Eastern Tennesee Backcountry Camping

[Paladin132]

Howdy all. I have been perusing the forums and the internet looking for information in camping. I am over in Knoxville and have day hiked the GSMNP during the past couple of summers. Finally the lady and I have put together camping kit and if the weather isn't horrid we will do a shakedown sometime after Christmas. So I had some specific trails I am looking at, and wanted to know if anyone had any general thoughts on backcountry sites, trails, carry, equipment, anything at all they would like to share. I also wondered if anyone still got together from the forums to camp - there was a thread from January through June and I wondered had folks gone ahead and gone and are they interested in adding another?

 

I am looking at Savage Gulf Natural Area, Big Fork, and in GSMNP the Big Creek out to site 37 and the Tunnel Loop to the Goldmine Loop Trail. The last one includes a long hike through a tunnel that has a bit of disgruntled "artwork" that we want to check out.

 

I am still pack hunting and since I am using some rather bulky sleeping bags I am looking at the Eberlestock Destroyer or Battleship. I want a dedicated sleeping bag compartment, exterior pockets to hold certain items, a lid top, something other than blaze orange type colors, a little rugged construction, lots of compression straps, and lash points. I have heard lots of good things about them and this is the pack I keep coming back to after a year of trying packs on and looking at them. I am afraid I am going to have to go with the larger one but the compression straps at least make that doable. That way I can use it for winter as well as summer. I have a 100 liter pack and that sleeping bag is taking up a lot of room, but it is what I have and am going to use. At least during summer that will shrink too.

 

As far as carrying: I am looking at the ribz front pack as a solution. I will probably carry a H&K USPC .40. I usually carry a 1911 but that is a bit heavy and large. I may get a serpa to put on the molle attachments of the hip belt I am just not that comfortable open carrying because of folks that are insecure with it causing me to have to introduce myself with the authorities.

 

So thoughts? Comments? Trail / campsite info and suggestions for East Tn?

[Guest bkelm18]

I personally like backcountry camping at Big South Fork. There are no designated spots so you basically just find a good spot and set up camp.

 

I had a thread some time ago about getting together a group camp but it never really came to fruition. I'm still game though it will have to be later on around Feb or March. I'm tossing around the idea of doing a piece of the AT in GSMNP on my spring break.

[Paladin132]

BSF was the one I was thinking of and put in there wrong and that was one of the reasons why - at least for a bit I am not sure how quick we are going to move. Always nice if you don't make the mileage and its getting dark that you can call it quits and set up camp. There are so many things I have not seen in the Smokys though! That and the fact I have a couple of books on that area already so it makes it easier to plan ahead. Need to get some USGS maps of BSF and start planning some trips there too though.

 

I would be interested if we could get a group to go sometime. Would be nice to share the trail with folks I think.

[Guest bkelm18]

You can get very nice National Geographic Trail Maps at the visitor centers at both GSMNP and BSF. They're waterproof and tear resistant. I believe they're topographical. Can't remember of the top of my head and too lazy to look for mine. :)

[Paladin132]

I have both of them in 1:40,000 for the park, great maps. I am just used to seeing much more and so will get the USGS for serious hiking but for trip planning they are perfect. They have good margin information on sites and shelters as well.