When I thru'd, I really enjoyed the freedom of waling until it was dark and not being tied down to some shelter or campsite destination. I would stop at a shelter and eat dinner and socialize and then pack up and get 3 or 4 more miles in. I enjoyed the quick set up and the ability to set up anywhere.
Peace Dutch
GA>ME 2003
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DM, you are correct. As I checked the NPS website it says you can camp in designated backcountry campsites. there are hundreds in the park. So I check the map and sure enough there are hundreds in the park. However, there are NONE along the AT. (See what I missed because I planned to stay in the shelters anyway.) There are a couple of sites a short walk up some side trails but you cannot count on these unless you put some serious miles in. At my pace (about 10-12 miles per day) there would be no way without staying at shelters. Speakeasy and crawldaddy1, you might want to mail yourself a neoair before the park and mail it back to your home in Hot Springs. Oh the fun of planning.
I hiked the two halves of the AT through the park in 2003 and 2004 which was the transition year. in 2003, most of the shelters were fenced in and older log shelters. In 2004 I did the northern half and these shelters were all new with no fencing around them. They are nice. They were still working on the last shelter as I exited the park so I stayed in the old shelter still fenced in. Beautiful place.
Last edited by revsbentley; 01-03-2015 at 09:53.
There is another way of hanging there, legally. You could take the BMT through the Smokies instead of the AT. There are tons of designated campsites along that trail, and it loops around and rejoins the AT just before you get out of it. It just depends on how serious you are about staying on the AT proper.
Easier to get dressed. Not having to "try" and get dressed inside your sleeping bag while in a shelter, or trying to do the worm squirm getting dressed inside a small tent.
Way more civilized!
As I understand it the shelters are not designated backcountry sites.
I just ran across these rules for GSMNP myself. Makes sense (to a degree) that the park doesn't want people hanging from any part of the shelters themselves. You never know what kind of load certain parts of the shelters were designed to carry (and as we all know, hammock hang angles can have large variances on how much stress is put on a tree/beam/rafter/whatever).
Seems like if you have a thru-hiker permit, hanging outside but near the shelters is not going to get you in trouble most of the time.
Whether or not you have a thru permit, if you're stealthing in the back-country (not at a backcountry-campsite) you're clearly in violation of the rules and risk a fine.
If you don't have a thru permit, it appears that hammock camping is allowed (with reservations, fee paid, use tree straps) outside of full shelters and anywhere at a backcountry campsite.
Good luck on your thru-hike! I'd stick with your hammock and not mess with the neoair personally. The odds of getting in trouble for hanging your hammock near, but not attached to, a shelter when it is not quite to capacity seem small. The hammock will grant you lots of comfort and flexibility, even in GSMNP!
Nice to hear that the hammock is improving your camping experience. I completely agree, a hammock can be a little bulkier and heavier but the better night sleep will make you stronger and better rested for the following day. I'm sure it'll work well for you on the Appalachian Trail
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