First Timer Wants Advice

“Hi There:
I am a 60 year old person who just got "the bug" of backpacking and camping, after a previous 5 year obsession with WW kayaking at the Nantahala in NC. I live in NoFla and drive to NC on weekends.
Would like to find a 2 day Loop Trail in NC, where I can hike in 5-10 miles, camp overnight and hike back to whereever I parked my car.
A friend familiar with the AT suggested the Standing Indian area. I have looked at the maps and it looks like exactly what I am looking for!
Any assistance you could offer me, in the form of confirmation that this is "the place" or alternatives would be greatly appreciated.
I am long on enthusiasm and short on knowledge as to where to go to learn what I need to know for this wonderful pasttime!
Thanks ahead for taking the time to assist me.”

“Standing Indian would be good. You take Kemsey Creek trail to the AT to another trail I can't think of for a 12 mile loop or there is a 25ish mile loop involving just the AT and Kemsey Creek. Beware though, that this is pretty tough terrain with lots of big climbs or descents. My wife and I dayhiked the 12 mile one. The trail coming of the mtn is STEEP.

I recall a good climb on the 25 mile loop going up to the firetower.”

“There are many possible options in the Smokies of course.

The southern terminus of the AT itself is good, although it can be a little crowded this time of year due to the number of hikers starting their AT thru-hike attempt. It's still a beautiful area.

Where in N. Fl are you? We just moved out of Jacksonville/ Atlantic Beach.”

“The Big Creek trail on the NE corner of the Smokies (Nat'l Park) would be perfect for you - start at the Big Creek campground and hike in about 5 miles up the creek - pretty flat nice trail to the campsite (maybe #38?? I forget), but its a nice site, on the creek and a pretty easy, pleasant hike.

Enjoy”

“I can't tell you place to go in that part of the country, but I can you that you'll have more fun if your pack is as light as possible. I'm speaking as a person who is chronologically challenged, and my back and knees appreciate hiking poles, and light gear. Have a great time!”

“RA - that is a nice hike and campsite. You could almost use that trail and the AT for a loop. Longlost and I were hiking out that way this summer and just after passing the waterfall on the other side of the creek came across some 12-14 year old girls. They stopped us to ask where the falls were. I answered, "'bout 200 yards that way." THey looked at me like I was from Mars. I then said, "2 football fields." They're eyes brightened with recognition and off they went.”

“Yo LBA

Welcome to the asylum. We have a good group meeting up next month (April 20-22) for a hike at Mammoth Cave. We have quite a few of us that will be in attendance and the mileage you are looking for can be attained on this trip.

Check out the trip page for more information. The trip in entitled, "Batcave" or something like that.

Click below to go to the trip page.
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/1115.php
last edited: 3/16/07 11:11:10 AM”

“Hey Wounded Knee, I would be interested in the possibility of joining your group. How do I get in touch with you about the details?

TreeBaint: We live in Fort White, which is NW of Gainesville, near Lake City. We moved here 2 years ago from Ft Lauderdale, in order to get more trees and more rivers and less concrete! JAX is great, I go there on business every other week. I am a Technical Headhunter.

To the rest of you, I can't thank you enough for the ideas and making me feel welcome here!

I have a terminal case of "GAS" as in "Gear Acquisition Syndrome". I am in Phase I, the basics; if my knees can handle longer mileage, I will go to Phase II, the ultralight stuff.

Look at it this way: If I had gone ultralight right from the start, I wouldn't have the pleasure of buying all sorts of stuff TWICE....

PS: My wife does not read this thread, or I would be in divorce court! We have 7 kayaks in our garage from my last obsession....”

“LBA, I lost count of all of our sleeping bags and tents! I still don't have a bag I'm totally happy with either.”

“H-A-M-M-O-C-K”

“As long as Wounded Knee stays on his meds, the Doctors do say he will never kill again.

I did survive a couple of trips with WK.
This newbie might be lucky also. ;-)”

“I did a nice loop a few years back using the Big Creek site on Fri night and the site up on top of the mtn where the old fire tower is (forget the name....) on Sat night.”

“Mt Sterling.”

“Several panhandle folks come to the Alabama Pinhoti for trips. You might also get some ideas here: http://alabamatrail.org/forum/ You're probably close enough to 75 that N GA would probably work better, but just a thought.”

““As long as Wounded Knee stays on his meds, the Doctors do say he will never kill again.

I did survive a couple of trips with WK.
This newbie might be lucky also. ;-)”
StoveStomper
12:18:16 PM
3/16/07

HA HA! Watch it Mr. Poopypants!

LBA, shoot me an e-mail with any questions you have...
backpakn2@sbcglobal.net

Most of what you will need to know is on the trip page. We are meeting at the headquarters campground inside the park on Friday because of the drive for most of us. It will be a good drive for you as well so if you can make, I would. We will BS around the fire that night and have a good time.

Saturday we will square our permits awy first thing, then that the ferry over the Green River and head to the trailhead. We have a number of different milage routes setup, so you can make it an easy day or a hard one. We are also spotting a car near where we will be making camp Saturday evening so you can carry what you want during the day, or leave everything in the car.

We had a good showing last fall for this trip along with a lot of fun.”

“Thanks HPM, i drew a complete blank and all i could think was Springer Mtn - knew that was not right though.”

“ahhhh, i remember my first time!”

“I dont remember my first time. I think I was drunk. I do remember waking up that morning on a sandy beach with nude women sunning themselves all over the place.

College was interesting.
last edited: 3/16/07 4:57:01 PM”

“i had that dream once.”

“As long as Wounded Knee stays on his meds, the Doctors do say he will never kill again.



click the picture to see one night when he was off his meds”

“LBA, not sure about what time of the year you're wanting to go but i've always liked the clingmans dome area of GSMNP...it can be a little rugged but you could put together the kind of trip you're looking for in that area, allthough this time of the year it's covered in snow”

“th, ive clicked and it doesnt do anything!”

“it's cause i'm a dork and don't know how to use a computer LOL...oh well, maybe if you have a really BIG monitor you can see it

it's WK standing over randall with a rusty old axe

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2086707120083410341PLMEuJ
last edited: 3/16/07 8:29:53 PM”

“Coming through Atlanta your best options are Big Frog, SNW, Ellicot Rock, Bartram trail, Georgia AT, and Foothills trail. You can always access the SNW via Tallulah Gorge, may save a little driving; but more uphill. Less traffic”

“Forgot about the Benton Mackaye trail”

“One of the common backpacking injuries are heart attacks in older men who over estimate their level of fitness.”

“i have read that as well, bacpac, but i have never actually heard of it happening. i guess these cases don't make the paper like other missing hikers. all the deaths that i have heard of are from slipping/falling, exposure, general stupidity, or unknown causes. frankly i think the most dangerous thing any hiker faces is the ride to the trailhead (esp if wounded knee is driving).”

“Death in the woods from heart attacks are common during the deer hunting season. Hunters that haven't exercised all year or may have heart disease without even knowing it can't take the exertion of hiking into a hunting spot or the stress of dragging out a deer.”

“Overall the most common symptom of coronary artery disease is sudden cardiac death. Imagine you're 50 yo, running down a deer/hiking in the woods. Suddenly you have an unbearable squeeze in your chest, you fall, and boom you're dead. Get your cholesterol checked!!!! I did, it was almost 300, LDL 216. That sucks. Even though I'm 42 and am in exceedingly good shape for my age, I now take Lipitor. Yeah, you have the big one in the woods, you're toast. The survival to discharge, without significant morbity, after out of hospital cardiac arrest really sucks. Umm,...... pass the butter and sour cream please!”