Hiking Bill | Adventures in the Southern Appalachians and Beyond

Time 2020-12-25 20:04:22

Web Name: Hiking Bill | Adventures in the Southern Appalachians and Beyond

WebSite: http://hikingbill.com

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Hiking Bill Adventures in the Southern Appalachians and Beyond Here are the basics on what is in my backpack.  This is list is variable and greatly depends on such things as weather, how many days I m staying out, and the difficulty or remoteness of the trail.PRIMARY GEARBackpack  I have acquired too many, but I currently use two more than the others.  My summer pack is a 60-liter Osprey Volt.  My winter pack is a 70-liter Gregory Baltoro.Backpack Rain CoverTent or Hammock On solo outings I normally camp with Hennessy Explorer Hammock, unless the conditions are too cold.  In that case I have a one-person Big Agnes tent.Sleeping Bag  I have a zero degree, a 15 degree, and a 35 degree. All are synthetic.   If you re just starting out and can only afford one bag, I would recommend a 15-20 degree.Sleeping Pad I use a Thermorest in the hammock, and an Exped in the tent.  The Exped is thicker and allows me to better sleep on my side when on the ground.Stove, Fuel, Lighter I m currently using an MSR Pocket Rocket and propane cannister.Pot Spork  I use a generic titanium pot with a lid, and a plastic spork. The stove fits down into the pot to save space.Meals Snacks This could obviously be a whole post within itself.  But, I typically cook dishes that are simply made by adding to boiling water.  Pastas, rice, etc.  Waterproof Stuff-sack/Bear Bag (to hang up your food at night, keeping it away from critters)50 of Nylon Cord to Hang the Bear BagSmall clean-up towel biodegradable soapWATERWater Bottles I use Nalgene, and normally take two of them.Water Filter I typically use a Sawyer Mini squeeze filter, or a Lifestraw.  I recently tried an MSR Trailshot, and would potentially carry that if conditions were overly dry and I possibly needed to pump out of shallow areas.Hydration Bladder I don t always use one, but sometimes.CLOTHING (depends greatly on the time of year and the weather forecast no cotton items)RainsuitGloves and BeanieExtras Socks and UnderwearFleece or JacketT-shirt to wear at campClothing stuff-sack This also doubles as a pillow for me.TOILETRIESSunscreen, Chapstick, Bug SprayToilet Paper I take it off the roll, and re-roll it to save space.Hand Sanitizer It can also double as a fire starter.Toothbrush and Toothpaste (travel size).  Put your toothbrush and paste in the bear bag at night.NAVIGATIONMap Compass  I don t always carry these if going on a very established and well-marked trail like the A.T.GPS Watch Garmin Fenix 5Smartphone Loaded with map/trail apps I leave it in airplane mode.Photo-copied pages from a guidebook When applicable.  In other words, I don t take the whole guidebook, only the pages of my hike to save weight.EMERGENCY REPAIRSSmall First Aid Kit Assorted bandages, ibuprofen, burn cream, antihistamine, anti-diarrheal, safety pins, and moleskins for blisters.Fire StarterExtra batteries for headlampExternal charger for phone watch I only carry this on longer excursions.Repair kits I carry a small tent pole repair sleeve, duct tape (re-rolled), and a sleeping pad patch kit.OTHER ESSENTIALSHeadlampTrekking Poles LekiPocket knife (small)Small multi-tool Mine has nail clippers, tweezers, and scissors.Keys, money, credit cardCamera I have been known to carry my Nikon SLR and a couple of lenses, but that s rare.  I usually just shot with my phone, or a small point and shoot camera.A small book to read at camp (sometimes).THINGS THAT I HAVE PURCHASED THAT I RARELY OR NEVER USESolar panelsCamp shoesBackpacking pillowRadio with Crank Electronics ChargerTrowel to bury waste A stick works just as good.Candle Lantern Martins Creek FallsMartins Creek Falls is a beautiful, small waterfall just outside of town limits in Erwin, Tennessee.  It can be reached by a short hike, with the majority of walking being on a slightly ascending old forest road.  This road used to stay open to high-clearance vehicles, but the gate has remained closed for a number of years now, which requires you to make the full 2-mile round-trip trek.The waterfall itself is about 20 high and quite serene.  