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Solo Backpacking in the Smokies: a How-To in Real Time
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2020
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In this video, I go backpacking alone in the Smoky Mountains while describing my methods for finding trails to do in the Smokies. I discuss my planning methods, including the books I use to plan my hikes. I describe the pros and cons of hiking in the Smoky Mountains and explain why it's not *all" about the Appalachian Trail. The video is a sort of introduction to the Smoky Mountains for backpackers, including tips for backpacking in the Smokies and my best advice for hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
My route includes the Mt. Cammerer Fire Tower, the Mt. Sterling Fire Tower, Campsite 35 and Campsite 38. I parked at the Big Creek front country camping area (at the Big Creek Ranger Station) and hiked on the following trails: Chestnut Branch, the Appalachian Trail, Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail, Low Gap Trail, Big Creek Trail, Swallow Fork Trail, Mt. Sterling Ridge Trail, Mt. Sterling Trail, and the Baxter Creek Trail.
More details about the video:
The books I list are (1) The Hiking Trails of the Smokies by the Great Smoky Mountains Association ("the little brown book") and (2) Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Kevin Adams.
Maps, which I forgot to talk about in the video. Here's a good one online: npmaps.com/wp-c... Find more information about maps, including the National Geographic maps, here: npmaps.com/grea...
Why I use a tarp, explained in this prior video -- • No Tent, No Hammock: H...
An explanation of the hows and why of the sandals I wear on the trail -- • GEAR REVIEW: LUNA SAND...
Why I don't use trekking poles, explained in this prior video -- • NO TREKKING POLES? App...
***WHAT I DO WHEN I'M NOT BACKPACKING***
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***CAMERA EQUIPMENT AND EDITING SOFTWARE****
Filmed with a Canon G7 X and edited on my computer with Cyberlink PowerDirector 14.
**** MY INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS
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***MUSIC***
The music is this video was produced by me, Evan Schaeffer. As with all my video music, I allow others to use it for free. See www.evanschaeff... and, after reading the information there, download my music from SoundCloud or the Free Music Archive. You can also listen to my two albums of video music (Glow and Big Splash) at Spotify or at Apple Music--just search for "Evan Schaeffer."
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5:12 thanks for stopping in at the cemetery. I love reading the headstones and imagining the lives of those resting there and honouring them with a moment.
24:38 is a magical spot.
Thank you for all the history of the area, that's really appreciated.
That was a great video. I enjoyed it very much. I've only been to the smokey's once , but I thought it was a magnificent trip.
Dwayne
Thanks. I enjoyed that video very much. Beautiful trail.
21:30 beautiful rays through the trees.
A treat indeed,happy hiking.😊
I don't know how I missed this one. I like the history stories. Thanks
Wow, cool hike thanks 😊
I appreciate your commentary. Much better than some music and watching someone hike…:)
Great to hear from you Evan.
I did the some of these trail combos but I started from Cosby creek and got on lower mt. Camerer, and eventually turned left on the AT and ended the hike at davenport trailhead (on the TN-NC border). We were so unprepared, started very late in the day (2:30 pm) and lost sunlight for the last half hour walking down to the davenport gap trailhead near the shelter of the same name. We literally had to run the last 3 miles on tired legs.
Nice to see ya. I'm going to the smoky mountain in May for a 5 day
Awesome! Thanks for the video!
Thank you for your knowledge ! I’m going on my first backpacking overnight in the Smokey’s. 😅
Enjoyed this video and will be checking out your other Smokies videos to get me primed for April in the Cataloochee Valley area. Plan to download some of your tunes for the videos of that upcoming trip.
very nice video, great nature. Thanks for sharing
very enjoyable- thanks from a Yorkshire lad
Very nice video. I especially liked the footage of the old wooden fire tower. I also really liked the camp shots.
Thank you very much!
You really don't see real story tellers. I did a class for adult Scout Leaders years back. When structured your stories are more interesting and not boring. Keep up the great work. I always looked forward and enjoyed your videos.
Great video!
Always hiked in deep winter. Mostly had shelters and trails to myself. Didn't worry about any type weather because I had proper gear, studied weather forecast etc. Spent many nights out up there in sub zero temps from the Smokies to the Roans. But I agree with you, I don't like camping around alot of people which is now a thing of the past.
