A.T. hike in the snow (pics)

**ricegravy** · 12-06-2009, 19:11

The hike was Street Gap to Big Bald. We didn't make it to Big Bald though because of the huge amounts of snow and poor visibility.
We hiked about 3 miles in and made camp Friday evening. We woke up to Snow snow Snow Saturday morning. It kept snowing hard all day so we did a short 1 mile hike from our base camp then 1 mile back to it. We didn't want to go to far because we weren't sure we would be able to find camp if the snow got to bad!

The high was 25 degrees. The low was barely in the teens if that. I think it dropped into the single digits at night, but I'm not sure.

Here is a link to the pictures: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...lbumId=2342714

-Ricegravy!

**animalcontrol** · 12-06-2009, 19:14

that is a great dusting of snow you have there!
snow camping is the best!
We were spared the white stuff here...BOOOOO!

**trigger hurt** · 12-06-2009, 19:19

looking good. Wish I had known about this *cough*

**swampfox** · 12-06-2009, 19:54

Those were great pictures.

How did the alcohol stove and JetBoil compare for melting snow?

**ricegravy** · 12-06-2009, 21:47

Originally Posted by swampfox

How did the alcohol stove and JetBoil compare for melting snow?

It took a while to melt snow with either stove! I think the alcohol stove was faster, but used a lot of alcohol to do it.

We were only a 15 minute hike away from a spring that was flowing out of the side of the mountain, but it was more fun to melt the snow to drink and cook with.

I have to say that the JetBoil would boil water very fast. I melted snow in the jetboil Saturday night and put it into a water bottle. I then slept with the water bottle in my sleeping bag to keep it from freezing. When I woke up Sunday morning I was able to make coffee and oatmeal very quickly with the JetBoil! It was easy and fast. The jetboil is a little on the heavy side though.

-Ricegravy!

**keys?** · 12-12-2009, 07:13

Nice Pics. Especially like the "HoarFrost" what?

Sure is pretty for such a dirty sounding name. I also love the way the white blaze on the tree looks in winter, very nice

**Hangin' Burrito** · 12-15-2009, 11:06

Man!!! I am sooo.... envious!

I want Mt. Rogers to be like that!

I love the pics of the "Hoarfrost".

If you want to do another AT hike like that this winter, let me know and I'll see if I can make it.

I've been itching for some snow here in WNC, it kills me that my sister has 3 ft. in her front yard in upstate NY.

**JayS** · 12-06-2009, 19:45

Looks like a great time. It's a good feeling knowing you can do more than just survive in the cold. It looks like no one really suffered from the cold. Thanks for posting.

One tarp looks like it has a duct-taped seem running over the top. If that's what it is, what type of material was the tarp & how well did the tape hold in the cold and snow?

**ricegravy** · 12-06-2009, 21:39

Originally Posted by JayS

One tarp looks like it has a duct-taped seem running over the top. If that's what it is, what type of material was the tarp & how well did the tape hold in the cold and snow?

If you are talking about the tarp on the left in this picture, I have no idea why, but my best friend Keith took the rain fly off his Kelty tent and cut and stitched it into the shape of hammock tarp. He Incorporated the kelty zipper so he can open up the tarp and "access his hammock easier". The zipper is the part the runs down the tarp and looks kind of like a strip of drct-tape.
I think it is a silly idea, but he seems to like it :-)

-Ricegravy!

**JayS** · 12-06-2009, 22:06

Originally Posted by ricegravy

If you are talking about the tarp on the left in this picture, I have no idea why, but my best friend Keith took the rain fly off his Kelty tent and cut and stitched it into the shape of hammock tarp. He Incorporated the kelty zipper so he can open up the tarp and "access his hammock easier". The zipper is the part the runs down the tarp and looks kind of like a strip of drct-tape.
I think it is a silly idea, but he seems to like it :-)

-Ricegravy!

Yes, that is what I was talking about. A Kelty rain fly repurposed. Hmmm. Sounds as if Keith is committed to hammocking. I saved some zippers from a tent I "decommissioned"

a year or two ago and am thinking of adding one to a sock for entry/exit. Can't remember what I did with the fly - probably tossed it.

Thanks.