Smokies in September

imported
#1

My wife and me are planning to hike the smokies from Fontana to I-40 starting September 1 through September 8. I’ve sectioned hiked from Amicalola Falls to NOC. She has not backpacked but loves to hike. She does the stairmaster 3 days per week. The longest she has hiked is 8 miles but also not problems. I plan on setting her backpack up with ~20 - 25 lbs due to her being new. I can easily carry 40 - 50 myself.

Do any of you have suggestions for us on our endeavor? We may take of 8 yo daughter along also if she decides to go. She has done some weekend backpacking with me and her pack weighes ~12 lbs.

Subrider

#2

Bring her/them a warm bag and clothes and don’t forget the chocolate and fun. Make a plan for each day and no forced marching…plenty of breaks. Should be a blast. Good shoes and if your wife hasn’t packed before those hips are gonna hurt. Best of luck and 'smores.

Bushwhack

#3

Can anyone out there give me an idea of the terrain we might encounter? I have looked at the topo maps but that doesn’t show conditions on the trail. I’ve heard there are some very steep climbs going north from Fontana Dam. We are planning to stay at the Hike Inn the night before the hike. Any comments about that?

Subrider

#4

Its a “nice” 1-5% grade up for several miles, switch backs, but not a killer climb. About 11 miles to Mollies Ridge. Lunch at Shuckstack fire tower would be nice if its not windy. Climb up for a cool view-very steep stairs, hold on tight. As far as the profile after Mollies its pretty much small ups, downs and arounds. The climb up to Clingmans isn’t much. Its a lot of water bar steps, a little rocky. Try and get up early and have a full day of walking so you can stop a lot.

Bushwhack

#5

Now that helps very much Bushwhack! I get up early every day and get started and continue doing so on the trail as well. How does it compare with the trail prior to NOC? Have you hiked that part?

This will be my first trip with someone that I am responsible for so I am wanting it to go smoothly. I have always traveled solo as I have not been able to find a partner locally or online. My wife works weekends so a regular partner for weekend hikes would be great! Do you know of any sites where I might locate a reliable backpacking partner?

Subrider

#6

This is us; www.trailjournals.com/rudolf

Each trial crew maintains its section differently than another which has gotten some great rivals going between crews. Some build water bars one way, bridges another. Or as you asked before and after NOC. Didn’t care for the “fall of the ciff” before NOC and the climb out, which is switch backs graded well.
The Smokies are pretty much a ridge walk with only 10’s of feet in elevation change. The hard part is out of Fontana for those over weight, out of shape and not used to hiking. We hiked with some thrus back in the spring and blew thier doors off(sorry Joy)right out of the car but then that’s us. Harder can be the weather on top; since cold fronts smash into the mountains from the west you can get wild weather on the ridge and have sun down in the valley.
As far as being responsible you have these; comfort, attitude, saftey, FUN, fun fun. It’ll be like hiking with a dog. You need to be aware of they’re limitations and hike and do stuff as they need it. No “we can make it another six miles”. Since you’re the best hiker it can be taxing to slow down. Although by the sound of it your daughter may kick mom’s butt. :>) Keep the meals simple so there is less to fuss about. Bring favorite food but watch the weight. Keep meal portions the same as home. Lunches a tad larger, dinners with a little more fat to keep them warmer. Don’t drag any extra stuff you think you’ll need. Although I carried a water mellon once…?
Hiking partnes? Sheesh. Here’s the thing. In very very few cases does finding a partner out right ever work. It ususally ends up in marraige but that’s another story. Best advice is hook up with a hiking club and do some group stuff. You’ll find someone with stuff in common. I’ve tried several off the cuff partners and a hand are cool. Some are psycho. Some are now blood brothuz and sistuz whom we’ve frozen to death with. Oh yeah, hot tubbed with too hehe.
The best partners are ones you find on a long trail.
Where are you from?

Bushwhack

#7

Great advice and info from Bushwhack.

I might add, Smokies can get pretty chilly in late September, so best be prepared for some cold/chilly nights.

Also, set no milage goals for the hike. A few miles a day might be all they want to do. If necessary, hike in 10 to 20 miles over several days, then hike back out. Like Bushwhack said, it should be fun-----otherwise you may turn both of them off to hiking for their entire lifetime.