My first solo trip in the Smokies was from Big Cr Station to 37, 38 and back down Baxter Cr. That was Nov 1980. I was able to tent just south of the fire tower in a grassy area overlooking the I-40 cut through the gorge. There was no communications equipment up there then. I hardly recognized the summit area when I was there a few years back. My only bear experience was at Walnut Bottom on that trip. He came right up to my tent sniffing around. I blew my referees whistle and he ran off for the rest of the night. Great loop!
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but I think the actual iron brake shoe was still at Brakeshoe Spring on the Big Creek Trail back then.
Evan, thanks for another awesome well informed video. I'll be making my 1st trip to the smoky's in a couple weeks.
Good luck on the trail!
You may like "Bushwackers" the Civil War in the nc mountains. Jeremiah Trotter I think. It has Smokies stuff. I've read four times. There are a number of history books about different creeks in the Smokies,such as Forney ,Hazel, and others.
Such a great video!!!!
Good to see you. Wow, it’s been two years since I would check each day to see where you and Liz were hiking. Best recorded TH-cam videos I can find! Thanks
Nice of you to say!
true. trying to get my family interested in bp in the Smokies-best content to share
Pro trick : you can watch series on flixzone. I've been using them for watching loads of movies during the lockdown.
Nice video. Great history. We should try to do that on our videos.
Thanks Evan for taking us along!
Big creek trail has some great swimming holes other than the midnight hole further up from midnight. I love swimming where the bridge goes over the creek. Almost stepped on a rattle snake right there too!
good to see you again
Excellent information. Thanks.😃
Great to see your videos again love the stories , Thank you
What a treat...a Evan video....awesome..please keep em comin..headed to the Smokies next week
Nice to see you again....thanks for taking us along.
Good to hear from you again, Evan!!! Really enjoyed the video!!! Hike on !!!
ALWAYS a pleasure! Thank you!
My wife and I backpacked up Big Creek to Walnut Bottoms back in the late '70s and had a run in with those aggressive bears. Mamma and two cubs came down to the site just after we had hung our packs and food on the "bear proof"pole. They got everything down and we spent the next morning tracking down our equipment. Mamma bear had a cache of stuff on top of a little hill where she had stashed all kinds of things like sleeping bags, boots, etc. that was quite the adventure! We'll never forget it!
Great story, thanks!
I have forgotten about the bear poles. Thanks. At laurel gap shelter a few years back a come within a inch or 2 from getting food bags on the new cables. A bear that is. It taught me something.
Good to see you again. Thanks for sharing.
Really great video. I came away with more than this, but it's weird to see you not wearing glasses...
Enjoyed watching your adventure.
From Alabama.
Thanks for the history and your perspective. The references sound interesting.
So happy to see a new video and enjoyed watching your latest hike. Great video and thanks for sharing.
Extremely informative and entertaining. I shot over to your playlist and watched two or three additional videos. Thank you.
Thanks for watching, appreciate it!
I really like watching your trips in the Smokies! I did the shorter loop16 years ago to Walnut Bottoms and Mt. Sterling. My first backpacking trip. I enjoyed seeing these trails again. Thanks for sharing.
Brings back a lot of memories for me!! Been on those trails many, many times!! My favorite of the Park.
Evan! Glad to see you on the trail again. Thoroughly enjoy the history lesson of the area.....the mountains are always calling!
Love your videos and your bits about the history and area! Beautiful hike! Thank you for sharing!
So good to see one of your videos again. The moss was so beautiful it looks like a carpet.
It's always a treat when I'm notified Evan has posted a new video. Great stuff as usual. Look forward to the next time.
Thanks!
Always enjoy your “hiking tour “ videos. Great views and entertaining historical commentary. Be safe.
Your videos are always a treat. Thanks for your work with all the info and history (and memorizing!) you pack into them. - Chica
You’re welcome, thanks for watching!
Nice. I have that little brown book. It is very good. My hostel will be open Spring 2021 for you to use for any section hikes in the east side of the park. I can even shuttle you if needed, Thanks , Evan, as a;ways your videos are 1st Class.
Thanks Ken!
