Camping, backpacking, hiking, et al

[Hungary Jack]

At hawn st pk-dog just shredded my tent trying to go at something in the woods. [expletive]. And brrr.

Galut did this?

[Freed Roger]

At hawn st pk-dog just shredded my tent trying to go at something in the woods. [expletive]. And brrr.

Galut did this?

He sure did. He wanted in the tent-then out. In the car camping section so I have him leashed. He took the fast exit and the leash ripped the tent.

I guess he needs to stick with backcountry. Then he is more wore out from running loose and has the hunt obsession out of his system.

Anyway- they've beefed up cell reception down here. And I don't think I could conscionably return the tent.

[Hungary Jack]

You break it, you own it!

[Freed Roger]

At hawn st pk-dog just shredded my tent trying to go at something in the woods. [expletive]. And brrr.

Galut did this?

He sure did. He wanted in the tent-then out. In the car camping section so I have him leashed. He took the fast exit and the leash ripped the tent.

I guess he needs to stick with backcountry. Then he is more wore out from running loose and has the hunt obsession out of his system.

Anyway- they've beefed up cell reception down here. And I don't think I could conscionably return the tent.

[go birds]

This is prolly a really dumb question, but I'm gonna ask anyway.

So lately my girlfriend and I have tried to get into hiking, for a couple of reasons--it's good exercise and we love the outdoors.

We like to go hiking on the trails around here, but unfortunately Nashville isn't a hotbed of really good wilderness hiking. The parks around here are super nice, so nice in fact that they take it upon themselves to blaze a nice, well manicured trail for you, complete with asphalt and/or freshly cut woodchips. They make these trails nice and big so big groups of people can walk them without interfering with each other. They also to make sure to put signs up and warn you that if you step off the trail, you'll be mauled to death by rapid wolverines, either that or given a fine. I understand, because alot of places are trying to be preserved and that's ok, but i want more adventure.

So my question is--being a complete noob when it comes to hiking--are all marked trails like this? It leaves a lot to be desired on the wilderness front, so I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a place to hike where the trails aren't as nice and they even require for some work involved.

Like, is there some sort of system like there is for skiing, in that there are green, red, blue, and black slopes?

We were kicking around the idea of heading to the Smokies (a nice luxury to have) for the weekend and I'm just wondering if we'd be able to find some trails that take work, perhaps some climbing and getting a little dirty. I'm not an experienced hiker by any means, but i also want some adventure as the cleanly blazed paths around here just bore the [expletive] out of me.

you guys get what I'm asking?

[lukethedrifter]

Beaman Park in Joelton- in Davidson County- has really nice hiking.

[Freed Roger]

Go birds. I don't know about Nashville hiking-though I did walk off a hangover in Centennial Pk. but you have some great options in the smokies area which extends beyond the national park.

Check out the net for trail descriptions and maps. I like to go thru trail stuff like people read recipes, then try a few of them out.
They do give you a feel for trail diffuculty and crowds, as well as points of interest such as views or water attractions.

As you get along with the hiking-you will get familiar with jurisdictions that contain most the trails. Natl and State parks have trails that run the gamut from paved stroller accessible to backcountry. They have more signage and users, but also have some of the iconic trails. It is possible to get lost in Natl Park trails, but sometimes you'd have to work at it.

Natl Forests are pretty good. Within them are Federally designated Wilderness areas which can be pretty minimal as far as signage. Fun stuff. They try to leave them as natural as can be -so downed trees cover trails until the folks with handsaws can come thru. (from what I read, it requires something like an act of congress to give permission for chainsaws in Fed Wilderness).

Anyway here's some links.
http://www.localhikes.com/
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fus ... ew&WID=280
I've had a hankering to try out the above described area-Joyce Kilmer Slickrock wilderness. Looks brutal and awesome.

A note on the smokies regions. Smokies is great hiking -the place is like a jungle with the life and vegetation. The rhodedendron is thick. You have to work for your views in the smokies. Time of year matters there too.

Here's some gratuitous trip pics from our latest adventures down there:

[SHOW]

on top of Chimney Tops, - a fairly social trail, wide and worn to the roots. Then you reach the shale chimney rocks to climb up at the top. Not hard, but when you sudden upon the exposure ...my daughter took off like a mtn goat up the rocks before I could get used to it

this is what the trail looks like. old codgers like to hike, I've noticed - they put us younger codgers to shame

along the trail in the greenbriar part of GSMNP

[SHOW]

Burgess Falls -south of Cookeville TN. fairly tame and short trail, but pretty impressive series of waterfalls

[SHOW]

Pickens Nose in Nantahala NF -Standing Indian Area - a fairly easy short hike thru denser than [expletive] rhodedendron jungle. then this view. Plenty of other waterfall hikes along the road there.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Awesome pics, freed! That last one makes me nervous as [expletive] though!!

[thrill]

Awesome pictures, man. Beautiful hike.

[Fat Strat]

The kids are off school on Tuesday. My 4-year old declares that she wants to go "camping in a tent". Sounds good to me. Where should we go?

We live in Cape Girardeau, so anywhere in the Ozarks are within an easy drive. This year we've visited Johnson Shut-ins, Elephant Rock, and Sam A. Baker state park on day trips. Would gladly go back and camp at either of them, but am open to other suggestions as well.

Keep in mind that it would be a family trip. My wife and I, a 7 year old and a 4 year old so back country stuff, as much as my son and I would enjoy it, is probably out.