Backpacking the Great Smoky Mountains - 4 days 64 miles
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Really looking forward to your vid(s) on the SHT. I'm more than just a little jealous: -) At least I'm heading back to Red River Gorge in a couple of weeks. Take care!
Date: 2020-09-01
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Comments and reviews: 9
Eagle
Back in '01 I was hiking in the Big Schloss area by Wolf Gap, on the Virginia/West Virginia border. (GREAT hiking there, you should check it out) I was on my way off the mountain and only a couple miles from my car. My dog always stayed up ahead of me on the trail. Great trail dog. All of a sudden she stopped and her ears perked up, THEN the rattling started. I'm glad my dog warned me. Huge rattler, RIGHT IN THE TRAIL. We backed off, it stopped rattling. We start again, he started again. I threw rocks and sticks in his direction to try to scare him off. No deal. He owned that spot on the trail, he knew it, and he wasn't going anywhere. This went on for about ten minutes. The only way around it was through a bunch of brush and rocks, ya know, prime snake hiding spots. So I went around him slowly, keeping my eye on him, praying I don't stir up another snake. This thing was rattling HARD, non-stop, until I got out of earshot of him. He was PISSED. What was the best approach for you that day? I have no idea. Honestly, I think it's something that can only be assessed on the spot when it happens. Your next encounter won't be like that one was.
I have a quick video question for you though. I have been doing drone video for close to two years and I'm just now branching out into other types of video work. Watching your work and being a hiker myself, I immediately wonder what you do about keeping the batteries to all your gear charged while on extended hikes? I have always been interested in trying a solar panel mounted to my gear somehow. It would be cool if that actually woked well.
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Back in '01 I was hiking in the Big Schloss area by Wolf Gap, on the Virginia/West Virginia border. (GREAT hiking there, you should check it out) I was on my way off the mountain and only a couple miles from my car. My dog always stayed up ahead of me on the trail. Great trail dog. All of a sudden she stopped and her ears perked up, THEN the rattling started. I'm glad my dog warned me. Huge rattler, RIGHT IN THE TRAIL. We backed off, it stopped rattling. We start again, he started again. I threw rocks and sticks in his direction to try to scare him off. No deal. He owned that spot on the trail, he knew it, and he wasn't going anywhere. This went on for about ten minutes. The only way around it was through a bunch of brush and rocks, ya know, prime snake hiding spots. So I went around him slowly, keeping my eye on him, praying I don't stir up another snake. This thing was rattling HARD, non-stop, until I got out of earshot of him. He was PISSED. What was the best approach for you that day? I have no idea. Honestly, I think it's something that can only be assessed on the spot when it happens. Your next encounter won't be like that one was.
I have a quick video question for you though. I have been doing drone video for close to two years and I'm just now branching out into other types of video work. Watching your work and being a hiker myself, I immediately wonder what you do about keeping the batteries to all your gear charged while on extended hikes? I have always been interested in trying a solar panel mounted to my gear somehow. It would be cool if that actually woked well.
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potatothorn
ok you know i love watching you in the woods, but i dont usually comment on the gear aspect- however i REALLY APPRECIATE what you did there about the Spot. i dont use it myself but i know a lot of people do and man, you have a lot of viewers: can have a real impact on these companies/// calling Spot out for raising prices is VERY helpful to the community. sure sounds like hey are just screwing people. how much can they improve service that they use other people's satellites and rescue services to implement? they can only improve a perfect system so much. I hope your message gets to them and they stop raising the prices. Love the split waterfall at 22: 00 reminds me of Darwin Falls in Death Valley. regarding the AT, I feel the same about it. you will probably do it eventually. the big trails are too much for me but i love walking on them a little and seeing some thru hikers. WOW that's a Bear(S) Encounter! . Bees! i always say having a buddy with you is the best solution. give him to the bees and run hahaa. this video is so nice i had to stop half way and take a hike of my own for a bit. second half is just as good, neat falls. wild cemetery way out there. between rattlers and steepness and directions, that was one crazy climb! i see a lot of rattlers, i suggest throwing some loose gravel at it to make it leave next time. glad you made it past it, GREAT video!
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ok you know i love watching you in the woods, but i dont usually comment on the gear aspect- however i REALLY APPRECIATE what you did there about the Spot. i dont use it myself but i know a lot of people do and man, you have a lot of viewers: can have a real impact on these companies/// calling Spot out for raising prices is VERY helpful to the community. sure sounds like hey are just screwing people. how much can they improve service that they use other people's satellites and rescue services to implement? they can only improve a perfect system so much. I hope your message gets to them and they stop raising the prices. Love the split waterfall at 22: 00 reminds me of Darwin Falls in Death Valley. regarding the AT, I feel the same about it. you will probably do it eventually. the big trails are too much for me but i love walking on them a little and seeing some thru hikers. WOW that's a Bear(S) Encounter! . Bees! i always say having a buddy with you is the best solution. give him to the bees and run hahaa. this video is so nice i had to stop half way and take a hike of my own for a bit. second half is just as good, neat falls. wild cemetery way out there. between rattlers and steepness and directions, that was one crazy climb! i see a lot of rattlers, i suggest throwing some loose gravel at it to make it leave next time. glad you made it past it, GREAT video!