I remember the mt cammerer fire tower. I also remember the my sterling fire tower... it is a little sketchy going up it. That water source at that camp site is a steep climb back up after you get your water. I stayed there with josh sanders and Jerry. Looks like a great trip.
Thanks Scott. That first campsite I stayed at was where you, Roger and I camped that one night. With that crazy toad, hah!
Thanks for the video and as always including some history. The broken window at Mt Kammerer must have happened since I hiked there in June.
I've never hiked in the Smokies. Eventually I'll get in there. Looks beautiful. Nice history and background / stories.
Been on that sections backpacking many times ! Great video
Enjoyed the route in that direction. The video took me back to last Early October when I did the loop, except opposite of your direction. Yes I was a glutton for punishment by hiking up from Big Creek to Sterling on Baxter!
Thanks for sharing your hike, - JBH🇺🇸
I’ve done it that way too! Thanks for the comment.
I think I can speak for all 20.8k followers, your videos are superb, and 28.10 min. is to short, could watch this for hours. Thank you for taking us on your journeys.
Thanks, appreciate it!
Always good to see a new video from you. Just got home today from doing Fontana to Newfound Gap. That section is absolute torment on a section hiker.
8:41 the coyote forgot to set his clock forward for daylight savings.
Awesome hike and very informative! Thanks for sharing.
You don't know how timely this video is. Nicely done.
Hi Evan-
Amazing trip! Boy, you are right about the "other" trails in the park, that was a beauty! I love that mossy decent, wow!
Thanks Sam!
So so pretty! Thanks for sharing! 😃
Hey Evan! Good to see you hiking 😊 got the hiking fever myself recently. That looks like a beautiful place.
Evan, that was a nice loop hike. I hope you enjoyed your time out in the woods. That view from the fire tower sure told the reason the park is called the Smokies. Thanks for bringing us along. Cheers!
Awesome!
Thanks for letting us tag along on your adventure. Love the lore you include in the videos! Keep hiking!
Thanks , your videos are always great and full up information, thanks for telling us about the history , I live in the Appalachian Mountains and there are a ton of trails over here too
Evan, we have learned more from your videos than any other on you tube! Keep them coming please. We were at Grayson-Highlands this past week hiking and mentioned your name several times....Evan said...this or that....great to see you back on you tube.
Thanks very much!
I tried to stay at Standing Bear in 2018 but it was booked so went into town. I had left Fontana Dam after a snow storm and had 6-16" of snow to walk thru as I entered the Park. What a hike.
Love your videos Evan! Glad to see you filming again!
Hi Evan, good to see this video. Me and my family have camped a lot in the Great Smoky Mountains over the years, we have always camped in the front country campgrounds, mostly Smokemont and Cosby, I have never camped in the back country but I have hiked a lot of trails there. I hiked one time from Cosby up the low gap trail to the AT then north to see the Mount Cameror fire tower, usually you can see I-40, then continued on the lower Mount Cameror trail all the way back to Cosby, about half way I found a nice new steaming pile of bear scat with fur and berries. It was a great hike, thanks for posting.
Excited to see another video from my favorite hiking you tuber!
Thanks!
So glad I live out west! The Appalachians are pretty basic compared to the places out west with glaciers, wolves, grizzlies, and mountain goats. Camp where you want and be flexible. A forest like this exists right next to my town in Idaho in USFS property, a five minute walk from my front porch.
Tell me how does the Smokies handle bear and food? Do they have vaults or poles, or are you on your own to hang.
Bear poles in the Smokies.
I love watching all of your adventures, but the Smoky Mountain hikes are my favorites because I have hiked more in the Park than anywhere else and I love to see all of the places I treasure so much through your eyes and hearing your commentary. Thanks Evan for keeping the channel going strong!
Nice comment, thanks!
Loved this video! Thanks Evan! The Smokies are such a popular a destination but most people just drive thru the park via 441 and only get out of their car for a minute at Newfound Gap or Clingmans. So much more to see! Love seeing trails I’ve hiked and anxious to go back to. Big Creek is my favorite side of the park too. Thanks for sharing Evan! More like this please!
Thanks Jeff!
Thank you for a great video. I was at Alum Trail last week after watching your AT through hike last month. It was a nice break from Miami. Love your youtube hikes! Thanks again for the book information.
I’m going to the Smoky Mountains in November, can’t wait! Great video too!
