2020 GSMNP trip- pic obscene lol

chiefjason

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2A Bourbon Hound 2024
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Day one, Smokemont Campground to Cabin Flats campsite. Nice hike. Mostly wide trail until you get to the little falls. Then it gets less taken care of and narrower. Had the upper part of the site to ourselves. 5.13 miles in to the campsite.

Noticed some fireflies coming out at dusk and we stayed up. Ended up getting the show of our lives. Hundreds of Synchronous Fireflies lining the hillside by about 10 pm. Just the two of us and the fireflies for about an hour before we went to bed. That alone made it worth the trip.


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The gravity filter was a very nice addition to the gear.


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Day 2 Cabin Flats to Kephart Shelter. The initial plan was to loop out to the AT and make a big loop of the day. The hike up Dry Sluice Gap Trail was pretty tough. So at the gap we re planned and decided to just day hike up to Charlie's Bunion and back to the gap. Then take Grassy Branch Trail down to the shelter. 10.62 miles for the day but about 4 of those without packs and that made a big difference. Got another Synchronous Firefly show that night.

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Day 3 Kephart Shelter to Newton Bald. The hike up Kenati Fork was a tough 2.9 miles. Just as tough as the climb on Day 2. Thomas Divide was a bit easier. Unfortunately I did not realize Newton Bald is a bald now more. Beautiful campsite but it's woods and overgrown at this point. Was hoping for some star gazing but no luck. Did get some Blue Ghost Fireflies after dark that put on a show. And Lauren thought she heard a bear nosing around in camp early in the morning.

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Day 4 Newton Bald to Smokemont Campground. Pretty easy hike and 90% downhill. Nice change from the last 2 days. 6.54 miles for the day and 32.5 miles for the loop.


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What wonderful pictures! Looks like a great hike.

Y'all need a couple of Molly Mac Gear "Gear Boxes..."

All that gear on the ground under yer tarp is called a "gear explosion" and wouldn't work at all if'n it were rainin' or snowin'. The Gear Box is a small hammock with a waterproof closure, that can hold yer entyre pack. Put it alongside yer hammock, or outside yer tarp.

/shameless plug mode off
 
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Always wanted to see the Smokies fireflies. They synch a little bit in my backyard, but not 100’s on them. Maybe a few dozen on a good night.

Supposedly only NC and a place in China do the syncing.
 
Thanks for posting your trip report and the photos were great.
 
What wonderful pictures! Looks like a great hike.

Y'all need a couple of Molly Mac Gear "Gear Boxes..."

All that gear on the ground under yer tarp is called a "gear explosion" and wouldn't work at all if'n it were rainin' or snowin'. The Gear Box is a small hammock with a waterproof closure, that can hold yer entyre pack. Put it alongside yer hammock, or outside yer tarp.

/shameless plug mode off


Yeah, we usually tighten it up a bit depending on the weather. By the time we crashed it was all in packs, rain cover on, rain cover on the ground and pulled up over the back as much as possible.

Wow awesome. Well most of it any way. You couldn't just call it a Lily huh?????

I don't name them. lol

Always wanted to see the Smokies fireflies. They synch a little bit in my backyard, but not 100’s on them. Maybe a few dozen on a good night.

Supposedly only NC and a place in China do the syncing.

Add TN to that list. Most of the places to see them in the park are on the TN side with Elkmont Campground being the best place. 29,000 people from around the world enter the lottery to see them over about a 2 week period. 1800 tickets are sold. We got a front row seat alone to the show.
 
Beautiful. Breath taking, even.

As a Boy Scout, I was lucky enough to go to the Philmont Scout Ranch in northern NM. We back packed 75 miles over 10 days in the Sangre de Christo chain of the Rockies. Was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
 
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