Backpacking Cumberland Gap National Park

[@flip4341]

15 minutes from my home. I try not to take the park for granted since I drive through it almost daily, and viewing this video makes me love it even more. I love seeing others enjoy the area I live in.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Phillip! Cumberland Gap NHP is a unique place for sure.

[@barbaraallen90]

Enjoyed the video Bryan. It was great spending time with you and the group.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Barbara! Really enjoyed camping with everyone at #6.

[@smashrangerrick4586]

Fantastic video. Super helpful campsite views for planning my own backpacking trip there! That's an awesome T-day tradition with your son.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Smash RangerRick! Cumberland Gap is a cool place. It's been a great tradition backpacking with my son over Thanksgiving weekend.

[@gogovan9289]

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you very much GoGoVan! Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

[@ozarksandbeyond4416]

Never heard of this sand cave before. Definitely adding to list. Was very interesting and beautiful.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Paul! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@ChrisfromFL]

Hensly Settlement looked very interesting. The Sand Cave looks like a lot of the trails in Florida, we call it sugar sand and it can be very tough going, especially in the summer months (May - October).

[@BryanDeLay]

You're right Chris about walking in the sand, very slow going.

[@tughoward]

Really enjoy your videos! I’m an East Tennessee native,transplanted to Atlanta, so really enjoy seeing some of my old tramping grounds.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Chris, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@DrJohn493]

What a timely video! I've been looking at revisiting this park between Christmas and New Year's (provided I can get a kitchen pass). I thoroughly enjoyed my short visit to Cumberland Gap NHP about 13 years ago and have wanted to go back and spend more time up there to see the Hensley settlement get up to White Rocks. Did a lot of day hiking on that trip but no backpacking. That first climb and night hiking sounded like it was exhausting. This time of the year I try to knock off around 3:30 to have enough daylight to get set up and gather the firewood. Happy holidays!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks John! Happy holidays to you too. Hope you get that kitchen pass. It's hard to get to camp at 3:30 when you don't leave the trail head until 5:00.

[@MylesAway3]

Hoping to do this trip in a few weeks. Thanks for the overview!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for watching! Hope you have a great trip.

[@waterfallmadman]

I saw a pretty waterfall there, and that cave was fascinating. It is nice that your son backpacks with you, I wish mine would come with me more than he does.

[@BryanDeLay]

Sand Cave and the waterfalls were really cool. My son backpacks about 30 nights a year and we go together often, but he does have to wait on me, particularly if I'm shooting a video.

[@CarlMonin]

Never been there but that hike had it all. Will definitely be going there. The music you included really fit well with the settlement shots. Thanks for posting, Bryan.

[@BryanDeLay]

It's a pretty cool place Carl. The Hensley Settlement needed a little bluegrass music.

[@markmcreynolds3984]

Awesome trip, awesome family tradition! Enjoyed Reuben’s train.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Mark! Thought a little bluegrass would be appropriate for Hensley's Settlement.

[@CatherineGregoryAdventures]

It's awesome that you have that tradition with your son and he shares a love of backpacking. So special. The settlement was very cool and the sand cave reminded me a lot of areas in Utah.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Catherine! It's been a great tradition. Cumberland Gap NP is an interesting place.

[@BryanEaton]

Thanks for the vid, I just did a short hike up through chapman gap, it was gorgeaous

[@BryanDeLay]

Glad you enjoyed the video Bryan. Cumberland Gap NP is very pretty.

[@mountainwanderer]

This looked like a great trip! I am always so jealous because you get out and backpack so much! Not sure that I have mentioned it before, but I love your tarp only setup. I see that your son was using it as well on this trip. I kind of do the same thing except I don't sleep on the ground. That settlement looked amazing!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Mountain Wanderer! I've been using a tarp since 1998 and have never thought about going back to a tent. I've never used a hammock because I just don't think I would sleep very well, but maybe I should try one sometime. Last spring when I got the DCF tarp I gave my old silnylon tarp to my son. I'm thinking about doing something in Idaho next August and at some point would like to get some suggestions from you.

