View Full Version : More Smokies question
I'm going to be doing the Smokies section this month from Fontana Dam Visitors Center to Davenport Gap. I'm going to park at the Fontana Dam Visitor Center, leave my car there and Jeff at The Hike Inn is going to handle my shuttle. I've got my shelter reservations taken care of so now I'm starting to think about logistics.
Since presumably I'm going to be staying in shelters carrying a tent seems redundant but IMO it'd be foolish to set off with no shelter at all so I'm thinking that I'll take my solo SD Light Year tent in fastpack mode instead of my Lunar Duo - that would save me 1.2 lbs. Since I'm going to be lugging 5 days worth of food I could use the extra room in my pack and the weight savings that'd bring. Sound like a plan?
Also, I'm trying to go light - I carried less than 25 lbs on my section hike from Davenport Gap to Hot Springs this week and the difference between 25 lbs and 35 lbs is huge. With that in mind, is it prudent to start out with 2 liters of water from Davenport Gap? If there is water available at all the shelters that'd be plenty. I can easily hike all day on 2 liters in the cool weather.
Thanks
Thomas
You shouldn't have much trouble staying in the shelters this time of year, in fact you might have them all to yourself. Do be aware though that Fontana Dam is closed even to foot traffic at this time. The are re-routing hikers down a couple of miles to cross. Be sure you take that into account when you are planning your trip.
You are smart to take some sort of shelter though just in case, even a sil-nylon tarp would work.
You shouldn't have much trouble staying in the shelters this time of year, in fact you might have them all to yourself. Do be aware though that Fontana Dam is closed even to foot traffic at this time. The are re-routing hikers down a couple of miles to cross. Be sure you take that into account when you are planning your trip.
That's not good - is it still possible to park at the visitors center and walk to the trail? I've never been there - all I know is what I've read here.
Tnks,
TB
sheepdog
02-09-2008, 20:30
2 liters of water should get you from shelter to shelter, spring to spring. You will notice a big difference between the south end of the park verses the north end. Lots of great views in the north end but the trail can be more washed out and rough. The south has fewer views but the trail is not as steep or washed out. I hiked the section two years ago, so some things may have changed. Ice water springs shelter has a great view of Gatlinburg ( I believe) at night. The lights are great. Look for it.
Max Power
02-09-2008, 21:22
That's not good - is it still possible to park at the visitors center and walk to the trail? I've never been there - all I know is what I've read here.
Tnks,
TB
If you park at the Visitor Center you will hve to hike about 2 miles. blue blaze, to get to the trail. It's probably better to park at the Village and then get a $2 shuttle to the bottom of the dam.
Flush2wice
02-09-2008, 21:34
Or make Twenty Mile your destination instead of the dam. You can park there.
What's "Twenty Mile"?
Regarding parking in the Village, I was actually planning on parking at the visitors center, getting a shuttle back to Davenport Gap and then walking back to my truck at the visitors center.
Is this still possible, or is the visitors center parking lot closed or could I still park there?
Really, it doesn't matter where I park initially because Jeff from the Hiker Inn is going to pick me up and take me back to his place to spend the night - I just want to be able to get to my truck easily after finishing the hike.
So.... to put it another way... Where is the best place to park my truck around Fontana Dam so that I can get to it easily coming off the trail when I exit the Smokies?
Thanks,
Tb
Flush2wice
02-09-2008, 22:32
Twentymile is the ranger station on hwy 28 west of the dam. It's west of Fontana Village.
If you hike south on the AT about at Shuckstak you go right on the Twentymile trail. It's about 5 miles to the ranger station. If you stayed on the AT it's about 4 miles to the dam, but then a 2 mile re-route on a road to the visitors center parking lot.
Here's a map. (http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/upload/trails2005.pdf)
The Twentymile Trail is part of the Benton McKaye Trail.
Just curious- how much $ is the shuttle to Davenport?
$120 for the shuttle from Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap. That's picking me up at the visitors center, taking me back to The Hike Inn and then taking me to Davenport Gap the following morning.
Tb
The dam & visitors center are closed. You can park in the village or at the marina if you do not want to go to 20 mile.
$120:eek:
How much is it just for the shuttle?
The folks at the Hike Inn charge a LOT for shuttling. Consider contacting the folks at Standing Bear Farm and Hostel. If they can do so, I guarantee they'll charge you less for the shuttle and a stay there overnight is only $15 for the bunkhouse.
It is a LONG drive from the I-40 side to the Highway 28 side of the park. Probably 180 miles/ 4 hours round trip. Thats probably 9 gallons of gas at almost, if not more than $3 per gallon. 30 bucks at least in gas.
It is a LONG drive from the I-40 side to the Highway 28 side of the park. Probably 180 miles/ 4 hours round trip. Thats probably 9 gallons of gas at almost, if not more than $3 per gallon. 30 bucks at least in gas.
And the folks at Standing bear will still shuttle for less.
I've already made all my shuttle and shelter reservations and I'm ok with the shuttle fee (though I do like a better deal...). I did try to email Curtis at SBF at the same time I emailed Jeff at the Hike Inn but Curtis's email bounced back.
Question about shelter reservations: What happens if you don't make it to your next shelter and have to camp between shelters? Or, more likely , what if you're at a different shelter than your reservation says you should be in? I was thinking I might pop out and see Gatlinburg if the spirit moved me but that'd put me a day behind my shelter reservation schedule.
Thanks
Thomas
They could fine you. They are pretty strict on that in the park, unlike most places on the trail.
I've already made all my shuttle and shelter reservations and I'm ok with the shuttle fee (though I do like a better deal...).
Thanks
Thomas
Done is done. Good you are satisfied.
Good karma.
Have fun.
They could fine you. They are pretty strict on that in the park, unlike most places on the trail.
