Summer Hiking

[Cuffs]

I actually prefer to hike in the warmer months... yea, I know, strange!  But I have no tolerance for cold weather (especially cold and wet weather!)

I love Ed's reasons for hiking in warm weather.  Nothing better than reaching out your tent door to grab a handful of blueberries to toss into your cereal!!

I also like the shade provided by the leaves.  Being prone to AK (skin cancer) I still wear sunscreen, but the leaf cover helps alot!

Lesley:  I too love creek hiking.  I have a trip planned for July on the Jacks River Trail in N. Georgia if you want to go along.  Its only 16+ miles long, but your first crossing is within the first 1/4 mile and theres a total of about 45 crossings!!

[DeShazo]

I also love Summer hiking. Although being relatively new to backpacking, I have day hiked most of my adult life. I love the Summer because I love to find creatures and photograph them. Especially snakes, I know I am a weirdo. I always wanted to be a herpetologist when I was younger but never made time to go to school. I did several of the trails out at Desoto last weekend and found 2 snakes. A black rat snake and a brown water snake.

As far as the weather I don't mind the heat that much. So far what little backpacking I have done has been great. I am in a hammock at night and to me it is not near as hot as it was when I was in a tent, especially with the rainfly down on it.

[WolfVanZandt]

Yeah, I tend to love storms and will stand out in the open staring up with my mouth open in amazement....... but when I'm responsible for others......

At Buck's Pocket, we camped down in the gorge below the line of strikes. At Cheaha, storms seemed to go around the mountain. At Brushy Lake, the vehicles are close enough that we can head for the cars if a particularly bad storm comes up.

We've only had on SEHowl, though, since I started attending them, that we didn't have at least one horrific storm during the week.

[greened]

River trails. I usually hit North Georgia in the summer. Jacks river has 16 fords (I think) from Pen Branch to Dally Gap. If you're hot it's your fault. Others to hit are Conasauga, Panther Creek, Chatooga, etc... I've found that if you can camp next to a waterfall, the breeze coming off of it creates a natural AC for your camp site. Very nice...

[Joshua Szulecki]

I've found that if you can camp next to a waterfall, the breeze coming off of it creates a natural AC for your camp site. Very nice...

SACRILAGE!

Rule 11: "Don't camp around the waterfall. Never make a fire ring there." - http://waterfallchasing.b...rules-for-waterfalls.html

Just teasing! So long as you practice good LNT camping practices that first part isn't really all that relevant, because that is more a littering commentary than anything else.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Gosh I'm a dork. I just cited my own rule. 

[greened]

SACRILAGE!

Rule 11: "Don't camp around the waterfall. Never make a fire ring there." - http://waterfallchasing.b...rules-for-waterfalls.html

Just teasing! So long as you practice good LNT camping practices that first part isn't really all that relevant, because that is more a littering commentary than anything else.

I've never constructed a fire ring, near a waterfall or not. Never had much need, the trails are littered with them already. As far as camping near waterfalls, maybe I wasn't as careful with my wording as I should've been. Any time you can camp just downstream of rushing mountain water or a good cascade, especially in a bend, you will get a nice cool breeze through your site. I've never been one for camping next to big waterfalls for various reasons like too much traffic and people hanging out in your campsite all day... I can get that at a state park w/o all of the walking.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I've never constructed a fire ring, near a waterfall or not. Never had much need, the trails are littered with them already. As far as camping near waterfalls, maybe I wasn't as careful with my wording as I should've been. Any time you can camp just downstream of rushing mountain water or a good cascade, especially in a bend, you will get a nice cool breeze through your site. I've never been one for camping next to big waterfalls for various reasons like too much traffic and people hanging out in your campsite all day... I can get that at a state park w/o all of the walking.

The only spot I've even seen a campsite that was too close to a waterfall is at Upper Caney Creek Falls, where some people have been camping in the rock shelter directly adjacent to the falls. Of course, camping in rock shelters ads a whole new special dimension of things to watch out for. Squish.

I'm with you on the traffic. I've been known to drive 2 hours to photograph a waterfall, and turn back because I couldn't get some alone time with it. That's one reason why I love Sipsey... With the exception of Fall Creek Falls, the Big Tree, and Kinlock, chances are good you'll get to be left alone most of your trip.