Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Lexington, KY
    Hammock
    Dutch PolyD
    Tarp
    MacCat standard
    Insulation
    Undergound Quilt
    Suspension
    Arrowhead whoopies
    Posts
    195

    Two Balds and a Firetower in the Smokies

    I'm catching up on a backlog of photos/trip reports. This is from November 2021.

    11/5 - 11/9/21 (4 nights)

    Clingmans Dome to Fontana Dam via the AT with a side trip to Gregory Bald
    Night 1: Double Spring Gap
    Night 2: Derrick Knob
    Night 3: Russell Field
    Night 4: Site 13

    Caltopo says about 41 miles (range: 1677' to 6573' gross: +9630' -14246')

    A couple photos from each day with a lot more on my blog (no ads) - https://backpackandbeer.blogspot.com...n-smokies.html

    Andrews Bald below Clingmans Dome, Fontana Lake far below


    View from the AT


    Last bits of Fall


    Fontana Lake from Rocky Top


    Backside of Russell Field Shelter


    Sunset from Gregory Bald, looking down at Cades Cove


    Sunrise looking at Cades Cove (I'm glad it is a short easy hike from the Bald to Site 13, easy to do in the dark)


    First bear I've seen in the Smokies that didn't immediately run, he did not care about me at all (note: this is a heavily cropped photo)


    Shuckstack Firetower


    Shuckstack in the middle of the photo from Fontana Lake
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Senior Member Hang Williams's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2021
    Location
    North Georgia
    Hammock
    BBXLC
    Tarp
    12' HG Journey
    Insulation
    Wooki 20*
    Posts
    325
    The bears up there seem to be getting awfully familiar with humans...

  3. #3
    Countrybois's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    East Central IL
    Hammock
    DIY 1.7MTN
    Tarp
    HG Camo DCF Palace
    Insulation
    Incubator/Alsek
    Suspension
    Strap/Cinch Buckle
    Posts
    1,278
    We just got back from those same sites, in the other direction.

    We saw no bears, but one large whitetail buck was spotted sauntering through our camp at Derricks Knob.

    Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

    Need Adventure...Make Adventure


  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2022
    Location
    The Mitten State
    Hammock
    WB Blackbird XLC
    Tarp
    UGQ Winter Dream
    Insulation
    HG Burrow
    Suspension
    Beetle Buckles
    Posts
    73
    Beautiful - Haven't been able to make it down to the Smokeys this fall... unfortunately. That looks like a stud of a black bear too. Thanks for sharing.

    Cheers,
    A.A.

  5. #5
    New Member BlazeyJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Nashville TN
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    Warbonnet minifly
    Insulation
    EE underquilt, Kel
    Suspension
    Dynaweave Beckett
    Posts
    43
    Amazing photos! Rocky top and Gregory bought are two of my favorite peaks and the entire blue ridge. Would love to do this trip, especially in that direction and not the reverse. That being said, hoping to do the full length of the AT in the Smokies in the coming year.

    +1 on the bear familiarity problem. Back in June, I spent two nights on Gregory bald and both nights we had close encounters with a mama bear and yearling cub within 100 yards of site 13. The first one was well after dark on a return from stargazing, and the second encounter was the next morning after while returning from the bald for sunrise. Both times they were fully unfazed by us.

    Not to mention, there’s also quite the boar problem up there. If you walk around the edges of site 13 you’ll see tons of ground tilled by boars. The same night we stargazed on top of the bald we heard a piggy squeal a few times off in the distance… definitely a sobering moment!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    "Mentally, I'm still in the Smokies"
    https://lighterpack.com/r/x0j67m

  6. #6
    Senior Member ofuros's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Australia...Sub-Tropical Qld, Temperate Tasmania & Tropical Thailand
    Hammock
    Madtree Tarseer
    Tarp
    DIY Cuben
    Insulation
    Warm & fluffy
    Suspension
    Slings and Rings
    Posts
    1,309
    Images
    22
    Trip report is very easy on the eyes...
    Mountain views are good for the soul....& getting to them is good for my waistline.

    https://ofuros.exposure.co/

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Lexington, KY
    Hammock
    Dutch PolyD
    Tarp
    MacCat standard
    Insulation
    Undergound Quilt
    Suspension
    Arrowhead whoopies
    Posts
    195
    This was the calmest bear I've ever seen in the Smokies. I seen about 25 over the years and they usually go crashing through the trees with no chance for a photo.

    This used to be my best bear photo Along the Pretty Hollow trail a couple of years ago


  8. #8
    New Member PMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Belmont, NC
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Blackbird 1.1 DL
    Tarp
    McCat Deluxe Spinn
    Insulation
    HG Incubator(s)
    Suspension
    Lines
    Posts
    33
    Great pics! thanks for posting!

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Dead Mule Hill, Florida
    Hammock
    WBBB
    Tarp
    WB Thunderfly
    Insulation
    Arrowhead
    Posts
    128
    Beautiful trip, we did it a couple years ago! Thanks for the awesome report! Happy Trails!

  • + New Posts
  • Similar Threads

    1. Replies: 6
      Last Post: 10-10-2017, 19:44
    2. AT through the Smokies
      By papillon in forum Southeast
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 04-01-2017, 22:54
    3. Replies: 2
      Last Post: 08-01-2016, 22:20
    4. AT, NC Balds to NOC, June 2-4, 2012
      By Bearpaw in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 06-18-2012, 15:03
    5. need help: BSF or Smokies
      By ikemouser in forum Hangouts, Campouts, and Trip Planning
      Replies: 40
      Last Post: 03-17-2010, 10:09

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •