Great Smoky Mountains National Park Backpacking (TN) - March 2022

View and purchase my photos at: https://davidcgray.smugmug.com/ To start the 2022 hiking season I once again got together with Carl and Travis to do a spring-time hike in iconic Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I have hiked in the Smokies multiple times in the past but I had never done a hike there in early Spring, and it was fantastic to experience the park reawakening from the winter and without the normal summer/fall jungle-like leaf canopy. Green shoots of new growth and spring flowers covered the forest floor, views were abundant, and sunshine blanketed the trails. This trip was in the western part of GSMNP, and the intent was to experience the many streams, creeks, and waterfalls in that area of the Park, as well as immerse ourselves in the unique 'primordial' forests you find in the backcountry of the Smokies. We started and ended at the Elkmont Campground, hiking the Jake's Creek, Cucumber Gap, Little River, and Goshen Prong trails and spending nights in campsites 23 and 30. It was a relatively tame 3-day, 2-night, 22 mile hike, with the biggest challenges being a few sketchy stream crossings in the vicinity of campground 30. For those who have watched my other videos this one is done in the same style - a bit under an hour in length, intended to bring the audience along for the 'ride', and with a still picture slide show with music at the end. If you just have a few minutes skip to the end and enjoy the pictures. Equipment / Gear List: Still and Video Camera: Nikon Z6 https://amzn.to/3dHJvni Lens: Nikkor 24mm f1.8 Z-mount lens https://amzn.to/2QZqNOo Tripod: Sirui T-025X carbon fiber tripod https://amzn.to/3bH3Rvg Camera shoulder clip: Peak Designs Capture clip system https://amzn.to/2wRdusp Video Editing Software: Vegas Pro 16 https://amzn.to/2X5dKyu Pack: Zpacks Arc Blast 55L Tent: Zpacks Triplex Sleeping Bag: Zpacks 20degF Sleeping Bag Sleeping Pad: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir X-Therm https://amzn.to/2yjrUlj Sleeping Pad: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite https://amzn.to/39zju6v Pillow: Exped Air Pillow UL https://amzn.to/2WYE5hZ Stove: JetBoil Flash https://amzn.to/3azKRi7 Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2 https://amzn.to/3dPtOL5 Pot: MSR Titan titanium 0.9L kettle https://amzn.to/3bF1RDB Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot https://amzn.to/2R0JvoW Buff: Merino wool Buff https://amzn.to/3dCYHSC Recharging Battery: Anker 3500mAH ‘lipstick’ charger https://amzn.to/2URI7G3 Camp Chair: Helonix Chair Zero https://amzn.to/2xzbwgh Camp Shoes: Xero Shoes Z-Trek https://amzn.to/3bA3X7I Wet Wipes: Survivorware Wet Wipes https://amzn.to/2JwbQ2e