Hiking in the Smoky Mountains

My personal favorite day-hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the Chimney Tops Trail. A relatively challenging climb to a lower level summit provides you with a view unlike any other in the park. Larger mountains loom on all sides making the Chimney Tops summit seem all the more spectacular. The bird's eye, 360 degree view you get of the surrounding peaks is almost dizzying. A relatively popular trail, parking at the trail head is a piece of cake. At the top, the trail dead-ends into a rocky bluff which you must climb to get to the summit. Although somewhat dangerous and fairly difficult, the climb up the rocks is well worth the reward. The summit is divided into two separate, sharp peaks, giving it the name 'Chimney Tops'. Cherokee legend tells of the giant reptile Uktena living in between the two knobs of the Chimney Tops.

Time and time again you read stories about the unprepared hiker who ends up making quite an ordeal out of what should be a simple day-hike through the Smoky Mountains. Don't be that guy or gal. A few simple items go a long way in not only making sure you are safe, but at the same time, comfortable. Check out the short list below of must-have items for hiking in the Smoky Mountains.

1. Clothing. The weather in the Smokys can be unpredictable, and let's face it, it likes to rain. I've seen it go from warm and sunny to cool and rainy, and then back again several times in one day. What does this mean for you? Layers. Start with a tee shirt. Bring a long sleeve tee in case it gets cool. A packable rain jacket is almost a must. No jacket? Grab a $3 rain poncho. Really cold out? Keep in mind that wool still does an excellent job of maintaining body heat even when wet. Hiking pants are preferred over jeans. Jeans love to hold water and also love to irritate your skin when wet. Wool socks or hiking socks, leave the tube socks at home. Best $10 you'll ever spend on hiking. Bottom line, if your feet are uncomfortable, you won't want to hike. Lastly, if you can swing it, hiking boots. If not, something sturdy and comfortable that has any kind of ankle support.

2. Water. Either take your own water, or purify the water as you find it. Taking your own water means having to carry it while you hike, but also means you know its there. Purifying your water means you need to find a source and use either a filter or chemical before you can drink it. DO NOT drink water in the wilderness without purifying it. Water-born parasites and bacteria can be present even when the water is moving and looks crystal clear.

3. A whistle. If something does go wrong, a simple whistle is great for alerting others to your location. It takes just a second to toss one of these over your neck before you head out.

4. Snacks. No, you don't want to walk around in bear country with an open jar of peanut butter, but maintaining calories is important while hiking. Either fuel up before venturing out, or take something simple with you. Trail mixes, beef jerky and energy bars are all fair game when hiking in the Smoky Mountains.

5. First Aid. Hopefully, nothing goes wrong on your Smoky Mountain hiking adventure other than maybe a blurry picture. But if it does, don't get caught unprepared. Pack a small first aid kit. Band aids, a disinfectant (iodine, neosporin, alcohol wipes, etc.), an ace bandage in case of an ankle sprain, and a large gauze pad with tape in case of a more severe wound. A pack of mole skin is great for covering any blisters.

6. Miscellaneous. Headlamp or flashlight in case you are hiking close to dusk. Camping towel to dry yourself off. Emergency blanket (these fold down to almost nothing). Cell phone (although reception is limited, better safe than sorry. Keep it off while you hike to save the battery). Hiking pole to help you maintain balance on the uneven trails. Small backpack to carry it all.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers two scenic motor trails that you can slowly make your way through when you want to take a break from hiking.

Cades Cove is a huge, relatively flat open area nestled within the mountains. The area seems to attract wildlife and offers many spots to pull off the road and take pictures. Bears and deer are prevalent throughout the area making it a must-do activity.

Roaring Fork is another motor trail located close to the city of Gatlinburg, TN. Not as wide open as Cades Cove, Roaring Fork still provides great views, historic buildings and plenty of wildlife.

Hiking in black bear country is not something to be taken lightly. Although the chances of a serious bear encounter are very remote, it is nonetheless a priority to practice due diligence to make sure you don't end up a statistic. Here are a few simple black bear guidelines to abide by.

1. Make noise. A black bear is much less likely to approach a group of hikers. The simple act of having a conversation or occasionally clapping your hands together while hiking will alert black bears to your presence long before you will ever see them. If encountered, stay together, and do NOT run. The mindset of safety in numbers is a good one to follow when hiking in bear habitat.

