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Cumberland Island, GA is one of the most unique, beautiful places to camp in the nation, let alone the South. Ran by the U.S. National Park, and only accessible by Ferry (people only), Cumberland Island provides its visitors with an experience of a lifetime. This experience includes beautiful beach views of the Atlantic Ocean, fantastic undeveloped dunes with natural forests, and a near guaranteed chance to see Cumberland’s feral horses strolling across the beaches or feeding near the Dungeness Ruins along with various other wildlife viewing opportunities.

Without reservations to camp on Cumberland, one will be limited to seeing Cumberland Island between 9:40 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on any given day because on most days these are the earliest island arrivals and departures, respectively. Because the island has no motor vehicular access, and only limited bicycle access, only campers will get to experience some of the greatest sites on the island because some are more than twenty miles round trip to them. The easiest place to camp on Cumberland Island is called Sea Camp, Even from Sea Camp traveling to the northernmost part of Cumberland without primitive camping plans is highly unlikely, if not impossible due to the distance that needs to be covered, but Sea Camp at least provides an opportunity to visit many of the sites on the northern part of the island that are somewhat closer than 20 miles round trip.

About Sea Camp

Sea Camp is the “non-primitive” campground located on Cumberland Island, Georgia. Camping at Sea Camp can be made by making reservations with the National Parks Service at http://www.nps.gov/cuis/reservations.htm.  Camping will cost a fee of around $4.00 per person, per day. Do not plan on camping at Cumberland Island Sea Camp without a reservation. On my last trip, I only wanted to stay two nights at Sea Camp, and tried to reserve well in advanced (I could only get one night).

In addition to reservations on Cumberland Island, reservations for the Park Service Ferry also need to be made. The cost for this is around $17.00 per person, round trip. Please note, bicycles will not be allowed on the Ferry, so a private ferry must be rented if you want to bring your own bike. This probably is not worth it because bicycles (although not great ones) can be rented there, and biking is limited to a relatively short area on Cumberland Island anyway.

Once arrangements are made to get to Cumberland Island, Sea Camp is about half a mile (0.5 miles) from the Sea Camp Dock. For campers that like to pack heavy (which I am not an advocate of), there are miniature trailers to haul your gear from the Ferry to your campsite. Although, I must recommend packing light for Cumberland, too much gear can get in the way of the purpose of visiting such a remote, serene gift of nature. Take what you need, there are no garbage cans, and everything has to be packed out by the camper.

Arriving at Sea Camp Campground

After getting off the ferry, and going through a brief orientation at the ranger station, make your way down the Sea Camp Trail. You will cross over the Main Road and continue straight across it. After a few hundred yards or so, you will see the restrooms and bathhouse straight ahead. Your ranger will show you a map of how to locate your specific campsite number.

Camp Sites

The Camp Sites at Sea Camp provide a good amount of privacy, as each campsite tends to enter through a short narrow path and is surrounded by low trees and shrubbery.

Each Site has a fire ring, picnic table, and raccoon bins.

Campsites are typically situated on a hard sandy bed, and have a few oak tree limbs providing shade over the site.

Sea Camp is NOT located on the beach, but is located within easy walking distance to it. From the bathing and restroom area, sea camp is a beautiful walk across a boardwalk, and the long undeveloped dunes to the beach.

Along with Sea Camp Campground, the ranger station puts on daily seminars about the wildlife and nature on Cumberland Island.

Advice & Notes of Interest:

* VERY IMPORTANT: No matter the time of year, bring bug spray for your body. The biting bugs on Cumberland will make life a living hell without it, even if you wear jeans and long sleeves. I brought deep woods spray, but even standing outside my tent for 60 seconds in the morning before application, my ears and face got bitten by mosquitos. There will not be any opportunities to buy anything on the island, so check and double check that the bug spray is packed.  I cannot overstate this advice.

* Weather on Cumberland Island is not necessarily the same as weather on St. Mary’s. The rangers there frequently told us that they could rely very little on St. Mary’s weather forecasts for Cumberland Island. Also, it is typically very humid and warm in Sea Camp until at least the middle of October. So be ready for warm day and cooler evenings in October.

