Cold Weather Camping at Elkmont in Smokey Mountain National Park

Our tent at Elkmont

While others go to Tennessee and stay in cabins for cozy mountain Thanksgivings, we stayed in Smokey Mountain National Park over my break.  We chose Elkmont Campground because it was still open this late in the season.  This was serious cold weather camping at an elevation of 2,150 feet and our coldest night at 21 degrees Fahrenheit.  Each campsite has a fire pit, table, and elevated pad for tents.   

As far as a site with many camping spaces, this was one of the best I have visited.  We enjoyed our tent side view of Little River, and the facilities.  (No showers included!)  Being so late in the season there was room between most spots.  We stayed for two nights, but did allow the snow to cut our trip short.  We worried the roads would ice over with the winter storm that moved across Tennessee this holiday.  

If you would like to visit Elkmont just keep a few of these things in your mind.

• All food and items to prepare it must be closed up in a camper, vehicle, or closed trailer.  This is bear country and the fines are serious.
• All firewood must be purchased through the park.  This is the prevent the spread of invasive species into the park.  
• Six people per campsite.  

Here are a few more from our campsite.  

The river that runs through Elkmont Campground

View from our tent

Chilly Morning Camping 

Camp Cafe

Brats on the grill 

Stay tuned for more pictures from our campsite and maybe some cold weather camping tips.

2012 In Review

Although 2012 has not been our most adventurous year as far as camping trips, but some excited stuff did happen.  Here is our top 5 list!

1. We got to Paddle Board on the crystal clear coast of Minorca, Spain.  An island off the coast of Spain that my family is from.  This was my first Paddle Board experience, but it was a lot of fun in the calm cove.  

2.  Also on our trip to Spain, we did a day hike up to the the top of the highest trail in   Urbasa y Andia National Park.  It was challenging for me, but worth it for the view.

3.  We had our maiden voyage in our two new kayaks!  We decided to buy a pair of Necky   Vector sit on top Kayaks right when the weather began heating up in the Spring.  

4.  Soon after Ed finished outfitting the Kayaks for fishing we took them to Dauphin Island Alabama.  We paddled about three miles out to an oil rig and tried our hands at fishing deeper water.  Although we only caught about four small trout, it made me feel like a boss to paddle that far in open water.

5.  In November, Ed participated in the first Spankin the Specks Kayak Fishing Tournament in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  This was the first tournament of its kind in Mississippi, and Ed's team took all the categories related to Speckled Trout including first, second, third, and the shoot out!  

Island Time

Here are some bits of our stay on the island Menorca.  Two days in a row we took a bus out of Mahon in order explore the beached and coves.

Barcelona Food Market

    A foodies dream is what you can call the Market in Barcelona.  Any food imaginable is three for the tasting from ostrich eggs to cherries.  Here is a bit of our afternoon among the vendors.

Entrance

Carne 

Fruit

Ostrich eggs 

Spices and shrooms

Fishes

Large lobsters

Bits of Barcelona

    Finishing day two in Barcelona already!  The best word I can use to describe it is unique.  Here are some snap shots...

Ed Runs with the Bulls

    Yesterday morning Edward ran with the bulls.  Afterwards we hung out in Pamplona before boarding a five o'clock trainto Madrid. 

Waiting for the run

Balconies filled

Sea of red and white

Ed my bull runner

Running with the Bulls

       Pamplona this time of year is a sea of red and white for their yearly San Fermin festival.  (Or as what us Americans will call the running of the bulls).   Ed and I arrived yesterday afternoon, and are staying in a student residence a thirty minute walk from anything.   However, in following a processional of drums dancing down the street with thousands of people last night, I realized I have been able to experience some of the best parties in the world.  There is more to the festival than the bull run. There are parades, concerts, and beer gardens all over the city which is a lot larger than we expected. 

Without further ado... Ole!!

    We head out tomorrow evening, and I hope Barcelona is ready for us!