2. Carry a bear deterrent. Whether it be as simple as a whistle, or as convincing as bear spray, some form of defense is better than nothing. If you find your self in a bear encounter without a deterrent, do NOT run. Make your self look as large as possible. Speak in a loud, deep voice. Throw rocks or twigs if you have to. Worst case scenario, fight back.

3. Be mindful of food. Bears have a sense of smell many times greater than a bloodhound. Stick with trail mixes, dehydrated foods, and energy bars. Do not leave food in your car at the trail head. The simple choice of eating before you hike or packing something sensible can make all the difference in avoiding an unnecessary bear encounter.

4. Let someone know where you are hiking. Whether it is the rangers at a welcome center, or someone in your family, let someone know where you or your group is headed. If a bad bear encounter were to happen, it is vitally important that someone find you quickly if you are injured and unable to make the hike back out.

Much of the area in and around the Smoky Mountains is designated National Park and National Forest land. Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself boasts over 800 miles of maintained trails. Surrounding the park to the east and south are Cherokee National Forest, Pisgah National Forest, Cherokee Indian Reservation, Nantahala National Forest and Cherokee National Forest. Combined, this national park and forest area provides more miles of trails than one could ever hope to do in a lifetime. So how do you choose between the national park or a national forest for that perfect Smoky Mountain hiking experience?

I've always liked to use the analogy that national parks are like staying in a cabin, whereas national forests are like staying in a tent. Both will provide you with a fantastic wilderness experience, but one is a bit more hospitable than the other. National Parks tend to have more amenities, welcome centers, campgrounds, picnic areas, roads and clearly marked trails. Generally more regulated than national forests, hunting is usually not permitted in a national park. On the other hand, national forests are perfect for the more experienced hiker or backpacker. Leaving marked trails, backcountry camping and hunting may all be fair game in a national forest. One resource both national parks and forests have are the rangers, who can certainly answer any questions on rules and permits. It is always a good idea to speak with the rangers or park office if you are not sure about something, as regulations may be different for each park or forest.

If you are looking for a nice day-hike without straying too far from your vehicle, then Great Smoky Mountains National Park is definitely the way to go. However, if you are a more experienced hiker or backpacker looking for more solitude, then the surrounding national forests present many great opportunities.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has several visitor centers that are undoubtedly an invaluable resource for hiking. Stopping in at one of these ranger stations is a must-do before venturing out on a day-hike. Aside from the restrooms and simple amenities, the rangers there can tell you everything you need to know about your planned hike and are more than happy to do it. Where to park? Trail condition? Level of difficulty? Recent bear activity? All these questions are answered with one simple stop at the ranger station. More importantly, its always a good idea to let the rangers know if you have something more challenging in mind. If something were to happen, search and rescue knows exactly where to find you.

Getting lost while hiking can be a serious event. The worst possible thing you can do in this circumstance is panic. Panic often leads to irrational decision-making, which is the last thing you need in the Smoky Mountain wilderness. Here are a few tips in case you find yourself lost while hiking.

1. Don't move. A common initial response to being lost is to make the hasty decision to start traveling in a certain direction. Wait! The best thing you can do is stop moving and try to get your bearings. Mentally retrace your steps and try to remember when and where you got lost. The worst thing you can do is unknowingly start moving in a random direction. If you've let someone know where you were going (and you should have!) , the best chance to be found is as near to your planned route as possible.

2. Stay together. If your hiking buddy or group is lost with you, do not separate. By staying together, you will make it easier on search and rescue, be able to provide one another with support, and can huddle together for body heat if it gets cold.

3. Prepare a place to wait. Find somewhere nearby that provides some form of shelter. Think warm and dry. Place branches, leaves and brush in a pile if need be to keep yourself off of the cold ground. Maintaining body heat in the cold is the most important thing you can do. Stay dry. Wet clothes literally suck the heat from you. Place any food you have downwind, at least 100 yards away from your shelter.

4. Leave a sign for search and rescue. Find the best possible place you can nearby to create a distress signal. Hang a piece of bright material, build a small fire, make a triangle or 'X' in a clearing with rocks and sticks. Anything you can think of to make yourself more visible is what you should do. Color contrast and movement are two key components when creating a distress signal.