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Has anyone been up the Jacks River or Beech Bottom trails since the big flood in July of last year? I remember the FS closed the entire area after the flood for some time. I was there the week before...

Unfrosted cinnamon and brown sugar for the win.

Best sugary high calorie breakfast of all time though is Morton honey buns- too bad they don't make em anymore.
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NeoAir All Season Large. It takes up a ridiculous amount of room on the tent floor when inflated, but it's so much more comfortable than my Zlite or old Prolite and doesn't take up too much space in...

There's no perfect tent, but there are lots of good ones. I'm assuming this is for a thru hike? I would avoid the one person tent you linked; note it isn't freestanding and the reviews are not good....

Yes, but there are constantly new people joining this site that have no prior experience. They haven't seen the same subject posted 100 times. Plus it gives people a way to pass the time when not...

Get the gear online now if you can and camp in your yard a few times. Otherwise, print gear list. Stop at one of the Atlanta area REI stores on your way thru town. Rent or buy gear there; employees...

Snacks that are edible straight out of your pack:
Clif bar at 0F = brick
Raisins at 0F = extreme jaw muscle workout
You get the idea...

I highly recommend Mt Leconte in GSMNP. I stay there in the snow at least once every year. You can track current conditions with the blog posted above. Mountaintop point forecast is here:...

Have you hiked in the Patagonia R4 jacket before? Unless you have the LW version, the regular R4 is totally wind proof (gore windbloc I think) and it doesn't breathe at all. I wore it on the trail in...

Some great ideas, thanks. I really like the Elkmont route!

Every year I do an overnight trip to the Mt LeConte shelter during/after a winter storm. I park at Sugarland Center or Cherokee Orchard (441 is always closed) and hike Rainbow Falls or Bullhead trail...

Maybe I just have a poorly shaped head and wear my glasses too low? For me, the XP2 is the same effect as driving my car at night while someone has the dome light on; it's difficult to see. From a...

I think Petzl dropped the ball on this headlamp. I have had the original XP for many years, and just got an XP2 for free with a purchase from Moontrail. The XP2 headlamp housing is a translucent...

For future reference in case anyone is curious, I contacted Cascade Designs and they said they would repair for $20 if there were 10 or less holes. Mine both are over the limit, so I didn't bother...

You can't prove anything. I plead the fifth. :cool:

Bummer. So I'm now left with one Zlite pad and a POE inflatable pad (BigAgnes air core knockoff). I need to have sufficient mattresses for myself and two kids that will keep everyone warm down to...

Well, someone left the door to my gear closet open, and naturally the cat went in there and used my two thermarest pads as scratching posts. I blew both pads up and stuck them under some water in the...

If it's over 90 degrees, I hike to only two places: 5000+ft peaks and swimming holes. Most of my swimming holes are unbearably cold if the air temp is below 90.

I'm hiking up Yonah Mountain this weekend, and everything I read says there is no water source anywhere on the mountain. Maybe my memory is failing me, but I could have sworn there was a spring half...

Southeast radar derived rainfall:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/serfc/qpfvsmap.php

Daily reports from GSMNP:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=RTPMRX

I can't help with anything farther...

I don't like the new fee, but after reading the FAQ on the park website, I see one possible good thing about the new system for me: it allows for one free itinerary change after you've paid for...

Go to Siler Bald. It's very close to Franklin, and has 360 degree views, no road to the top, and only about 2 miles from the road crossing. Dark night skies to the north and south for stargazing, and...

Don't know if it will make a difference, but I hope this cuts down on the number of people who reserve the LeConte shelter in winter and then no-show because it's snowing...which is when I want to...

Siler Bald (not Silers) is my favorite campsite in this section. Nighttime views of Franklin to the east and dark skies with no light pollution to the north and south.
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Also, I have run into...

For those who winter camp in shelters, at what temperature do you add a second pad? I typically sleep on the ground/snow on a Prolite 4, and add a z-rest when it gets below 15F. I'm wondering if...