Julie’s Gregory Bald Birthday Backpack
LyttleBryan October 26th, 2010
This weekend, that wonderful woman who puts up with me turned 30 years old. In between harassing her constantly about being old, we managed to have some fun in the Smokies. Her trip of choice was Gregory Bald in the South Western corner of the Smokies. Joined by her sister and several of our friends we spent the weekend enjoying the area.
Our route took us up Wolf Ridge Trail from the Twenty Mile ranger station past Parson’s Bald and finally to Sheep Pen Gap where we setup camp. It is the heart of fall and the mountains didn’t disappoint. The colors in the trees were only magnified by the beautiful blue sky. Everywhere you looked there was oranges, yellows, and reds to make you forget everything except the beauty of it.
After some steep climbs we made it to Parson’s Bald. It was the first time I’d been to Parson’s Bald and I can understand why it’s so rarely mentioned. Compared to Gregory Bald it’s not even worth visiting. Aside from a small section of open grass, there wasn’t much to see. It definitely paled in comparison to Gregory Bald.
Sheep Pen Gap and campsite #13 wasn’t much past Parson’s Bald, and by the time we got there the rest of the group already had camp set. They’d stayed the night at campsite #95 the night before so they had a bit of a jump on us. Fortunately they got the best part of the campsite for us. #13 is easily my favorite campsite in the Smokies. There’s just something about it that makes it enjoyable just being there.
After setting up camp and relaxing a bit we set out for the half mile climb up to Gregory Bald. I had talked Julie’s sister into bring a Frisbee along, so after we got done enjoying the amazing views, we got to play a little Frisbee. I’ll admit it was a little rough playing at that altitude. The wind managed to give the frisbee a mind of it’s own, so at time’s it was comical. Fun was had regardless and left us all ready to relax by the fire.
As we started the raging inferno that would become our campfire, I noticed the wind picking up. I didn’t think it a big deal until I tried going to bed. I had been using my new Big Mamajamba Spinn UL tarp from Warbonnet Outdoors. Spinn UL, or Spinnaker as it’s known, is the material made for sail boat sails. It managed to catch the wind and hold it like nothing else. There were times that big gusts would come through and a combination of the large trees I was hanging in and the tarp connected to them had me convinced I was about to achieve lift off and begin my trip back to Knoxville as the crow flies. It made for an interesting night, but after the third time I got up to tighten the guy-lines I finally got everything tight enough and they stayed for the rest of the night. It wasn’t the best nights sleep I’d ever had, but it also wasn’t the worst.
The next morning we took down camp and set out up and over the bald to Long Hungry Ridge Trail where we descended and set out for home. It was a fantastic backpack and I’m glad Julie had a great birthday.
Gregory Bald 10-24-2010
