GSMNP: Cosby Backpacking Trip

[Richard Rini]

This is my first trip report and I dont really consider myself to be very gifted on the side of journalism. My wife and I planned a little three day two night trip to GSMNP over the Memorial Day holiday. The weather, well at times it was great and at others not so much but we had a great time!

Park Map showing the location of our hike:

The Squall 2 at Cosby Camp ground Basecamp nice job from Tarp Tent. Luckily we decided to seam seal the tent and that proved to be one of the smartest things we did on this trip!

Shana messing with the camera settings:

Foot bridge accross small stream. There were not that many stream crossings and we never really got our feet wet. All the crossing could easily be rock hopped:

A bunch of weird beattles pigging out on some fungus!

Here are our packs for the trip. I have the Golite Jam 2 (2009) and Shana has the Dueter:

The start of our short adventure, the trail head for Gabes Mountain Trail:

Trail head sign:

Heading to Maddron Bald Trail:

Group Photo (small group):

Really interesting root formation on rock outcropping:

Small waterfall:

Another cool root formation. Can you tell me what you think it looks like??

Moving along:

Up to this point we had been having great weather, that will change:

Here comes the rain:

Trying to dry our things:

Our Squall set up at camp site 29. It was raining when we got there and we had fears of a wet night. But things changed and the sun finally decided to show itself. It really saved the day!:

Campsite no. 29:



Time for Bed!:

The second day the weather started off great:


Almost to the AT:

Finally on the AT:








We never had an issue finding water on this trip and it ended up being pretty abundant:

Food break:

We are finally getting closer to Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail and campsite 35. Our second day Hike was suppose to be 17 miles but ended up to be about 21. That makes for a long day:





Campsite no. 35 and then much awated base camp (Cosby):

We actually did not stay at campsite 35 the second day. When we got there the bugs were just incredibly annoying and since we only had about another 4 miles to base camp we decided to head out. That actually ended up being a great decision as the second day it did nothing but pour rain the entire morning. Our morning would have been nothing but soaking rain. So we finished with about 31 miles in two days, not what I originally planned but a very enjoyable trip. So here is a recap of the trails: From Cosby campground to Gabes mountain trail to Maddron Bald trail to Snake Den Trail to the AT to Lower Mount Cammerer Trail and back to base camp. Can't forget a thanks to Bradford Rogers who gave some great advice!

[Brad Rogers]

I’m glad you guys had a good trip. Thanks for sharing your pics, contrary to your view on your journalism skills; I think your trip report told the story very well. Did you make the side trip to either Albright Grove and/or Mt Cammerer Fire Lookout?

BTW: It looks like a mountain lion to me with the head on the right turning back to look behind him.

[Nick Gatel]

Enjoyed the report. To me the picture looks like a giant lizard or maybe an alligator.

[Eddy Walker]

thanks for the trip report. Campsite 29 looks a lot better than the last time I stayed there. We found a huge cabin tent laying on its side, fishing gear everywhere, folding camp chairs and coolers hanging from the bear cables. There was way to much to carry out. We told the rangers about it and he had said there had been a lot of bear activity at that campsite.

[Ike Mouser]

how were the crowds?

[Rick Horne]

Nice trip report. Enjoyed reading it.

[Eddy Walker]

I can't speak for his trip but on the one I did there wasn't anyone on it. Now there are some tourist on Gabes Mtn Trail trying to get up to Hen Wallow Falls but after that nothing.

[Richard Rini]

I only saw some folks near some trail junctions on the At but after that it was pretty sparse. I really expected more people for the Memorial Day holiday.

[Richard Rini]

We did Albright but not the lookout. I regret that we did not hit the lookout. I guess it gives me an incentive too return!

I'm with you on the mountian lion/panther root.

[obx hiker]

Komodo Dragon. The "legs" are so muscular. Hemlocks all gone?

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