A.T. Smokey Mountain section

[BEAS]

I am understanding that on the A.T Smokies section you must stay in the sheltrers. I really don't want to do that, I have got this hammock for a reason. I guess my question is should I carry my tarp tent that is smaller and lighter and the pad so I have padding for the shelter and stay in the tarp if need be outside the shelter?
I also hear you can just hang around ( no pun intened) and wait till the shelter is full then move out. What about the bears in the park? I believe I might look like a pinyatta for the bears. or a hanging taco.
I believe I posted this before but cant find it and don't remember what was said.


BEAS

[Doctari]

Usually during AT thru hiker season, the bears havn't reached the elevation that the AT is on YET. I don't know when they go back down. The bears do know where the food is & will frequent those areas first.
If you want to take your chances, something to thik about: there is one ridge runner for the 78 miles of AT thru the smokies. I think there is very few "backcountry rangers" so your chance of running in to someone official is slim. AND, if you hang well off the trail (out of sight), setting up near the end of the day, & leave at first light. That said, I believe that the fines are substantial if you are caught!!

FYI: DO NOT HAVE ALCOHOL AT THE FONTANA DAM SHELTER, YOU WILL BE CAUGHT & HEAVILY FINED, and you had better show up for your court date.

I am understanding that on the A.T Smokies section you must stay in the sheltrers. I really don't want to do that, I have got this hammock for a reason. I guess my question is should I carry my tarp tent that is smaller and lighter and the pad so I have padding for the shelter and stay in the tarp if need be outside the shelter?
I also hear you can just hang around ( no pun intened) and wait till the shelter is full then move out. What about the bears in the park? I believe I might look like a pinyatta for the bears. or a hanging taco.
I believe I posted this before but cant find it and don't remember what was said.


BEAS

[bear bag hanger]

When I sectioned hiked thru the Smokies in 2003, we ran into a ranger at one of the shelters. He gave out tickets freely (I've heard he got relocated to Nome, AL). But, he didn't think my hammock did as much damage to the envinroment as tents do and let me slide. During my 2004 thur hike, stayed in the shelters because of the ice and snow on the ground. We did see one ranger, but he didn't give out any tickets to those still wanting to stay outside, just warnings. There might not be many of them, but they seem to get around.

[Manach]

Judging by a review of other threads on this subject, it seems that the most succesul way to hammock the Smokies is to get up early, walk until late, and hope the shelter fills up so you can hang (likely) without issue.

I think on my thru I might take a therm-a-rest for that section just in case. Just the thought of sleeping on a thinlight pad in a shelter makes my back ache.

[*HangMan*]

Just the thought of sleeping on a thinlight pad in a shelter makes my back ache.

This is my next section in Spring and man I agree 100% Manach.

[Nest]

Another thing to consider is that the shelter really don't fill up on a regular basis. You can wait all day and still be in a shelter with just a couple other people, even at peak hiker season. My entier time in the Smokies we didn't hve a full shelter until the last day at Cosby Knob.

[Manach]

Nest, how'd you make out with your hammock in the Smokies?

[Coffee]

There is only 1 ridge runner with no real power for the AT in the smokies and 1 back country ranger for the whole park. I wouldn't worry about it. The thing to do is just use some common sense. The people I was around when I did it were happy to have less people in the shelter.

You might want to check the water depending on when you go. I know last year it was really dry on the southern half around this time.

[Nest]

Nest, how'd you make out with your hammock in the Smokies?

Just stayed in the shelters. I bought an inflatable thermarest in NOC so I slept pretty comfy.

[Manach]

The thing to do is just use some common sense. The people I was around when I did it were happy to have less people in the shelter.

No doubt. That's essentially what I've read everywhere.

Just stayed in the shelters. I bought an inflatable thermarest in NOC so I slept pretty comfy.

That was my idea. Glad I was solid on that one. I think I could handle the weight for eighty miles just in case.