And the forest road leading to it is not highly trafficked. So if you re looking for a peaceful after-work walk, or an easy family hike, you should check it out.Visit Martins Creek After a Decent Rain20 Cascading Martins Creek FallsRhododendronPlease read the Trail Planner below for directions, as there is one left-hand turn leaving the forest road that can potentially be difficult to find.  Another thing to note is the access trail to get to from the top of the waterfall down to its base has eroded away recently and is a little slippery.  It s still doable, but just be careful on the climb down.MARTINS CREEK FALLSOverallRecommendation:Hikers of all skill levels. Great family hike!  Spring months for wildflowers.  Wait on a good rain before going.OutstandingFeatures:Serene 20 waterfall.Difficulty:EasyDriving:GPS Address:  Martin s Creek Falls Parking Area, 1390 Martin Creek Rd, Erwin, TN 37650From Interstate 26 take the Erwin/Jonesborough exit (#37) and turn east towards town.  Drive 0.4 miles until you reach a stop light. Turn right onto Main Street and drive 0.3 miles to Love Street, turn left. You ll travel through four red lights on Love Street. Continue straight through the fourth stop light and the road becomes Okolona Dr. You ll pass by a school on your right. At the intersection, turn left on Martin s Creek Road and continue 0.6 miles to the end of the road.  There is a gravel parking area there with a yellow forest gate.  The parking area will accommodate 4 or 5 cars.Trails:Once parked, proceed through the gate onto a graveled forest road.  The road will begin to slightly ascend.  There will be a few trails leading off to the left at various locations, and those can get to the waterfall, but the easiest way is proceed along the road.  In approximately 0.9 miles you will come to a trail junction where you need to take a LEFT (at the time I went there was a blue circle painted on a tree at this junction).  From here, the trail will descend toward the stream on an obvious path.  In approximately 0.1 mile you will be at the top of the waterfall.  It is a little precarious making the short climb down to the base of the falls,but there are some good hand-holds.  Just watch your footing.If you are still feeling good when you get back to the road (after visiting the waterfall), you may want to take a left and continue ascending the forest road.  It will eventually dead end after an additional 1.4 miles.  In the winter months there are some nice mountain views at the these higher elevations.  If you do this, the entire hike would be approximately 5.0 miles.NeededGear Tips:Normal day-hiking gear.Distance:Approximately 2.1 miles round-trip.TimeAllotment:1 2 hours.Type:Out Back.VistaRating (1-5):1.5 – Limited mountain viewsWaterfallRating (based on a 1-50 scale):Martins Creek Falls: H(2) + F(4) + V(2) + W(2) + G(4+4+5) = 23WaterCrossings:0 (none)Scrambling/Climbing:Short hand-hold climb to the base of the waterfallHazards:Some slippery slopes. As with all waterfalls don t try to climb them.Strava Link (.gpx download can also be found on this page):  https://www.strava.com/activities/3695731924You are not alone. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people to change their avenues of recreation. With current closures of various events and gatherings, trails are suddenly seeing record numbers of hikers.Just go to any local trailhead and you’ll witness parking lots overflowing with cars. With this being the case, there are many novice hikers now exploring the outdoors.If you are one of those new to hiking, here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them in order to make your trek safe and enjoyable.The Dick Creek watershed sits on the northwest face of Unaka Mountain near Erwin, Tennessee. There are two ways to access this remote region. One is from the Limestone Cove area, and the other is from Rock Creek Park. I chose to hike in from the Rock Creek side. There are four waterfalls along the Dick Creek stream, and the further you go upstream, the more difficult the terrain becomes. Lower Dick Creek Falls can be accessed completely by trail, but the three falls above it require some navigation and off-trail hiking. If you re looking for a remote adventure to infrequently seen waterfalls, then this hike is for you! My GPS showed a round-trip of 10 miles, but some of that was due to extra exploration (i.e. taking a couple of wrong turns), and possibly bad satellite reception. I think this hike can be done in 8 miles or so (depending on where you park