*If planning on building a fire in the camp sites’ fire rings, one may want to pack his or her own fire wood on to the island. While collecting driftwood is allowed, the number of campers at any given time is likely to make this a difficult task.  The ferry sometimes sells firewood on the island, but the availability is never guaranteed.

Trails on Cumberland Island

Dungeness Trail

South Point Trail

River Trail

Parallel Trail

Pratts Trail

Willow Pond Trail

Duck House Trail

Yankee Paradise Trail

Ashley Pond Trail

Lost Road Trail

Kings Bottom Trail

Tar Kiln Trail

Roller Coaster Trail

Oyster Pond Trail

Table Point Trail

Rayfield Trail

Now that I have covered Water. I feel that I can sufficiently create a checklist for weekend campers. So let’s get started.

NECESSITIES:

[ ] Water - 3.0 Liters per day of clean, purified drinking water, plus extra water for cleaning and cooking.

[ ] Water Purifier - Pump Filters are my recommendation.

[ ] Water Bottles - Two hard shell bottles (like nalgene) are good for carrying drinking water, but I would also recommend a 3.0 L water bladder and a pack to hold the bladder and protect it.

[ ] Food - Enough for 3 meals a day, plus at least one snack. Camping in the elements is not a time to practice restricted meal dieting (not that anytime actually is).

[ ] Camping Stove and Fuel - Even if you plan to cook everything over a camp fire, it could rain. Get a stove, the correct fuel supply, and the pans to cook over it.

[ ] First Aid Kit - Just in Case of Emergencies

[ ] Multi-Tool Kit - A good, strong, sharp pocket knife. Avoid the cheap Swiss Army knockoffs, and go for a strong multi-tool kit.

[ ] Matches in a Waterproof Case - Even if you have a lighter, bring matches.

[ ] Firestarter sticks - Cheap and Light…. helps to start a fire, even in less than ideal conditions.

[ ] Soap - If staying more than a night, soap is needed to clean pots and pans at a minimum.

GEAR:

[ ] Cooking Pans - Depends on your method of cooking, but make sure to have pots and pans to cook your meals over a stove & if you plan on cooking on a campfire also bring iron skillets (cooking over a campfire can damage many types of backpacking stoves)

[ ] Tent - A form of shelter, including a good rain fly…even if it looks like clear weather.

[ ] Tarp - works well as a foo

[ ] Sleeping Bag - A three season bag is generally best for most conditions, but if camping in the dead of winter in the Southern US, you will want to go with a mummy bag with a much lower temperature range to keep you warm.

[ ] Waterproof Compression Sack - keeps the sleeping dry…ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

[ ] BackPack - a means of carrying all equipment and supplies.

[ ] Flashlight - Some access to lighting ( I prefer a headlamp, it keeps the hands free while doing the job).

[ ] Flashlight Batteries - Extra Batteries, better safe than stuck in the dark.

[ ] Garbage Bag - Doubles as a pack cover, and for packing all garbage out (ALWAYS PACK IT OUT, PROTECT NATURE)

CLOTHING:

[ ] Rain Gear - regardless of the weather condition rain jacket and pants keep you dry and warm.

[ ] Bandanna - Doubles as a rag, and pre-filter for water.

[ ] Hiking Boots - Waterproof Hiking Boots are ideal for hiking and keeping the feet dry.

[ ] Socks - Liner Socks that wick away moisture, and a pair of comfortable hiking socks

[ ] Pants/Shorts Convertibles - Warm, Comfortable Pants that dry quickly, and can convert to shorts in warmer weather.

[ ] Short Sleeve T-Shirt

[ ] Long Sleeve T-Shirt

[ ] Warm Jacket

[ ] Cool Weather Clothing - Toboggan, Thermal Underwear, Gloves, Wool Jackets, pants, and sockets.

TOILETRIES:

[ ] Soap - Bathing, Washing Hands, and for Pots and Pans

[ ] Toothbrush and Tooth Paste

[ ] Quick Drying Towel

[ ] Toilet Paper

[ ] Shovel

There is the basic, simplistic checklist.  Anything you think I left off, please let me know. Remember this list is for weekend campers, not long distance backpackers. I will do another checklist in the future for backpackers. I look forward to your comments.

