Camping in the Smokies

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We spent last week camping in the Smokies. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is our favorite national park and we spend a lot of time there.

We got to Smokemont Campground on a Monday afternoon. It was so easy to set up our campsite (Site D38). This is our favorite campsite. It is across from the group campsite which was closed. The bathrooms were right across the road and this building has outlets. Since I get up so early, I can plug in my iPad and charge it up if needed. I can get it all charged up before most people are even awake.

We like to go to the Oconoluftee River Trail which is about a 3.2-mile roundtrip hike that starts at the Visitor Center and goes to the town of Cherokee. Every day, we came across elk under the shade trees. On one day, there were several people who were extremely close to the elk to take photos and the male elk gave a bugle warning a couple of times, but the people didn’t move. We went an alternate way off the trail to avoid the elk and the people. For lunch each day, we ate at Subway. They did a great job of wearing masks and gloves as they fixed our sub sandwiches. On one day, we got in the river and played in the water. The water was just like bathwater! (Well, bath water in the dead of winter if you have no heat and no hot water.)

After a few days, we headed to Cades Cove Campground. We had a nice ride over Newfound Gap and stopped to see the views and take photos. We stopped in Townsend for gas and supplies (ice was $2 at the IGA) and lunch at Subway. We camped at site B37 which was a nice site. It was further away from the bathrooms and I had to use our external batteries to charge our electronics. After we set up camp, we went to the camp store and got soft serve ice cream (which we have gotten there for about 30 years when we visit!). I was surprised how much the price has increased (about $5 for a cake cone.) On the first afternoon, it poured down rain pretty heavily. I was so glad we had our Clam screen room and had the optional walls up to keep out the rain. I also had my Little Red Campfire going which made the room toasty warm while it rained. One man called it a “frog strangler” kind of rain.

Most of the trailheads were packed with cars and heavy crowds so we drove to Sevierville and went to the Tanger Outlet Stores. We both needed new tennis shoes and got some from the New Balance outlet store. Then we had a nice drive and lunch in Townsend. We found out our camper refrigerator wasn’t working so we had to put everything back into the cooler and buy ice from the camp store ($4.50). In the evening we walked around the campground and talked with other campers. When we went to bed, it was really hot, humid and miserable. We decided that we would leave in the morning and head for home.

The next morning, Don got up around 7:30 am and by 8:30 am we were packed up and heading home.

Things I Learned:

1. I really like Smokemont Campground D Loop (pull through sites).
2. Smokemont D38 is my favorite site.
3. I like playing in the river even if the water is cold.
4. It is good to have water shoes on in the river.
5. The Oconoluftee River Trail is a wonderful trail.
6. It is more crowded in the campground in the summer months.
7. People don’t wear masks even when asked that they should.
8. It is nice when people respect quiet hours in a campground.
9. There are a lot of mushrooms on the trails in August.
10. Thundershowers are expected in the afternoon during summer.

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Cades Cove August 2015

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Sunday, August 2, 2015:

We left home around 7:30am and stopped for breakfast at the other side of town. On the way there, we noticed that the passenger side window would not roll down and it wasn’t the window lock because Don couldn’t get it to roll down from the driver’s side either. We arrived at Cades Cover around noon after stopping for lunch in Townsend. Setting up camp didn’t take long and we walked around the campground. For dinner we cooked a rib eye but the neighbors stopped by to talk and our steak got a little overcooked.

Monday, August 3, 2015:

After breakfast we hiked to Abrams Falls. It took us about 30 minutes to get to the top where we turn to go down to the falls. It took 50 minutes from there to the falls. The total mileage was 6 miles even though it says it is only 5 miles to the falls.  When we got back to the campsite we decided to go play in the river. Don had some swollen feet and his knee hurt so the cold water helped it.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015:

We just were pretty lazy and recuperated from yesterday’s hike. We walked about the campground several times and even played in the river again. We ate a late lunch/early dinner. We don’t want to make burgers next time we camp. I need to make chili ahead of time and freeze it so it will be ready for us when we go camping.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015:

After breakfast we drove to Tremont and hiked the Middle Prong Trail. Our total mileage was 6 miles again. Along the way we passed a side trail that led to an old 1920s Cadillac.  That was a pretty cool thing to see. We stopped in Townsend for a late lunch and when we got back to our campsite, it had rained pretty heavy while we were gone. Luckily it was over by the time we returned.

Thursday, August 6, 2015:

I was up as usual at 5am and started my morning fire. While sitting around the campfire, the rain would sporadically hit and I would get under the canopy until it stopped. My fire almost went out but started back up once the rain stopped. When Don woke up, we decided that since it was expected to rain all day, we would head home.  On the way home, we found out the Tahoe’s air conditioning didn’t work. We did drive through some rain on the way home. When we got home we found out that the air conditioning in the main part of the house was not working! Well, that was the third thing so hopefully that is all that needs to be fixed.

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Cades Cove Camping Trip

Pictures from the trip

Video of the bears

Last week we camped at Cades Cove for three nights at site B4. We left home around 9am and stopped for lunch in Townsend  (Black Bear Café – lunch special was open faced roast beef with mashed potatoes for $8.99) so we arrived at the campsite around 3:30.  Don backed in with the camper like a pro! I kept my mouth shut, which helped him the most I think. It took minutes to set up and then we walked around the campground. Since we ate a late lunch, we didn’t cook any dinner.

The second day we walked around the campground and hiked on the nature trail. Then we drove on part of the Cades Cove Loop Road but turned off on Rich Mountain Road. This is a dirt road for 4 wheel drive vehicles and is one way to Townsend. It was a beautiful drive and we ate at the Black Bear Café again for lunch. The special was spaghetti with a side salad and garlic bread for $8.99. When we got back to the campsite we walked about the campground again. For dinner we had chili and corn on the cob. We also had a fire, which was nice.

The third day I got up early and started a beautiful campfire. Then after our morning walk, we drove the loop road again and stopped at the visitor center and old buildings.  We ended up in a bear jam and I got a great video of a mother bear and her two cubs. Then we drove on Parsons Branch Rd., which is another one-way dirt road for 4 wheel drive high clearance vehicles only. It took about 90 minutes to drive the 9 miles. We came out on Hwy 129 near Fontana Dam and drove back up towards Townsend. We stopped at the Black Bear Café again for lunch and the special was a the grouper with turnip greens and navy beans for $9.99 which Don ate. I had chicken salad, which ended up being a salad with fried chicken sliced on top of it. By the time we left, my stomach started hurting. The rest of the evening my stomach was cramping and I couldn’t enjoy the nice campfire Don started. I ended up going to bed but not being able to sleep. I didn’t sleep all night long because I was in so much pain.

We left Friday morning and I was still in pain. I couldn’t eat breakfast but Don ate some at McDonalds. I dozed on and off all the way home. Once we got home, I helped unpack all the essentials and went straight to bed for the rest of the day.

Even though I got sick, I still had a nice time. I hope I didn’t ruin it for Don though.

Things I Learned:

• When they say high clearance vehicles, trust that they mean it!
• The Black Bear Café was a great place to eat.
• Don’t get out of the car when you see bears even if everyone else is out of their cars.
• Campfires are nice.