Great trail system with difficulty ratings ranging from easy to very strenuous.

As a North Atlantan, It will become your favorite and most frequent destination...

Where on the northside, btw?”

“

"Avoid the AT in March. It's usually pretty loaded with people starting their thru-hikes."
treebait

She's correct, but, on the other hand, it can be an interesting and educational experience. That is, if you can get a reservation for shelters across part or all of the the AT within GSMNP. Many of the year's starters will be dropping out from the AT there and you'll learn their reasons first hand. And you'll see all kinds of gear and can pick up valuable insights for you future gear selections.

Note: 1,000 to 1,500 folks may start the AT each year, but only about 10 to 15% of them complete the trail. If you go, take extra toilet paper and Duct Tape with you. You'll be a hero to some folks as you trade for morning coffee, breakfast and other items.”

“Leave the thruhikers - and their shelters - be. Weekend warriors have choices, thruhikers don't. Find another place, say Kilmer/Slickrock, during the height of the Smokys GA->ME season.

Better still, go to Cohutta :)”

“I agree w/ gojo. The AT has enough traffic that time of year.

Use campsites on the slopes and hike up and across the AT to make a loop or a figure 8.”

“I also agree on Cohutta... but that Panther Creek Trail is steep.”

“TS, fellows.

1. Some of those thru hikers need help!

2. It can rain a lot at that time of the year. As such, I prefer to hole up overnight in a dry shelter.

3. Of the 15 shelters remaining in GSMNP, only three of them are not on the AT. I normally use the AT to reach two of them. And in each direction I may use a shelter along the AT. You can hop elsewhere on your knees, while I hobble on mine. I even may petition the Park to set some of those shelters aside for Disabled Only Backpackers.
last edited: 1/14/07 7:45:05 PM”

“HUH?....have you had any problems getting space Paul, or are you being sarcastic?

Cause that's what we need...more rules”

“lol. great info. So I should go to some place I've never heard of and skip all the well known places? HMMMMMmmmm soooo when shall we set up a trip for this on the trip page? Any volunteers?”

“And what have you got against Albino Brain Eaters?


(besides the wet, frozen firewood... wet, frozen boots... wet, frozen tent... wet, frozen extremities...)”

“OPIE - I guess I'm being a little sarcastic. I object to some of the folks above saying to leave it for the thru hikers and to take a hike elsewhere.

The Park reserves several spaces in each shelter for non-through hikers. These spots are usually taken as such. So there is no reason that I should avoid abeing there, if I am able to obtain one of those reservations. If not me, some other non thru hiker will likely be enjoying the spot. Otherwise, then the thru hikers are allowed to use the spot.

No, I have not had any problems, OPIE.”

“Ok paul, just wanted to make sure you weren't going to start a fundraiser for an escalator up LeConte. *grin*”

“My question, I reckon, is what's the fuss about the AT? The trail accounts for perhaps 1% of the hikes available in the Southern Appalachians - say, GA, TN, and NC.

If your about coolio destinations, the AT would be down the list from say Jacks River Falls in the Cohutta or Shining Rocks in NC or Savage Gulf in TN or the Pinhoti Trail in AL. All these are easily reached from ATL...

If you're about easy access, there are a myriad of trailheads within Georgia state parks - and the vehicle would be in a secure "gated community" to boot. Bear Hair Trail, for instance.”

“Panther Creek Trail is STEEP.”
~tittibalm

AH AH AHHH!!!
You sayed a VERRY TRU theeng! My goodys I thawt I wuld get ded be for we walked allll up that trale when I ferts went there with my new daddy that time ago whan I was jets a kid. I sayed "I do not theenk I will NEVER go walkin in the woods and sleepin in the woods no mor!!"

(but I did go walkin in the woods and sleepin in the woods verry menny more times... prolly seffrel nother times or what never)
last edited: 1/15/07 9:04:40 PM”

“Yepper. Panther Creek Trail. Something like 2000' gain in 2 miles. Scramblin', baybee!

Oddity:
Panther Pluff is but a stone's throw from there, but there's no trail to said sedimentary precipicey perch - bushwacking all the way! Best view in six counties, tho, and worth every briar-borne bruse...”

“bruse=bruise”

“Fer sure!

We were camped at Conasauga River and decided to go up Panther Creek to the top of the falls as a dayhike. Somehow I managed to read that 800 ft gain next to the falls as 400 ft... "Geeee, this seems awful steep!" LOL”

“can anyone give me some more info on ellicot rock?”

“more of a paddling thing than a hiking thing.”

“ellicott rock Wilderness

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