in Rock Creek Park), but allow plenty of extra time for the off-trail aspect. There will be places where you ll be finding your way through thick underbrush, climbing over or under downed trees, and ascending/descending steep banks. Sill Branch Falls is located in the scenic Clark s Creek area of Unicoi County, Tennessee just off of State Route 81/107 West. With a round-trip of just over a mile, this is a wonderful trek for families and beginners to one of the most stunning waterfalls in our region.This hike is a little uphill but not drastically, and there is one (normally shallow) stream crossing, so bring dry socks if you feel the need. The walk mostly follows in close proximity to the Sill Branch stream so there are plenty of spots to take in the beautiful cascades along the way.The best time to go is after a decent rain, as this stream can have low flow in dry summer months. And, the area also has an abundance of wildflowers in the spring months.When the trail splits (which it does only once), take the trail to the left! Read more Overlooking the Holston Valley from Flint RockHolston Mountain is one of our most recognized mountain ridgelines in the east TN/southwest VA area as it spans approximately 28 miles from Elizabethton, Tennessee to Damascus, Virginia. It s the prominent mountain visible while looking south on most of the I-81 corridor from the Tri-Cities to Abingdon. The highpoint of the mountain is Holston High Point (elevation 4280 ) located on the south-western side of the ridge with a FAA beacon at the summit. The second highest location is Rye Patch Knob (with an antenna farm of many of our local TV and radio towers), and the third highest point is Holston High Knob (elevation 4136 ), with an old lookout tower at it s summit transplanted there from Mississippi in 1943 after the old wooden tower burned down. It was supposedly staffed until 1991. Read more Upper Laurel Fork FallsThe Laurel Fork Trail is located just upstream from the very popular trek on the Appalachian Trail to Laurel Falls.  Designated as Cherokee National Forest Trail #39 this hike, however, is much more secluded, adventurous, and extremely remote. It requires numerous and often difficult stream fords, deep and muddy areas dammed up by beavers, some navigational skills (with limited blazing), and deteriorating trail conditions the further you go upstream with numerous blowdowns and excessive vegetation.  But if you re willing to get wet and tough it out, you ll be rewarded with some of the most beautiful backcounty in east Tennessee, including four magnificent waterfalls. Read more This is a loop hike in the Grayson Highlands that I tend to do about once per year, so I ve posted it a couple times before, but not with all the snowy conditions that I experienced this time.My daughter Taylor and her boyfriend Cameron joined me over their spring break around the end of March.  And the weather surprised us with with up to two feet of snow in many areas, with very icy conditions.  It made for some tough hiking to say the least. Read more Bill at Nick Grindstaff MonumentI finished up a small section of Appalachian Trail that I had not completed before, covering the Iron Mountain ridgeline from TN91  to Wilburn Dam Road.  This was a southbound 16 mile hike, spending one night.About 3 miles into the hike my first stop was the Nick Grindstaff Monument.  This is very eerie place with a unique story Nick Grindstaff was born in 1851.  At the age of three he was orphaned.  Rumor has it that he later moved out west where he was robbed and severely beaten, along with suffering other financial difficulties.  He soon returned to Tennessee where he lived out the final 45 years of his life in total solitude (except for his dog Panter ) in a very small cabin on Iron Mountain.  Supposedly, in 1923 a man went to visit Nick and found him dead in his cabin.  Some stories say that Panter watched over Nick s dead body for days and had to be overpowered and tied to a tree so that his body could be buried.  Other stories say that Panter had to be killed and was buried alongside Nick in the chimney-shaped grave, which was once his cabin s brick fireplace.  To this day many hikers that camp near this area report the spine-chilling howls of a dog late at night.  A few years ago I also had a scary encounter with dog near this very spot. Read more

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