The first and most important thing any camper needs to make sure he or she has when planning a camp is access to water. If no access to water is present, the camper will need to make sure he or she carries enough water with them.

Drinking Water

So, how much water is needed? Well, like many things, the answer is..it depends. It depends on the environment. It depends on your planned level of activity. It depends on your own health.

So let me start with some basic needs, and allow you to move from there. According to the Institute of Medicine, men need at least 3.0 liters of water & women need about 2.2 liters.Most of us don’t get that amount of liquid in our daily diets (although we should & only from water, no sodas), but when camping this amount of water should be a very minimum for drinking water. Campers should always be prepared to have or have access to a minimum of 3.0 liters of clean drinking for each day of camping. Camping in the outdoors exposes our bodies to elements most of us are not used to, and as such, we should never plan to survive on less than the minimum amount of water needed.

The fantastic thing about the 3.0 liter requirement is that the most common water bladders I have come across tend to be either in 3.0 liter or 2.0 litter bottles. My vote is to go with the 3.0 liter bladder for male or female, as you can almost never really have too much drinking water. The one problem with th 3.0 liters is there is a little difficulty in finding bladder packs or camelpaks that fit them, but they do exist, and many of the newer backpacks have pouches and pockets to store them.

Purifying Water

Now, if the camper knows there will be access to water, he or she may opt to purify water to lighten the water weight load for an entire camping trip. It is important to remember that no matter how clean the water appears, any water that does not come from your kitchen faucet (and possibly even that water) could contain very harmful contaminants that could make humans very sick. So if getting your water from nature, remember ALWAYS ALWAYS PURIFY. Opting to purify gives the camper some more freedom is hiking distances, and also creates several options to clean the water.

Preliminary Steps Before the Options Below:

Find the cleanest water source available. Ensure that these sources are free of chemical toxins. While microorganisms like bacteria and viruses can be purified out of water, chemical toxins that could be found in water that is contaminated by local pollution. After obtaining this water surface, campers should pre-filter the water of larger contaminants. This can be done by using a piece of cloth such as a bandana and pant leg as a make shift strainer.

Option 1: Boiling the Water

The most sure bet for purifying water is by boiling the water. Boiling is essentially the only way to kill all pathogens and microorganisms contained in water. Most pathogens cannot survive temperatures that exceed 185 degrees Fahrenheit for more than a few minutes. To make sure you get them all, allow the water to reach a rapid boil and remain there for at least 1 minute (I’d go with 1.5 minutes just to be safe).

So why have more options, if boiling is so effective? Well, I’m glad you asked Boiling is very time consuming. It may take several minutes to boil just two cups of water over a camping stove, and two cups of water won’t cut it for the day. Not only is is boiling water time consuming, it is also fuel consuming. If you are boiling water over a campfire, this is not a concern for you. But if you are backpacking with a fuel powered stove, you know the weight and space that fuel costs. As such, you want to conserve that precious fuel for when its absolutely necessary for cooking. So let’s take a look at Option 2.

Option 2: Water Purification Sytem:

When boiling is impracticable, backpackers may opt instead for Water Purifiers. Water Purifiers come in a multitude of sizes, costs, and kinds. There may be more kinds of water filters than there are types of contaminants than can get into your water. So what are the benefits of these systems, and how do we choose which to purchase?

Cost Issues:

Water Purifiers can range in price from $50 - $700, and everywhere in between that. These purifiers range in their effectiveness and use as well, but few situations will call for the $700 range. Most campers hiking in most outdoor areas in the Southern United States will find that they can obtain a quality water purifier system for less than $100.

Types:

Along with varied costs there are a variety of water purifiers on the market. The two most popular as of late tend to be the pump filters, a traditional and very strong option. The second is a newer technology that appears to be gaining some popularity. This newer technology is called Ultraviolet Light Devices. As such, I will only address these two types of purifiers here.

The pros and cons of each:

UV Light Devices tend to be slightly more expensive, and also are a relatively new technology, but UV Light Devices weight very little, and take up virtually no space in a backpack. Another negative is that they can work very slowly.

