Week o' Vacation 2009

Last year, Aaron and I took an incredible 10-day-long vacation to Oregon.

This year, we decided that we wanted to go backpacking in the wilderness for 7 days. We were thinking Yellowstone, Grand Teton, or the Grand Canyon...but it didn't take us long to abandon the idea of visiting those places when we discovered that airfare would cost us at least an arm and a leg (maybe two).

Then it hit us: Why go across the country to backpack when the longest foot-trail in the world is right in our back yard (ok...not quite...but almost)? Aaron and I have hiked 12-15 mile sections of the Appalachian Trail before, but never as far as what we're planning for next week's trip: 73 miles of backpacking through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

I know, I know. You, along with everyone else we've unveiled our plan to, think we've gone completely nutso.

But...we haven't, I assure you (although, the guys and gals who take 6 or 7 months out of their life to hike all 2,175 miles of the AT from Maine to Georgia must be somewhat out of their gourds!). Aaron and I have spent at least 6 weeks planning, researching, studying, packing, preparing, and talking to park Rangers about the area we're adventuring to and the special precautions we need to take while we're there. Aaron has even encouraged me to read specific sections from his SAS Survival Guide Handbook :)

For those of you interested in tracking us on our 7-day hike across the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (ahem, our parents), here is our intenerary (and here is a map):

Saturday, June 13: Hike from Fontana Dam (southwest corner of the Great Smokies) to campsite 113 (5 miles)
Sunday, June 14: Campsite 113 to Spence Field Shelter (11 miles)
Monday, June 15: Spence Field Shelter to Siler's Bald Shelter (10.5 miles)
Tuesday, June 16: Siler's Bald Shelter to Mt. Collins Shelter (8 miles)
Wednesday, June 17: Mt. Collins Shelter to mile marker 210 (11 miles)
Thursday, June 18: mile marker 210 to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter (9 miles)
Friday, June 19: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter to mile 230 (11 miles)
Saturday, June 20: mile 230 to Davenport Gap (northeast corner of the Great Smokies) (5 miles)

Because the AT is not a loop trail, we're having some friends meet us at Davenport Gap on Saturday, June 13 and take us from Davenport Gap to Fontana Dam to begin our hike. That way, we'll have a car sitting at the Ranger Station for us when we finish our week of hiking.

Since we have to carry everything we need for an entire week in our backpacks, Aaron and I are going to start packing tonight. We have purchased all of our food, mapped out our daily hiking plan, obtained a permit number from the Park Ranger, and prepared ourselves the best way we know how. All that's left to do is pack up and head out bright and early on Saturday morning!