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FLsheepdog1
I did a sectional hike on the AT starting at Springer in GA. decided to skip the Smokies even though I love the area. The Park Service is out of control with permit fee's, site fee's, fines if your late to a site on wrong day, reservations, etc. Kills the freedom and fun of the hike. I'm surprised the Federal Park Swat Team didn't descend on you from helicopters for changing your campsite or molesting those poor Bee's! ( sarcasm )You should be free to modify your hike as you go based on weather conditions, how your feeling, make unscheduled stops when you want to spend some time in an area. I have a rigid time schedule at work, that's the last thing I want when I'm getting away. A bad state of affairs when they charge you to walk thru the country in a park allegedly owned by the tax payers. They say it's to maintain the trails, but the AT does not have fee's and is very well maintained ( and Blazed ) by volunteers. Maybe they will suspend fees for a while since Trump donated his paycheck to the Park Service. Love your vids! It's always cool to see how others do it, keep up the good work! Sent your link to friends just starting out. Buddy.
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I did a sectional hike on the AT starting at Springer in GA. decided to skip the Smokies even though I love the area. The Park Service is out of control with permit fee's, site fee's, fines if your late to a site on wrong day, reservations, etc. Kills the freedom and fun of the hike. I'm surprised the Federal Park Swat Team didn't descend on you from helicopters for changing your campsite or molesting those poor Bee's! ( sarcasm )You should be free to modify your hike as you go based on weather conditions, how your feeling, make unscheduled stops when you want to spend some time in an area. I have a rigid time schedule at work, that's the last thing I want when I'm getting away. A bad state of affairs when they charge you to walk thru the country in a park allegedly owned by the tax payers. They say it's to maintain the trails, but the AT does not have fee's and is very well maintained ( and Blazed ) by volunteers. Maybe they will suspend fees for a while since Trump donated his paycheck to the Park Service. Love your vids! It's always cool to see how others do it, keep up the good work! Sent your link to friends just starting out. Buddy.
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Alexander
This was definitely an awesome adventure. great job! That rattlesnake encounter was a close one and glad you got past it without harm. Rattlesnakes can lunge at least half the length of their body so never trust that your trekking pole is long enough. It's best to slowly back away then consider your options as you initially did. Climbing up the hill to get around it might have been an option but you could slip, fall and roll right into it. The drop off on your left was not a good escape path either. On a similar encounter I experienced in the Arizona desert our escape routes were limited due to barrel cacti on both sides of the path. I grabbed a handful of sand and tossed it in the snake's direction. twice, as the first toss just pissed it off. The second handful of sand prompted it to slither away. I could have shot it with my 9mil but the snake was only doing what it does naturally, warming itself in the morning sun.
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This was definitely an awesome adventure. great job! That rattlesnake encounter was a close one and glad you got past it without harm. Rattlesnakes can lunge at least half the length of their body so never trust that your trekking pole is long enough. It's best to slowly back away then consider your options as you initially did. Climbing up the hill to get around it might have been an option but you could slip, fall and roll right into it. The drop off on your left was not a good escape path either. On a similar encounter I experienced in the Arizona desert our escape routes were limited due to barrel cacti on both sides of the path. I grabbed a handful of sand and tossed it in the snake's direction. twice, as the first toss just pissed it off. The second handful of sand prompted it to slither away. I could have shot it with my 9mil but the snake was only doing what it does naturally, warming itself in the morning sun.
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BlueLineTrout
Thanks so much for the video. One of the better backpacking videos I have watched in some time. As for the snake. I know it's been mentioned in various ways. But I would suggested in this order. 1) Stomping the ground. Vibration is your best friend. Snakes want to get away from large animals that can hurt them. 2) tossing rocks, sticks, etc. close to the snake about it on the hill. The goal is to get it to move down hill. Animals always flee better down hill. 3) If it is stubborn (usually cold) a stick would be the last option if you aren't used to handling a snake. Again try to nudge it downhill. As for safety. A snake can strike half it's body length. A 5 foot rattler can strike 2 1/2 feet. Loved the video. Great job with the bear encounter as well. Text book.
