Cohutta Wintertime Overnight

**Hang Williams** · 01-16-2023, 16:36

I found some time to go backpacking. 38 degrees at the trailhead when I got there at noon, but I was hiking in shorts and sans sweater after half a mile. Pounded through a couple of creek crossings that brought life to the spirit and was setting up camp before too long.

Spent an hour gathering a heap of firewood to keep me warm until bedtime. Enjoyed a relaxing fire and making dinner with my fancee feest stove.

Lows were obviously going to be below the forecasted 30 degrees when my socks were frozen solid before I went to bed at 8 pm. I'm guessing this was the first night I've been down into the teens, but didn't have a thermometer to record temperatures. It was dead calm and I woke up to a frozen tarp inside and out, as well as some ice on the topquilt. Superior Gear 15* insulated hammock and Enlightened Equipment 10* revelation kept me comfortable. I finally forced myself to get out of bed at 9 am, had breakfast and waited for everything to thaw out before finally breaking camp at 11 am when my shoes thawed enough to get my feet in and tie the laces.

**Longwinters** · 01-17-2023, 07:39

Looks like you had a good time, and I am surprised with all the storms that have been forecasted your way that you could even get out, so good on you. The Georgia version of a frozen butt hang.

**Hang Williams** · 01-17-2023, 22:03

Originally Posted by Longwinters

Looks like you had a good time, and I am surprised with all the storms that have been forecasted your way that you could even get out, so good on you. The Georgia version of a frozen butt hang.

It has been difficult to get out, to say the least. My buddy and I had a trip scheduled in early December, but he got sick so we rescheduled then I got sick. A storm got in the way of another trip. The forecast wasn't perfect, but good enough to give it a go with the holiday.

**ObdewlaX** · 01-17-2023, 22:52

Looks like a nice trip.

My dad, brothers & I did quite a few trips in the Cohutta, hiking along the Jacks River back in the 70s.

Thanks for posting!

**Stogie Bum** · 01-26-2023, 18:03

Love the pic of the frozen shoestring. Reminds me of a trip we took back in high school (1976). Woke up the next morning and jeans were frozen stiff!

**LanceHawk** · 01-27-2023, 00:15

I recall a scout campout in the 70's where we only had short sleeves and light jackets and woke up to 4" of snow and frozen oranges. No weather channel back then!

**stevebo** · 01-28-2023, 15:07

Great pictures! Where were u at in the cohuttas? How were the roads?

**Hang Williams** · 01-28-2023, 16:44

Originally Posted by stevebo

Great pictures! Where were u at in the cohuttas? How were the roads?

Conasauga River. The roads were pretty good. Of course, there were seasonal road closures which you aren't clearly listed anywhere online so some guys had driven all the way up there planning to go to Lake Conasauga so I tried to give some advice for alternatives at the trailhead. I'd be a little peeved driving 2.5 hrs to find a closed gate.