Hikers Rescued in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This past week, in some of the coldest temperatures in twenty years, three South Carolina men were rescued in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after they misjudged distances between shelters.

The North Carolina Helicopter and Aquatic Rescue Team lifted the three men from the Appalachian Trail on the morning of January 3rd, after receiving a call from Graham County emergency dispatch. Rangers had reached the trio the night before and provided them with dry clothing, sleeping bags and tents.

You can read the whole story at the Asheville Citizen-Times here.

That brings me to the next point: being prepared! If you plan to be outdoors in the Appalachians in the months of November to March, you better be prepared for anything. Actually, you're never quite out of the woods as snow has been recorded in my home of Graham County in every month except August. I have personally experienced frozen water bottles and snow and sleet while camping in mid-April.

Remember that wool and many synthetics will still insulate even if they get wet. Also, several loose layers will keep you warmer than one big, thick layer. The ability to add and remove layers as your activity level increases will keep you the most comfortable. This is especially true in the summer when thundershowers can pop up at almost any time. I always carry a small packable rain jacket in my backpack just in case The men in the above story reportedly had mostly cotton clothing, which is a terrible insulator when wet.

Not only will you need to plan to keep yourself warm, you need to be prepared with the correct gear for cooking and sleeping. Physical activity in colder weather burns more calories than the same activity in warm weather. You should plan meals accordingly and have some way to keep your water from freezing. You should also pack extra fuel in case you do have to melt ice or snow for drinking water.

Down is nature's best insulator and a sleeping bag rated at least ten degrees less than temperatures you expect to see should keep you plenty cozy. And don't skimp on the sleeping pad to save weight...that inch or two between you and the cold ground could be the difference between a restful night or a tossing, turning, freezing evening.

I have just touched on the basics here but you can find plenty of information on winter from websites like Backpacker Magazine, gear company REI or the American Hiking Society.

Have fun and be safe this winter!

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