| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
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3D Flyover: Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
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Gear Lab: Boots Torture Test
Can any hiking boot survive 15 minutes in a cement mixer filled with rocks, ... -
Dogs of War Part 1: Hunting Denali Wolves
Coke Wallace lives to hunt wolves. Follow him into the Alaskan backcountry to ... -
Gear Lab: Tents Torture Test
Who wants a mountain tent that buckles under pressure? Not us--so we blasted ...
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Survival Skills: Survive a Bear Attack!
Learn how to deal with a black bear or grizzly encounter with Shannon Davis and ... -
Essential Skills: Map a Trail with Your GPS
Assistant Map Editor Kim Phillips shows you how to us a GPS and digital camera ... -
Trail Chef: Bake Pizza On A Camp Stove
Can't call Domino's? Assistant Editor Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan shows you how to ...
TIP 13: Train Heavy
Wearing a weighted pack on your training hikes burns more fat and builds stamina.
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Backpacker's Gadget Guide 2009
The latest gadgets for technophobes, technogeeks,
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READERS COMMENTS
10-24-09
Hey Folks,
Did this trip 2 weeks ago. WOW, what a trip! Rained every day except 2, but that just adds to the story,(That's the Smokies for you.) I had been to campsite 33 with the Boy Scouts and had thought about starting at Greenbrier and going backwards...That would have been a huge mistake. Starting at Le Conte is the way to go, then the majority of your trip is downhill, (There are still a few pretty good pulls however.) Campsite 29 has been closed do to agressive bear activity and that made for a long day. I would deffinetly include Icewater shelter,(Backpacker did not) It's about a 13 mile day if you skip it. The different scenery at the different elevations is amazing, you really get to see a lot of variety! Be prepared to cross a lot of creeks,(Without bridges, trecking poles or good branches are a must!) and if it's been raining a lot(Like with us) they are REALLY running! There was one day we dropped about 2,000 feet...that's really hard on your knees! We took 7 days on this trip so we could enjoy it AND in case we wanted a down day. We didn't check out Albright Grove Loop because there was good rain moving in, now I'm sorry we skipped it; It's a really short loop and I guess there are trees 25 feet around. I highly recommend this trip! Make sure you have good waterproof boots with STIFF soles, good rain gear, and keep your pack under 35 pounds,(A sil-nylon tarp is great to keep rain out of your cooking.)Make sure you take a camera with a big card and lots of batteries!!!
Posted: Oct 24, 2009 Don B. Richmond, KY.
Ignore that last comment. I'm planning a trip and thought I would be emailing this.
Posted: Oct 11, 2009 Matt
This is a bit too long, but very interesting!
Posted: Oct 11, 2009 Matt
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