A friend and I are in the planning stages of a trip to hike the Big Creek Perimeter Loop in GSMNP (Falcon guide #80) and it suggests doing the loop in three days, staying at Cosby Knob shelter, Tricorner shelter and Campsite 38 / Mt. Sterling.
Any tips locals can offer for this trip are greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!
Last edited by Rocket; 03-13-2017 at 08:30.
Here is the link for GSMP backcountry regulations.
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvis...untry-regs.htm
More specifically about hammocks in backcountry.
8. Hammocks may only be used within designated backcountry campsites. They may not be used inside shelters and may not be attached to shelters in any way.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your hike.
I haven't done that loop, but I've done a 2-night trip staying at #37 Lower Walnut and #38 Mt Sterling, looping from the Big Creek Ranger Station. Plenty of good hanging at both of those sites. As mentioned, you're meant to stay in the shelters (sans hammock) when you book those sites. The better sites for hanging at #38 were straight downhill from the firetower (perpendicular to the trail). The old firetower is a great place to catch sunsets and sunrises, though it is a bit rickety. Except for the firetower, there really are not any views at #38 because it's totally wooded. The downhill from #38 back to Big Creek CG is one of the more challenging gradients that I've done, I believe ~4,000'. I definitely would not want to come up that way.
Caminante, son tus huellas el camino y nada más... - Antonio Machado
If you reserve a shelter site, you're supposed to stay in the shelter. Only way around that is if AT thru hikers fill it up before you get there. So if your trip is within a month, you might just get that scenario.
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"I wonder if anyone else has an ear so tuned and sharpened as I have, to detect the music, not of the spheres, but of earth, subtleties of major and minor chord that the wind strikes upon the tree branches. Have you ever heard the earth breathe... ?"
- Kate Chopin
Every shelter I've ever stayed at in the Smokies has been full when I arrivedOriginally Posted by dakotaross
(nudge-nudge, wink-wink, say no more-say no more!)Every shelter I've ever stayed at in the Smokies has been full when I arrived
To be honest, I have no idea how practical that might be.
"I wonder if anyone else has an ear so tuned and sharpened as I have, to detect the music, not of the spheres, but of earth, subtleties of major and minor chord that the wind strikes upon the tree branches. Have you ever heard the earth breathe... ?"
- Kate Chopin
Yeah, that's the plan. Will sleep in the shelters if I gotta, but if I have any excuse to go out back and hang, I'll take it. We should be there in a few weeks, so yeah, expecting quite a lot of company. And sow bears with cubs, so that'll be interesting.
"But, it was full when I got here."
Exactly. The last time I was questioned by a trail runner they were cool and didn't say a word and even commented on how well they liked my setup.
Oh hey, one more question -- are there privies at all three shelters or will we need to cathole it? Planning on bringing a poop kit regardless, but just wondered.
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