(pic heavy) Overnight at Davenport Gap Shelter (Appalachian Trail) Jan 3-4

[mad goat]

Great job!

I've not been that far south on the AT yet. Are the bears really so bad there that a fence is needed?

u.w.

All of the shelters along the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park used to have chain link fences across the front. The idea being that you would take your food into the shelter with you and close the fence behind you to keep the bears out. But they found two things, 1) mice are a huge issue, and 2) the bears associated the shelters and humans with food smells (and morons were feeding the bears through the fence).

So about 15+ years ago they started to take out the fences and renovate the shelters. Now they have a cable pulley system attached to some trees at all the shelters and campsites in the GSMNP for you to hoist your stinky stuff, and most of the shelters no longer have a fence.

As for bears, i have read that they can be a nuisance, but I have hiked 1000+ miles in the GSMNP (almost all backpacking miles) and have only seen 2 bears on the trails and have never been harassed by them at camp. I'm far more concerned about mice getting my snickers.

[mad goat]

Man that shelter looks pretty cool.

Davenport Gap is a nice shelter, but it was one of the early ones that they renovated in the Smokies. Here is what some of the others look like. Note the high windows, covered porch area, benches, cooking platforms. The shelters in the Smokies used to be dank holes with a fence across the front, now they are first rate.

[allhansondeck]

Thanks for the great pics. I will be better about that next trip.

[AdventureMyk]

Mad, nice pic! I've seen the pics of the new shelters but Davenport is the only one I stayed at. I have looked in on the Fontana Hilton and it looked like a blast but there was no one in it that day. I've thought about doing a day-hike and loading up my Osprey with things like snacks, drinks, fuel, etc. and taking it up to a shelter to see who might need it or just need a break.

[hawghangar]

Enjoyed looking at your pics.... I love looking at the AT scenery and terrain, but can't imagine spending nights on the trail in one of those shelters - especially behind a chain link fence. Seems to rob you of the whole experience of getting away from civilization and into the forest....thankful that we're not relegated to mandatory shelters in this part of the country... I'm one of those that enjoy the camp experience as much (or more) than the hike.

Thanks for sharing your trip!

[AdventureMyk]

You aren't relegated to them in the smokies either. Not by a long shot! We signed up for the Davenport Gap area and I had brought along my Clark Vertex to crash in. It was one of the few places that didn't have any decent trees for singles much less the Vertex and since we'd never stayed in a shelter before we figured we'd give it a shot. We were hoping to meet a few other hikers for some stories as much as not but no one else came.

[K8oe]

Great post AdventureMyk. Really enjoyed reading and seeing the pics. It made me want to start packing and get out there to see it myself. You really got me when you mentioned Pigeon River Smokehouse, when you described their BBQ Brisket my mouth started watering. lol. Then I immediately googled to see where it was located and bookmarked it. Good BBQ is like kryptonite for me, and after being out hiking and camping it makes it even better. Looking forward to seeing your next trip. Thanks

[AdventureMyk]

Thanks Kboe, that place may not look like much on the outside beyond a bit of a tourist trap but the BBQ is definitely worth it! Hoping to do a few more hikes in that area with some better pics and better camera set-up than I had with me.

[nothermark]

Nice pics, good report! Thanks!!

[Ashe]

Nice! i dont think I've ever seen a report on that section of the AT. My great uncle died in an accident at the Powerhouse in your first photo. and my Grandmother grew up in a house that was a few hundred yards downhill from where the AT crosses Hwy32. there's a sign for the Ford Cemetery near there just off of 32 where my great and great great grandparents are buried.