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Thanks so much for the video. One of the better backpacking videos I have watched in some time. As for the snake. I know it's been mentioned in various ways. But I would suggested in this order. 1) Stomping the ground. Vibration is your best friend. Snakes want to get away from large animals that can hurt them. 2) tossing rocks, sticks, etc. close to the snake about it on the hill. The goal is to get it to move down hill. Animals always flee better down hill. 3) If it is stubborn (usually cold) a stick would be the last option if you aren't used to handling a snake. Again try to nudge it downhill. As for safety. A snake can strike half it's body length. A 5 foot rattler can strike 2 1/2 feet. Loved the video. Great job with the bear encounter as well. Text book.
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Robert
I ve messed with snakes a lot. Best thing to do it try to move it down that hill with a VERY long stick. That far from help, hiking alone I d probably try to toss it a distance too. Not hard enough to hurt it but you can t be too careful in that situation. When a rattler is buzzing it s telling you that it s threatened and is prepared to defend itself. Snakes only strike at about 1/2 their length but sometimes the best defense is offense and they come to you like that one tried to. I would ve tried to find a stick at least 8-10 feet and moved it. Moving it with a trekking pole would have you too close, with all the rocks, roots, and steep terrain; one slip and it s on you.
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I ve messed with snakes a lot. Best thing to do it try to move it down that hill with a VERY long stick. That far from help, hiking alone I d probably try to toss it a distance too. Not hard enough to hurt it but you can t be too careful in that situation. When a rattler is buzzing it s telling you that it s threatened and is prepared to defend itself. Snakes only strike at about 1/2 their length but sometimes the best defense is offense and they come to you like that one tried to. I would ve tried to find a stick at least 8-10 feet and moved it. Moving it with a trekking pole would have you too close, with all the rocks, roots, and steep terrain; one slip and it s on you.
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Karyl
You are in my backyard, welcome. You might be interested in the book 'Bear in the Back Seat II' (2 is better than volume 1) by Kim DeLozier. He was a ranger in the Smokies for 30 years. It's not literature, just fun tales with a lot of info on the wildlife. I am always surprised at how little backpackers know about the actual forest. I do not mean that as a criticism, I promise. We all are learning and you are constantly teaching me about gear and techniques which I know little about. My experience is in ecology, so its simply a different perspective. It's been an absolute pleasure watching your videos. The joy you take in being outside comes through as so genuine.
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You are in my backyard, welcome. You might be interested in the book 'Bear in the Back Seat II' (2 is better than volume 1) by Kim DeLozier. He was a ranger in the Smokies for 30 years. It's not literature, just fun tales with a lot of info on the wildlife. I am always surprised at how little backpackers know about the actual forest. I do not mean that as a criticism, I promise. We all are learning and you are constantly teaching me about gear and techniques which I know little about. My experience is in ecology, so its simply a different perspective. It's been an absolute pleasure watching your videos. The joy you take in being outside comes through as so genuine.
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Edward
Regarding the 2nd snake: Those suckers are fast, really fast. Not just to strike but across the ground as well. If you went up higher than the snake you run the risk of slipping down right into a bite. In almost all encounters the snake would have tracked your movements no matter where you went. If you scare it with a Rock or stick you may loose sight of it and that's not good. If you're not experienced with moving a snake it could go bad. That being said creating a barrier with your pack is a good idea. If you can move the snake away with your pole and create a barrier while passing you should be golden.
Great video!
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Regarding the 2nd snake: Those suckers are fast, really fast. Not just to strike but across the ground as well. If you went up higher than the snake you run the risk of slipping down right into a bite. In almost all encounters the snake would have tracked your movements no matter where you went. If you scare it with a Rock or stick you may loose sight of it and that's not good. If you're not experienced with moving a snake it could go bad. That being said creating a barrier with your pack is a good idea. If you can move the snake away with your pole and create a barrier while passing you should be golden.
Great video!
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12
too many bears and people to be enjoyable honestly, i hiked it a couple years ago and a bear bit a kid in the face the day after i camped in the same exact spot - the shelters were always crowded, it was like disney world in the woods -too many weekend warriors leaving trash and food everywhere - its good to try at least once but i have no desire to go back - a way better hike is the first 50 miles of the appalachian trail in georgia, the old growth forest is much more beautiful than the smokies, just go when it isnt peak AT hike season and its awesome
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too many bears and people to be enjoyable honestly, i hiked it a couple years ago and a bear bit a kid in the face the day after i camped in the same exact spot - the shelters were always crowded, it was like disney world in the woods -too many weekend warriors leaving trash and food everywhere - its good to try at least once but i have no desire to go back - a way better hike is the first 50 miles of the appalachian trail in georgia, the old growth forest is much more beautiful than the smokies, just go when it isnt peak AT hike season and its awesome
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