See you out there. :cheers

Maintain

#8

What fun! However, you might consider a shuttle to Clingmans and hiking back to Fontana. Then back to Clingmans and north to I-40. IMHO, that’s the way to go, but but you do drive a lot.

Hope you’ll post your adventure for us to read. Happy Trails. :wink:

Lady Di

#9

Subrider,

Check this post for ideas on how to make your kids think you’re the coolest ever…

<a href = http://www.trailforums.com/index2.cfm?action=detail&PostNum=3039&Thread=8&roomID=9&entryID=25905> http://www.trailforums.com/index2.cfm?action=detail&PostNum=3039&Thread=8&roomID=9&entryID=25905

Jeff

#10

Good thought, Di. Perhaps an over night stay also at the Grand Prix and dinner at, Applebees was it, or Fridays?, visit the aquarium, in the Gat.

Bushwhack

#11

Hey Guys!
Thanks for all the good information! We live in sw Georgia, close to Albany. The wife is doing the stairmaster & treadmill 3 - 5 days a week to get ready. I’m proud of her. It really is something she can do but just doesn’t know if she will enjoy it or not. I hope she just let’s herself go and see why I am drwan back to the trail!

No hiking clubs down here. Most are up in north Ga around Atlanta, Augusta, or AThens. Hope to see you on the trail. I’ll post the trail journal after the hike.

Subrider

#12

I read quickly over the replies, so if I repeat anyone, my apologies.

In general my impression of the At through the park was that the first day was the most difficult, followed by the second day also being somewhat difficult. From there out it’s easier, but there are still some challenges. The hike out from Tricorner gets a little rocky and this can be hard on the ankles after popunding downhill for 12-15 miles. We needed to get out for travel reasons and pushed it…and payed for it with swollen ankles.

Keep in mind that you are required to have shelter reservations which can be made 30 days in advance of your trips first day. Also note that some of the shelters are off the trail a good bit, 0.4 mi or so, which you may need to factor in when considering water sources.

Re hiking w/ kids, we passed a southbound family including two young kids, probably 6 or 7-year-olds. As they approached I greeted the lady in front. “How are you?” Her response was “I’m ready to be airlifted out.” She was not happy, the kids were not happy, the kids were dead and asking “how much further.” This was 4:30 and they had 5+ miles to go. Talk about being in the doghouse!!! Come to find out they had stopped to eat supper at Silars and a fella there said the kids just laid on the platforms and were very tired. They just seemed to have bit off a bit more than they could chew. I just don’t think the kids were having any fun at all.

Stuart

#13

Subrider… the terrain before the Smokies seems to be more up and down thrown at you a lot. Once youre past the climb from Fontana, youre hiking on a ridge. The huge 4000+ ft elevation out of Fontana wasn’t that bad for me, but I think its because I was expecting it. So many things on the trail are psychological. I thought the section over Rocky Top was very difficult. Mt Buckley seemed quite difficult as well, this is the area just before Clingsman’s Dome. But, I wasn’t expecting either one of those to be difficult, again psycological. After you cross Newfound Gap, the trail becomes much different. The trail is more flat and rolling overall, I flew on that section. It took 3 days to go from Fontana-Newfound and 2 days from Newfound-I-40. If I had to do it again, I would hitch down to Gatlinburg from Newfound Gap, shower, eat real food, etc… then head back to finish. Have fun!

guru

#14

You might want to consider taking the wife and child out on walks a few times a week prior to your hike. You can walk around the neighborhood or a high school track. The high school track is good, because it lets you know your milage.

I have hear kids beg their parents on the trail, “Please, I don’t want to go any further.”

It is a shame that most people including kids are so out of shape. The walking several times a week prior to will help you all get in better shape for the trail. If you can get up to walking 5 miles several times a week for everyone, then the trail will still be tough with a pack on, but not that bad. You can also put packs on and walk on the track a time or two a week to prepare you for the trail.

If everyone prepares for it and is in good shape, then it can be fun. On the other hand, if you push them and they are not in shape and prepared for it, then the above comments apply and you just may hear “I’m ready to be airlifted out”

See you out there. :cheers

Maintain