Water Purifiers tend to be a little cheaper than, but larger than UV Light Devices. They do, however, tend to work very quickly, depending on the type purchased.

I personally recommend going with a water pump. It cleans easy, doubles as a water bottle, and does not require any batteries.

If you opt for a pump purifier go with one that has the smallest available micron pores (usually 0.2), and make sure that is the absolute micron pores, not nominal.

Also, ensure that the pump purifier also contains a system that removes viruses, otherwise it is simply an advanced filter. While filters are good for water, they do not get rid of viruses. So you need an entire purification system. Generally, those water filters designated as “PURIFIERS” kill viruses too, but it is best to ensure.

For more information specific water purifiers, there is great advice that can be found on

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/water+treatment+backcountry.html#choosing.

Option Three: Chemical Treatment

The final method of treatment is one that only recommend as a cheap emergency substitute. There are two types of chemical treatments that are common, chlorine dioxide and iodine. Both chemical treatments can be purchased for under $10. While chlorine dioxide is effective for removing all types of contaminants, iodine is not. Both, however, take more time to purify than others, and both tend to leave a slightly bad taste in the water.

For Other Camping Preparations see: Preparing for a Camping Trip

As I am preparing for yet another camping trip this upcoming week, I have began planning what supplies I will need.  This idea led me to another question.  How difficult is it to plan for a short term camping trip, and how can planning for a camping trip be made easier? While every camping trip is different, they all require some basic necessities, so I began working on a camping supply checklist that will address basic needs.

How does one begin to take all of the stuff in this picture and make it into an organized package:

This week, I will be posting on some basic elements needed to prepare for a short, non-backpacking  camping trip.  Now this list isn’t a totality of all camping supplies. Heck, even when I spend hours of time planning, I often arrive at my camp site and have found that I had just forgotten that one minor thing I meant to bring, but proper planning has never let me down regarding the absolute necessities. A checklist gameplan can make the difference between a great outdoor adventure and an outdoor disaster.  As such, while discussing the concerns one should have in addressing the multitude of needs in camping, I will also be linking to a wonderful camping checklist that can help with basic preparation.

For information on Water Options when camping see: Water

Unless you grew up in a densely populated urban city, most people can remember a time in their childhood where most of the non-school day was spent outside in the yard, in the woods, or riding bikes down the road to friends’ houses. Most of us likely remember those days with nostalgia as a time when we had few responsibilities, were more adventurous than our older “maturer selves,” and were able to truly enjoy nature’s gifts. One of the fantastic things about living or visiting the Southern United States, is that you are never too far from a place to recapture some of those childhood memories. A great hike, bike, or other outdoor adventure is rarely more than an hour away from us .

Difficulties in Finding Outdoor Adventures.
Often, there are a number of obstacles both real and perceived preventing a return to the enjoyment of the great outdoors. One major obstacle perceived is the difficulty in finding places to begin the return to the outdoors.  The great thing about living in the Southern United States is that there is always a place within an hour’s drive.  This website will provide a great starting point to locating hikes, bikes, and other great outdoor adventures.

Solving the Problem of Time:

As our world continues to grow faster paced, finding time to slow down and enjoy nature becomes even more essential. Our bodies are not made to be constantly in a state of occupational stress. Our most primal survival skills after all comes from centuries of learning to interact with nature versus mere decades of interacting with a keyboard.

While it is easy to say we have to “make time” to relax. The cliche is often stated far too simply. After all, there are only twenty-four hours in a day.  The only way to find time to relax in nature is to manage your time, not “make it” as is too often stated. The great thing about being in the South, whether in Georgia or Texas, Florida or Virginia is that a quick escape to the outdoors is rarely more than an hour away. Certainly we can find an hour or two on the weekend to escape to nature. To return to that childhood where responsibilities are at least temporarily washed away by green forests and roaring camp fires.

The Problem of Fitness

Often it is perceived that a return to the great outdoors requires excellent fitness, a granola diet, and a buff bod. BUT, whether you have been out of outdoor adventuring since the age of 7, or have been hitting the weight room for two a days, the point of this return to the outdoors is to escape that rigorous work schedule, that day to day urban monotony. The return to the outdoors is for all.