Have fun!
Love your videos you should have more followers
I completely agree...He has an easygoing style and the video’s are quality.
Nice of you, thanks! I feel like I have plenty of subscribers. I was happy with 200!
EWolf's vids are a welcome departure from those "EVERYBODY MUST DO THESE 10 THINGS" and "NEVER DO ANY OF THESE 10 THINGS" ...
His video's give clear answers to Backpacking Zen Questions: No... it's not neccessary to study rocket science in order to enjoy a hike in the woods.
I always enjoy your videos, Evan. Downhill on Baxter Creek is a good call.
Agreed! I did one video where I walked UP Baxter Creek twice on consecutive days. More of a stunt than anything else. I survived. th-cam.com/video/WC1fuIGbOLY/w-d-xo.html
My favorite place in the world
I live by the GSMNP and working on my 900-miler status. This is the 1st video I've watched since I discovered your AT thru-hike vid. So well done with great info. Thank you!
Thanks for this Vlog! Loved Mt Camerrer and like you, the last day in the Smokies to get out to Standing Bear. Need to get back to the Smokies soon myself!
RHPS always a great lead in to your videos. And so great to see you posting again. Great that using your Joey, and tarping. Because of you, I now own a pair of Luna Mono's 🌗. I have followed lots of your advice. All good! Thanks.
• The Green Tunnel looks fan-dam-tastic. Gee
I love the "green tunnel." I'd rather be in the woods than out in the open--usually.
Careful parking at Big Creek Ranger Station. Just had my catalytic converters stolen from a 4 day trip parking there in November 2021
Good stuff Evan, as usual.
It's a good day when I can watch an Evan's backpacking video. Thanks for keeping up the sharing
That’s the truth.
Thanks very much!
I was just there a few weeks ago, did a 5 day loop. Still working on the video. I used those books on your recommendation and they were a great read but also great info for planning. Heading back in a moth or so! Keep the videos coming! Thanks for the inspiration!
You're welcome!
My man, it is so good to see you back in the woods. That section is on my list. It is an area I have wanted to explore. I have been on alot of the other sections but that one has eluded me. Thanks
I loved the big creek to mount sterling loop, so maybe a loop on mt cammerer will be my next visit. Thanks for a great video.
Evan, I wanted to say thank you again. I went to the Smokies after seeing this video, and did a loop on Mt. Cammerer, and stayed at campsite 35. It was a great trip. The views were awesome. The campsite was very quiet and peaceful. I only did one night, so I started and ended at Cosby. Thanks again. Keep the videos coming.
As always!! Great material, awesome narration, sweet views and really cool campsite pics! As i ponder going back to ground, i enjoy your explanation of the campsite. I’ve learned i CANNOT sleep in a hammock with bug screen engaged! No fabric on my face! The views from the last lookout reminded me of the summers i worked for the forest service in the gila doing trailwork. Thats what the scenery looked like from the lookouts out there. Hopefully the locals don’t get too upset about talking about there favorite backpacking spots. Anyway, thanks again Evan! Always a pleasure.
Just found your channel while watching a friends AT hike. I like your videos and style. You have a new subscriber. I used to recall that the Cosby area used to be a rough place (people wise), but I figure they didn’t like the number of outsiders out and about. Are you hiking in flip flops?
Thanks. I'm never had any problems in the Cosby area, but I've only been going in the last five years. I hike in sandals, info here: th-cam.com/video/WcrR7wwJPpI/w-d-xo.html
Sounds like a great video. I especially like you mentioned LOOP since I'm a solo hiker and one way hikes just don't work for me. I'm going to the big screen to finish this video... Great info Evan. I'll have to check on those books you mentioned. Loved that section down from Mt. Sterling.
well done evan !
Beautiful views and scenery! I’ve only been serious about backpacking for a couple years hiking mostly Wayne National Forest in Ohio. Every time I go more than 10 miles a day my legs are sore for days!! You’re a trooper Evan 😂. Thanks for the video!
You’re welcome!
Great to see a new video!
Thank you for the memories.
Perfect timing! I just started planning a two night trip in the smokies. This loop is exactly what I was looking for. However, I may do it the opposite direction.
This was an awesome video as usual Evan!!!
Thanks ER, appreciate it!