[@mountainwanderer]

@@BryanDeLay You bet! I really am only familiar with the panhandle section. I'm still trying to get down to the great stuff to the south of where I live. That's the country that Kenny the Idahonian hikes a lot. He would be a great person to ask about the Sawtooths.

[@HowestheHike]

Wow. Gorgeous hike Bryan. Loved this!!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Stuart!

[@awksedgreep]

Have you ever hiked Cumberland Island? Did 30 miles around the island last year and can't wait to go back.

[@BryanDeLay]

No, I haven't Mark, but it's on my list. I have several friends who have been there and they tell me it's great.

[@JonniesJourney]

What an awesome trip with your son. Every now and then I can get one of my kids to come along. Great views and loved the settlement.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Jonnie! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@JenniferLupine]

Happy Thanksgiving (a little late) - glad you got out on a father/son trip! Real pretty area with nice variety - another great video 😊😊

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you so much Jennifer! It was a fun trip with my son to a very interesting place.

[@JenniferLupine]

@@BryanDeLay nice tradition😊😊

[@BeCCaWhere2GoNext]

Wow!!! such breathtaking views!!!! fell in love with this trail! thanks for sharing❣🌲🎁🎀 Happy Holidays!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Becca! Cumberland Gap NP is a pretty cool place. Happy Holidays to you too.

[@whshome]

I don't recall the White Rocks campsite on my last trip there, but it's been 10 years or so and maybe added since then. As you say it didn't look so good.

[@BryanDeLay]

The White Rocks campsite was there 7 years ago, but it was worse than I remembered.

[@FOLLOWINGWALKERSWORLD]

Great video Bryan. Love those old farm type homes & wooden fences. Looked like a great few days.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Tom, it was a fun trip.

[@amandajerose8570]

Beautiful! I'm going to have to add this one to my list! Thanks for sharing(:

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Amanda! Hope you're able to hike there sometime.

[@strickysbackpackingadventures]

Awesome hike Bryan. Sand cave looked amazing. Your vids are spot on. Short clips of the entire journey. Easy and interesting watching. Thanks for sharing.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Sticky! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@chadroberts44]

I think this might be my favorite of your videos. That Hensley settlement looked really cool, like it was quite the place at one point. Also that cave with the sand and waterfall was spectacular!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Chad! Glad you enjoyed the video. It's hard to imagine living in that settlement in the early 1900's. The amount of sand on the floor of the cave is amazing.

[@missmary5048]

I agree..the settlement was so fascinating to imagine sitting on that porch in the afternoon done with chores and ;listening to the wildlife..the sand cave was beautiful!

[@thomasschoon9451]

Whats it like in the spring time

[@BryanDeLay]

Never been there in the spring, but I would think the wild flowers would awesome.

[@JimHayesHiking]

I love it over there, I did a loop hike back this past February. Great video and thanks for bringing us along!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Jim, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@jefferybyard8429]

I love checking out rock outcrops on my hikes. That place looks amazing

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for watching Jeffery. Rock outcrops can have some great views.

[@BlackBuzzzard]

How much wind can your shelter arrangement take? I am cursed with high wind experiences in the western states. In april 2019 halfway into grand canyon, wind and blowing snow started taking my Big Agnes one man tent apart with me inside.

[@BryanDeLay]

According to Mountain Laurel Designs web page the tarp can withstand 60 MPH winds, but to me that depends on how firmly you get the stakes in the ground. I've been in some windy conditions and the tarp did ok.

[@tdenningcc]

Bryan, how do you keep things charged on those several day overnight ears?

[@BryanDeLay]

On 5 or more days I'll take a battery pack, but less than that I'll take several batteries for my GoPro. When backpacking I put my phone in airplane mode and it will last about 5 to 6 days.