Category Archives: Trip Report

June 2017 AT Section Hike: Meet Virginia!

Posted on July 1, 2017 by Stick

In September 2009 I took my first steps on the Appalachian Trail. It was only a few months before this time that I realized that “backpacking” was even a thing, and that there was such a thing as the Appalachian … Continue reading →

Posted in Appalachian Trail, AT, Gear, Trip Report | Tagged Abingdon Gap Shelter, Appalachian Trail, AT, Backpacking, BeFree Water Filter, Damascus VA, Dennis Cove Rd, Dirty Girl Gaiters, Double Springs Shelter, Enlightened Equipment, GooseFeet Gear, Grindstaff Monument, Hiking, Kincora Hostel, Laurel Falls, McQueen Knob, McQueen Knob Shelter, Pond Flats, Sawyer Mini, Shady Valley, Stateline, TN/VA, Watauga Dam, Watauga Lake, Watauga Lake Shelter, ZPacks | 5 Comments

March 2017 GSMNP Day Hike: Trillium Gap Trail to Mt LeConte to Rainbow Falls Trail to Old Sugarland Trail

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Stick

My son and I, along with a few others, were invited on a day hike with my buddy Benny Braden (aka: Plug-It In) last weekend (March 18th, 2017). Now as some may have seen in many of my previous trip … Continue reading →

Posted in Great Smoky Mountain national Park, Trip Report | Tagged 900 Miler, Backpacking, day hike, Great Smoky Mountain national Park, Grotto Falls, GSMNP, GSMNP 900 Miler, Hiking, Mt LeConte, Mt LeConte Lodge, National Park, Old Sugarland's Trail, Rainbow Falls, Rainbow Falls Trail, Smokies, Smoky Mountains, Sugarland's Visitor Center, Trillium Gap Trail | 6 Comments

January 2017 GSMNP Loop Hike

Posted on January 22, 2017 by Stick

Thursday, after I got off of work and my son got out of school, we loaded our gear into my car and headed to my buddy Benny’s (Plug it In) house. We stayed the night with him at his home, … Continue reading →

Posted in Trip Report | Tagged Abrams Fall's Campground, Backpacking, Campsite # 95, Campsite #13, Campsite #93, Great Smoky Mountain national Park, Gregory Bald, Gregory Bald Trail, GSMNP, Hiking, Long Hungry Ridge Trail, Loop hike, Smokies, Tail of the Dragon, Twenty Mile Loop Trail, Twenty Mile Ranger Station, Twenty Mile Trail, Wolf Ridge Trail | 5 Comments

2016 GSMNP Thanksgiving Hike

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Stick

While many folks decided to go “Black Friday” shopping this Thanksgiving weekend, a few of us decided to #optoutside instead! In the weeks before the hike, I proceeded to go through all the motions of someone getting ready for a much-needed … Continue reading →

Posted in Appalachian Trail, Gear, Great Smoky Mountain national Park, Trip Report | Tagged Alum Cave Bluffs, Alum cave Trail, Appalachian Trail, Backpacking, Boulevard Trail, Charlies Bunion, Great Smoky Mountain national Park, Hiking, Icewater Springs Shelter, Mt LeConte Shelter, Smoky Mountains, The Jump Off | 12 Comments

October 2016 Mt Roger’s & Grayson Highlands Hike

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Stick

Last Friday morning I woke up early… like 4 am early (yeah, I know that’s not super early…) I had already packed away some things in my car, but not all. I showered, dressed, then grabbed the ice from … Continue reading →