Sheltowee Trace

[clwilla]

For those of you who don't know, the Sheltowee Trace is a 268 mile long trail that starts in northern Tennessee, but spends a vast majority of it's distance heading northeast through the Big South Fork River and Recreation Area and the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky (along with a host of state maintained grounds). Although I won't be doing a thru hike of the ST this year, I plan on doing at least a 50 or so mile chunk sometime this fall/winter, starting from the Northern Terminus, and then moving our way south.

Has anyone done any significant hammock hiking on the ST? I know that a fair few of us on the board are from central Kentucky in close proximity to the ST. I've only done one small section of the ST, section 33 between the Negro Creek Trail and Yahoo Falls Recreation Area (about 5 miles) down in the Big South Fork right along the Cumberland River (our camp spot ruled - but it was that trip that made me decide to re-investigate hammock camping; had that very unlikely small patch of sand not been there, we would have had to hike back 2 miles to stay at the campground as there just weren't any suitable spots for tents anywhere near the trail).

I'd like to try and do the entire hike via hammock. Of course I'll have to finally shell out the cash and get a quilt or 2 during that time of year, but such is life. Any experiences/stories?

[rigidpsycho]

For those of you who don't know, the Sheltowee Trace is a 268 mile long trail that starts in northern Tennessee, but spends a vast majority of it's distance heading northeast through the Big South Fork River and Recreation Area and the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky (along with a host of state maintained grounds). Although I won't be doing a thru hike of the ST this year, I plan on doing at least a 50 or so mile chunk sometime this fall/winter, starting from the Northern Terminus, and then moving our way south.

Has anyone done any significant hammock hiking on the ST? I know that a fair few of us on the board are from central Kentucky in close proximity to the ST. I've only done one small section of the ST, section 33 between the Negro Creek Trail and Yahoo Falls Recreation Area (about 5 miles) down in the Big South Fork right along the Cumberland River (our camp spot ruled - but it was that trip that made me decide to re-investigate hammock camping; had that very unlikely small patch of sand not been there, we would have had to hike back 2 miles to stay at the campground as there just weren't any suitable spots for tents anywhere near the trail).

I'd like to try and do the entire hike via hammock. Of course I'll have to finally shell out the cash and get a quilt or 2 during that time of year, but such is life. Any experiences/stories?

Checout http://sheltoweetrace.com/, there were a couple of thru hikers that used hammocks. The site doesn't get much traffic so it may take a while to get a response,you could also maybe checkout http://www.kywilderness.com/forum/ and post question about it there as well.

[Coffee]

I been through parts in RRG that where nice. One of my favorite campsites is off of it. I was going to section hike it until I found out I am moving away. I remember reading there is a lot of road or ATV roads walks in places.

I wouldn't see why you couldn't hammock the whole way. PM Doctari if he doesn't chime in. I think he said he did a decent section of it.

[Mule]

One time a friend of mine and I hiked out of the Hostel area in the Big South Fork past some of the Rock Houses and planned to camp out there and come back the next day. We ended up going five or six miles out and coming all the way back. Nowhere along the trail was a place to set up a small tent, and we had one each. Hanging would have been great. Mule

[headchange4u]

I've been on several sections of the ST-some sections in the BSF, some section in central Ky around Cumberland Falls, Holly Bay, etc, and I've walked almost all of the section in the RRG at one time or another. As Coffee said, there are large sections of the ST that require road walking and some section on ATV, mountain bike, and horse trails that can be pretty torn up at times. Overall, the sections I have been on have been really beautiful. You may wanna check out this book if you are interested in doing sections, as it's the closest thing to an end to end trail guide out there at the moment.

[Doctari]

I have hiked the STT from the first parking lot on tunnel ridge road to it's connection with the Lost Branch trail. There has been ample hanging along the way. I'm guessing that what I have hiked is about 15 - 20 miles, so not much of it compared to total. I did notice that north of the junction with Lost Branch the trail is HEAVILY worn & eroded from use by horses. The parts I have hiked were great, lots of views, some rock houses, a few swimming opps, some history (Indian staircase) & stuff like that.

I been through parts in RRG that where nice. One of my favorite campsites is off of it. I was going to section hike it until I found out I am moving away. I remember reading there is a lot of road or ATV roads walks in places.

I wouldn't see why you couldn't hammock the whole way. PM Doctari if he doesn't chime in. I think he said he did a decent section of it.

[tpo]

Good day everyone. I have hiked a number of sections of the Sheltowee with my Speer hammock. I plan on another section this fall with some Scouts.

Sheltowee Wanderer on the Sheltowee Trace forum has through hiked the trail with a hammock. You can read his journal as well as some others at www.sheltowetrace.com . Don't forget the pictures. It is well worth the time.

oops, I should have read all the posts. My info is a be redundant. Sorry

[headchange4u]

Welcome to Hammock Forums tpo. Good to see yet another Ky hanger make their way to he forum.

[rigidpsycho]

Welcome to the forum fellow KY hanger

[tpo]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I have been lurking hear for a while. The strong silent type, you know...maybe just silent.