Outdoor adventures are not just for the triathletes and marathon runners in the world. We all can enjoy the great outdoors as long as we do not over do it, and have patients with our bodies. If you are concerned about your physical ability to start hiking, it is always better to be safe than sorry to discuss any new exercise program with a medical professional. If you get the okay, or feel that you are ready for some hikes, start with something slow, look for our hikes rated “EASY”. Hiking and Biking can be a great way to begin a fitness program designed for weight loss. Start off with trails that are not too steep and climbing and trails that are less than 2.0 miles in length (remember distances for trails that are not loops are usually listed as one way distances, so double it to know the actual length).  Just be sure to take it slow to avoid injury and burn out. Committing to hiking or biking on the weekends provides a twofold solution to many of our problems, it provides a time to relax and a time to enjoy nature while losing weight.

V. Final words of safety.

As with all things that are began, safety is always a must. Please do not jump into an outdoor adventure without knowing all of the necessary safety precautions.

Also, don’t overdo it. Your first hike since childhood should not be a 15 miler that ends in an emergency room visit. Take it easy at first, and build yourselves up to the longer hikes. In the end it will be worth it. Hopefully, your return to the great outdoors will be enjoyable as the years I have spent embracing the environmental blessings that we have around us.

Lake Conasauga campground provides beautiful camping sites around Lake Conasauga, the highest lake in Georgia. The campground is open from mid-April to October. The campground and the lake are located atop Grassy Mountain, in the Chattahoochee Forest. This campground and the trails around it provide beautiful views of the Cohutta Wilderness.

Campsites:

35 Sites - Located adjacent to the 19 acre lake on one side. The sites progress uphill away from the lake.The campsites have a tent pad, a fire ring, a grill, and some have wooden picnic tables.

Author’s Note: If you want a site on the lake, I would definitely recommend getting there early, especially on busy holidays.

Trails at the Campground:

Lake Conasauga Trail

Songbird Trail

Grassy Mountain Tower Trail

Directions to the Campground:

1. From Location get directions to Chatsworth, Georgia

2. From Chatsworth, GA take US 411 North 4 miles.

3. Turn Right at Traffic Light in Eton.

4. Follow this Road until the Pavement Ends, and it becomes a dirt road called Forest Service Road 18.

5. At Forest Service Road 18 continue until there is a left turn onto Forest Service Road 68 (note as of April, 2008, this road was temporarily closed for improvements, and travelers were detoured along FS 18 until following signs to the campground). Follow FS 68 10 miles following all signs indicating the direction of the Campground.

6. Alternatively, one could take US 52 from Ellijay west to Forest Service Road 18. Continue on FS 18 to the FS 68 junction, and follow FS 68 to the Campground.

Author’s Note:      Lake Conasauga Campground is not an easy campground to get to.  It requires driving on some somewhat harsh dirt roads. While it is possible to make it up and down the mountain in a standard car, I would recommend using a vehicle with higher clearance if possible, or be prepared for a very slow bumpy drive.

My experience at Lake Conasauga:

Camping at Lake Conasauga was a very enjoyable experience. I stayed on a tent pad on the lake shore. During my stay, I enjoyed fishing, canoeing, hiking, and relaxing by a fire right on the lake. It should be noted that this campground does seem to be concerned with black bears. While no bears were seen during my stay, the volunteers at the campground said they been known to enter the campground in search of food. As such, it is necessary to store your food in your car or bear lockers. This is not problematic at this site, however, as you can park your car right next to the tent pad.

Please feel free to leave any advice, comments, or questions about this Campground, and I will try to answer anything I can about my experiences there.

Welcome to the first post of SouthernHiker.com. This site will be dedicated to all things outdoors in the Southern United States.

I hope this site will provide a place for hikers, campers, cyclists, and the like to talk about their favorite trails in the South, best camping locations, and discuss equipment that has been useful, or not so useful on your outdoors adventures. More is to come, as I will continue to develop this site over the next month or so.