Five days/nights in the GSMNP

**GingivitisKahn** · 07-12-2010, 18:32

Went car camping with the family last week to Elkmont in the GSMNP. This was my first out-of-yard experience with the hammock and things went well. Trails were hiked, bears and yucky bugs were seen and lessons were learned.

Night time temps ranged from about 58* first night to 69* last night and it rained only once (last night). I went equipped with my ENO Doublenest, Guardian bugnet, PLUQ, overquilt (ok - fleece sleeping bag) and cheapie Wally World tarp.

Lesson 1 - not sure I'm going to be able to deal w/ the bugnet. That thing is close, confining and interferes with getting a good hang. Luckily the bugs were not bad at all (aside from a few daddy longlegs that insisted on tap dancing on my melon occasionally in the night).

Lesson 2 - since I changed from the ENO stock suspension to my whoopie slings / tree huggers, I apparently don't have the faintest idea how to attach my PLUQ. Accordingly, I had no under insulation but made do with a fleece jacket and the fleece bag on top of me. Being a warm sleeper can be a good thing, apparently.

Lesson 3 - the dry creek bed over which I pitched my hammock the first night collects a couple of inches of water (spring or seep or something) and this wakes the mosquitoes early in the morning. The mosquitoes excite the daddy longlegs. Awake mosquitoes and excited daddy longlegs tend to make me thrash around comically. Moved my hammock for the second night and reduced my nighttime visitors.

Lesson 4 - Crocs are ok for bumming around the campsite but they STINK for wading in trout streams while fly fishing. I'm thinking of naming my blisters.

Anyway, here are a few pictures for your amusement / amazement.

First two pics are of the first night's rig, before I bagged the guardian for the week. Third pic is my spot for the rest of the week. I did the tarp a bit high up until the last night - when we expected and got some rain. Fourth pic is the view from Chimney Tops - short steep trail. The last is my dad surviving a vicious bear attack...

**carolinasbackpacker** · 07-12-2010, 18:40

nice report. I never really liked the ENO bugnet myself but after some playing around with it I was able to stop it from doing that just with the tension added wen I got in the hammock. It would cause it to spread out some

**Poppabear** · 07-12-2010, 18:47

Thanks for the report. Sounds like you had fun and learned a few things to boot. What could be better?

**jbryan** · 07-12-2010, 21:31

Ahhh Elkmont, my family's favorite place to car camp. I can't wait until my youngest (3mo) will be able to go next year.

**Shug** · 07-13-2010, 09:08

Glad you got out there to the piney woods!!!!
One reason I like the BlackBird so much is because the bugnet is way up off of your face..........
Shug

**Hawk-eye** · 07-13-2010, 09:11

Thanks for sharing ... sounds like fun ... sorry to hear about the loss of your dad to the bear

... at least you got pictures!

**BillyBob58** · 07-13-2010, 11:11

Hooray Chimney Tops AND Elkmont, love 'em both! That net does look a little tight compared to the WB.

**GingivitisKahn** · 07-13-2010, 13:13

I see how it is. Get sucked into hammocking, enjoy it a bit and the next thing I know, I've got to have more hammocks (or at least a WBBB), a sweet tarp, end of the world UQ and TQ...

It's camping crack, I tell ya!

**miisterwright** · 07-13-2010, 13:24

Originally Posted by GingivitisKahn

It's camping crack, I tell ya!

Yeah, but I think they call it a "healthy high". Just make sure you remember to inhale. You don't want to be passing out near any steep ridges or anything!

**GingivitisKahn** · 07-13-2010, 17:24

Originally Posted by miisterwright

Yeah, but I think they call it a "healthy high". Just make sure you remember to inhale. You don't want to be passing out near any steep ridges or anything!

Lol - good advice.