I'm a new guy, starting a five day hike from springer mountain to where ever I end up

[solohiker]

Do you hang you're a complete packet night or just the food items


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[Old Hiker]

I just hung my food and trash. I had a travel sized tube of toothpaste that was buried in my pack with no problems.

I stored a small baggie of candy orange slices in my pack top cover for getting energy when I woke up, but had no problems.

I had to remember to go through ALL my pack pockets for snacks I had not eaten and for trash as well.

The only problem I had with hanging was the LAST shelter night. I camped close to the shelter before Baxter and had a squirrel or some such go through my food bag, into my trash bag and then quit. No food was lost.

YMMV.

[Lone Wolf]

everything goes in my tent with me

[Sarcasm the elf]

Do you hang you're a complete packet night or just the food items


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That conventional recommendation is to only hang your food and any scented items.

I have heard that in Great Smokey Mountain NP they now recommend hanging your pack because irresponsible vacationers have inadvertently "trained" the bears to associate packs with food, but that seems to be an isolated problem.

Also, if you haven't done so yet, search google and youtube for "PCT Method" it is a method of bear bagging that is more effective than older practices.

[Gambit McCrae]

If there are cables I hang it, if there is a bear pole/ box I use it to hang my food bag. Never my pack.
If there isn't, I sleep with it in my tent.

[glenlawson]

I hang everything that has food or trash in it. I am more concerned about mice than I am about bears. In this section, you will probably get to the part where you need a bear canister. That will be after you cross the highway at Woody Gap. The stretch from Jarrard Gap to Neels Gap requires a canister until June 1. If you camp just before Jarrard Gap, you are okay. After Neels Gap, you are okay.

The canister rule is due to bad camper behavior at Vogel State Park. By June 1, the campground becomes busy enough that all the bears have moved down to the campground to eat out of coolers and food boxes. Any morning you are camped in Vogel, you can hear stories about what the bears got into.

[solohiker]

Ok,
Thank you so much for all the replies,
My first night will be March 16 in the woods
What nighttime temperatures can I expect?



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[solohiker]

I plan on parking at the top Springer Mountain-
Hiking for a few days and then bailing out someplace-
Any ideas for a ride back to my vehicle or should I turn around and hike back?
Thanks again for the replies


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[Slo-go'en]

I plan on parking at the top Springer Mountain-
Hiking for a few days and then bailing out someplace-
Any ideas for a ride back to my vehicle or should I turn around and hike back?
Thanks again for the replies

Most people make it Neel gap in 3 days, which is a few days and you can get a ride back from there.

[glenlawson]

My first night will be March 16 in the woods
What nighttime temperatures can I expect?


Probably in the 30's. The weather for Suches, GA should give you a pretty good idea.

[MuddyWaters]

Do you hang you're a complete packet night or just the food items


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You may hang whatever you like.
Hanging everything is common on bearcables when available in places like gsmnp
Usually food only on poles or bearbag hang, everything is too heavy
Many people hang packs from nails or pegs in shelters

[Gambit McCrae]

Don't wait intil you need a ride, to find a ride. Contact Ron Brown in my sig and setup a couple weeks in advance, a place, and a time to be picked up. Or get him to meet you at neels leave your car there and let him drive you back to springer

[Riocielo]

Ok,
Thank you so much for all the replies,
My first night will be March 16 in the woods
What nighttime temperatures can I expect?



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There is an AT Weather app which tells you the weather my mile or shelter, called "Appalachian Trail Weather." Thanks to Shutter for creating this.

I also find the closest town, look up the weather for it and then adjust the temperature for the elevation.


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[solohiker]

great idear- doing that now, thanks for the lead

[solohiker]

should i have beer spray in the section of- Springer mountain to Neel gap?

[MuddyWaters]

should i have beer spray in the section of- Springer mountain to Neel gap?

That would be awesome if keep it cold

[solohiker]

That would be awesome if keep it cold

what do you mean?- you lost me,,,,LOL

[JPritch]

what do you mean?- you lost me,,,,LOL

Rereadyouroriginalquestioncarefully.

[JPritch]

...and my space bar apparently didn't work on my last post. Sorry.

[MkBibble]

what do you mean?- you lost me,,,,LOL

Beer_Spray.gif

Beer Spray