Channel: sintax77

Category: People & Blogs

Tags: how to go winter campinghammock camping in the wintersnow campinggregory baldwinterhammock camping in wintercamping in the wintercamping in the rainwinter campingcamping in winterappalachian trailwinter hikingcamping in the snowwinter hammock campingsintax77hikingsintaxhammock camping in the rainbackpacking in winterwinter survivalsmoky mountainssnowbackpackingwinter backpackinghammock camping in the snowgreat smoky mountains

Description: Join me for 3 days of Winter Hammock Camping, Backpacking & Hiking in the Smoky Mountains. GPS Data at sintax77.com For this winter camping adventure, I’ll be doing a Gregory Bald Loop Hike, incorporating campsite 13 Sheep Pen Gap, campsite 113 Birch Spring Gap, and a hike to the Shuckstack Fire Tower. This is my second backpacking trip to the Smokies, but due to the shorter winter days, ice, and snow, I’ll be slowing the pace down a bit compared to my previous hammock camping experience there. For an easier read, check out my full blog post here sintax77.com/winter-hammock-camping-in-the-smoky-mountains Official Sintax77 Merch Store bit.ly/2S6wP2h A backcountry permit is required for all campsites in this area. You can reserve them for $4 per night on the Smoky Mountains National Park website here: smokiespermits.nps.gov/index.cfm?BCPermitTypeID=1 Full GPS track Data, including campsites, water sources, etc, for this trip and many others can be downloaded in the above blog link or on my website’s Trip Data Page. Trailhead Used: Twenty Mile Ranger Station Parking Area N35° 28.073′ W83° 52.601′ This parking area has room for several vehicles. The Twenty Mile Ranger station is right nearby and visible from the lot. Trails Used, Day 1: Begin at the Twenty Mile Trailhead Twenty Mile Trail Wolf Ridge Trail Setup Camp at Sheep Pen Gap, campsite 13 This site is often rather windy. Two banks of bear cables are on site. I melted snow for water while here, but there is a spring 300 yards or so down the trail, which is the headwater for Panther Creek. By most accounts, it is often pretty muddy, presumably from animal activity. Try to find an upstream spot to source your water make sure to sterilize it properly. Day 1 Mileage: 7 Miles Day 1 Elevation Gain: 3,581′ Trails Used, Day 2: Gregory Bald Trail Appalachian Trail, Southbound Setup Camp at Birch Spring Gap, campsite 113 This is a large multi-spot campsite with multiple designated tent areas. Some of these spots offer tree options for hammocks, but not all of them. Two banks of bear cables are on site. There is also a very nice reliable piped spring, and a single communal fire ring. Day 2 Mileage: 5.5 Miles Day 2 Elevation Gain: 1,732′ Trails Used, Day 3: Continue on the Appalachian Trail South At the intersection with Twenty Mile Trail, continue on the AT towards Shuckstack. Shuckstack Spur Trail Climb the 60′ Shuckstack fire tower Return to the Twenty Mile Trail intersection Twenty Mile Trail Return to the Twenty Mile Trailhead Day 3 Mileage: 6 Miles Day 3 Elevation Gain: 700′ Grand Total 3 Day Mileage: 18.5 Miles Grand Total 3 Day Elevation Gain: 6,013′ Notable Backpacking Gear: National Geographic Smoky Mountains Trail Map amzn.to/2DdYT9s EMS Longtrail 70L backpack go.magik.ly/ml/kait REI Duck's Back 60 Pack Cover go.magik.ly/ml/kahw Hammock Gear Dyneema Fiber Hex Tarp hammockgear.com/dyneema-fiber-hex-tarp/http://www.hammockgear.com/dyneema-fiber-hex-tarp Titanium Tent Spikes amzn.to/2tXyhWE Hammock Gear Zippered Bug net Hammock hammockgear.com/zippered-bug-net-hammock-charcoal-gray-hexon-1-6 Hammock Gear Burrow 0 Top Quilt hammockgear.com/premium-burrow Hammock Gear Incubator 0 Top Underquilt hammockgear.com/premium-incubator Tyvek Ground Cloth amzn.to/2WIAGRU Optimus Polaris Optifuel Stove amzn.to/2CoxjG5 Zippo Lighter amzn.to/2FBpikz Toaks 750ml Titanium Cookpot amzn.to/2D5iE34 Sea to Summit Long Handled Spork amzn.to/2uyl5GJ Mountain House Spicy Breakfast Hash amzn.to/2DUKG33 Steripen Ultra UV Water Purifier amzn.to/2WJp8gS Forty Below 1L Water Bottle 40below.com/products_detail.php?ProductID=18 Forty Below Bottle Boot insulator 40below.com/products_detail.php?ProductID=8 Kahtoola MicroSpikes amzn.to/2t7thxP Garmont Momentum Snow GTX Winter Boots go.magik.ly/ml/kajk EMS Thunderhead Jacket go.magik.ly/ml/jtlo Hardshell Pants - Military ECWCS Gen III Trousers amzn.to/2WzloP4 Outdoor Vitals Adventure Jacket bit.ly/2WHh940 Dutchware Sit Pad dutchwaregear.com/product/folding-sit-pad Byer of Maine Tri-Light Camp Stool amzn.to/2GamV9m Olight Wave LED Headlamp amzn.to/2D443Vq Want to help support the channel? The next time you're about to do some shopping, go through sintax77.com/Amazon (or bookmark it) & a portion of your session will help support the next trip ...at no additional cost to you! Want a free sticker? Send a SASE to my PO box: Sintax77 PO Box 8163 Wilmington, DE 19803 Gear samples may be sent to my PO Box as well. Business Inquiries: Sintax77.biz@gmail.com