Pre trip shakedown

[chiefjason]

Headed to the Smokies in the morning. Shook down the gear today. Only thing not in the pics is a change of clothes. With cold rain I want something dry to sleep in. And a little food still in the fridge. I’m pack muleing this trip again. Most of the gear and food and pack is still only 40lbs. Lauren’s is 30 with here gear and the 4 mountain house dinners. Buts she’s only 90 couple lbs too.

Made some gear changes. New cook pot, built a gravity filter, and a few tweaks.

Meal prep. Each meal in its bag.

Packed and ready.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Darkhorse]

I am jealous, you guys have fun and stay safe.

 

[NCFubar]

RAIN! ... an extra pair of socks in zip lock baggie!

 

[chiefjason]

RAIN! ... an extra pair of socks in zip lock baggie!

Yeah, well it's the Smokies. Extra socks, and undies and t shirt so I can sleep dry. Tried to sleep wet and dry overnight last summer. Did not like that at all in a hammock. Bad idea.

Hoping we don't get stuck on the wrong side of a creek again. Had to get water taxied out of Hazel Creek last year because it was uncrossable at Cold Spring Trail and my truck was at the tunnel on the road to nowhere. That was an expensive side trip.

 

[DrScaryGuy]

you seem to be short by a couple of bear guns
I took my wife camping up in the UP of michigan and had an AOW shotgun and a pistol. "for bears and stuff". She thought I was kidding (even after seeing the camp bear-box for groceries) until we ran into a national park ranger who was talking about losing some fellow rangers to ... bears? lions? drug fields?
"WHY DID YOU BRING ME HERE?!"

 

[chiefjason]

you seem to be short by a couple of bear guns
I took my wife camping up in the UP of michigan and had an AOW shotgun and a pistol. "for bears and stuff". She thought I was kidding (even after seeing the camp bear-box for groceries) until we ran into a national park ranger who was talking about losing some fellow rangers to ... bears? lions? drug fields?
"WHY DID YOU BRING ME HERE?!"

The .357 on me and pepper spray on my daughter. Plus an Esee 4.

Black bears in the park are mostly a nuisance. And they have been eradicating hogs for a while. Hogs and bees hurt more people in the smokies than black bears.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[elmostump]

Hope you have great trip, I was supposed to go with a few guys from my church and hike the AT Winding Stair Gap to the Nantahala Outdoor Center 28 mile this weekend but unfortunately I had to pass. Last year we hiked from Pen Mar Park to Harpers Ferry WV. 40 miles rained every day!

 

[Carolinatlc]

I did a section of the AT up in Virginia a couple weekends ago with some buddies but had to bail early because of a knee problem. Sucked quitting a little over halfway through. Still got in around 25 miles. We did 14.7 miles one day and my watch said I did 30,000 steps with a 4200 foot elevation climb. I was not in the shape I needed to be for that hike but am preparing for and looking forward to the next outing.

 

[chiefjason]

Hope you have great trip, I was supposed to go with a few guys from my church and hike the AT Winding Stair Gap to the Nantahala Outdoor Center 28 mile this weekend but unfortunately I had to pass. Last year we hiked from Pen Mar Park to Harpers Ferry WV. 40 miles rained every day!

My wife did that when we worked for Camp Daniel Boone BSA. That's a tough section. I did Fontana to NOC and it's no cake walk either.

 

[MLS2]

Outstanding. Seems like yesterday, planning an adventure, having a list of packup. Getting the load up and hitting the road. Enjoy all the moments.