I'll be glad to get this piece of the trail out of the way. It borders on being a hassle.
Thomas
that's funny, I'm doing this section the first week in March to get it knocked out because I'm hiking with my dog this year from Springer and wanted to be able to bypass this section. I was going to ask a lot of the same questions you're asking. Do you have to have reservations? I was just going to head up there and hike it and try and hitch-hike back.
that's funny, I'm doing this section the first week in March to get it knocked out because I'm hiking with my dog this year from Springer and wanted to be able to bypass this section. I was going to ask a lot of the same questions you're asking. Do you have to have reservations? I was just going to head up there and hike it and try and hitch-hike back.
Yep, got to have reservations and a permit. Sit down with a map and from where you're starting your hike figure out which shelters would be a good stopping points each day then call 865-436-1231 and make reservations for the dates you're going to be at each shelter.
Then on top of that you have to have a backcountry permit which are apparently available at ranger stations, campgrounds, visitor centers, Bluff Mountain Outfitters, and my shuttler (The Hike Inn) is going to take care of mine so I guess this is just a bit of obligatory paperwork you have to file so they will be able to know you're in the park and be able to match your shelter reservations with who you are.
I'm parking somewhere around Fontana (don't know exactly where yet...) and starting from Davenport Gap. If you're going S-N we'll pass each other.
Tb
spirit4earth
02-11-2008, 15:38
keep in mind that WNC is in a state of "exceptional drought". i doubt that'll effect the springs in the park, but it might be a factor.
I'm parking somewhere around Fontana (don't know exactly where yet...) and starting from Davenport Gap. If you're going S-N we'll pass each other.
Tb
Heh, I'll look for you then. I'll be the guy in the flourecent orange Home Depot hat.
I still can't believe they don't allow dogs in the Smokies...
keep in mind that WNC is in a state of "exceptional drought". i doubt that'll effect the springs in the park, but it might be a factor.
I'm counting on water availability at shelters at a minimum. Fingers crossed on that one.
Tb
GratefulHike
02-11-2008, 16:40
Funny me and couple of friends are doing the same hike in Mid-march and I have been asking alot of the same questions. This is a link to the thread I have been asking questions about as well.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32476
We will be heading N-S but will probably be about a week behind, so probably won't run into you.
I sure hope there is readily available water as well..
How many days you planning on making this hike in?
How many days you planning on making this hike in?
I'm looking at covering it in 7-8 days. March 1st to March 8th. Probably going to be cold as hell is hot, but shouldn't be unbearable.
I'm planning on making it through in 5 days / 4 nights. The longest day is the first at just over 15 miles and the last almost 17. I tend to travel pretty fast hiking alone and don't have any trouble (so far...) hiking 15/19 miles per day and not having to worry about finding a campsite and setup a tent will allow for some extra hiking time as well. Actually, after the first day I'm wondering how it's going to feel to throttle back to 13-14 mpd because of having to stop because I don't have enough time to get to another shelter. Will I get bored sitting at a shelter watching it get dark????
The days are getting a bit longer too. I was able to hike until almost 6:00 PM last week when I had to stop just before 5:00 PM last month. I made it from Roaring Fork Shelter to Hot Springs - around 20 miles - in 8 hours though it was an admittedly easy hike with a long stretch of downhill.
Regarding the weather - I'm hoping for low 60's during the day and mid 40's at night. However, I'm willing to negotiate.... ;)
Thomas
Hey, another question about enforcement in the Smokies. I'm planning to do a section from Springer to Fontana this spring. Hope to pick up there and continue north through the park in the fall. How do the Rangers determine your starting point? Would I be obligated to re-hike 50 miles in order to by-pass the strict shelter regulations in the Fall? Hope to do about 170 miles in the fall also.
Guess my question is, if my car is at the north end of my section, how would they know where I was starting? Is it just the honor system? I guess I could consider it just a continuation with a big break in the middle...
From what I gather it's based on the honor system. They define a thru hiker as starting on the AT 50 miles before entering the park and 50 miles after leaving.
Hopefully someone who knows for sure will chime in.
Tb
Frolicking Dinosaurs
02-11-2008, 20:46
From what I gather it's based on the honor system. They define a thru hiker as starting on the AT 50 miles before entering the park and 50 miles after leaving.This is correct.
Blissful
02-11-2008, 21:06
Guess my question is, if my car is at the north end of my section, how would they know where I was starting? Is it just the honor system? I guess I could consider it just a continuation with a big break in the middle...
Get into the gray area about being a legit hiker - or the honor vs lying thing and you open a whole other keg of worms. Though there are threads about supposed stealthing in the Smokies if that's what you want to do.
IMO for sectioning - just stay at the dumb shelters like they ask and get it out of the way. Enjoy the ridgewalk and the pines and the ice covered trail. There are beautiful areas of the Smokies. I dreaded it but found areas I just loved and enjoyed.
Water question....
Do the water sources in the Smokies tend to be springs or streams? I'm trying to decide if I can leave the filter at home. I'm ok with filling my bottles if I can grab the water as it comes out of the ground. Not so with a stream, especially in lower elevations.
Tb
Hikes in Rain
02-12-2008, 07:04
Up on the ridgeline, they're springs, which turn into streams lower down the mountain. I leave the filter at home there, and just disinfect.
gollwoods
02-16-2008, 10:14
Regarding the weather - I'm hoping for low 60's during the day and mid 40's at night. However, I'm willing to negotiate.... ;)
mid 40's might be opptimistic, try about mid 20's for low's in the night at least by double springs through tricorner knob.
Stir Fry
02-16-2008, 10:19
I'm looking at covering it in 7-8 days. March 1st to March 8th. Probably going to be cold as hell is hot, but shouldn't be unbearable.
look for temps in the teens at night, so be prepaired.