UF’s Adventure Backpacking the Smoky (Rainy) Mountains

Faith and I, University of Florida’s College Ambassadors, led a 3-day backpacking trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a group of 8 participants. This outdoor recreation outing took place over a weekend and covered roughly 18 miles of hiking through the park’s diverse terrain.

We chose this location because of its iconic status as the most-visited National Park, accessibility, and the opportunity it provides for participants to experience a crazy backcountry adventure. Throughout the trip, our group was challenged physically and mentally. It rained for over 6 hours the first night, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures into the 20s°F overnight. We woke up with all of our clothes frozen solid and beautiful views of the frost on the treetops. The most magical moment of that day was watching the flurries of ice fall off the trees like autumn leaves, and snacking on icicles as we hiked along the ridge. 

One of the most memorable moments was reaching the Mount Cammerer Fire Tower, where we snacked on pita pizzas and admired the 360-degree view we worked hard to reach. Despite last night’s weather challenges, spirits were high throughout the trip, and we spent most of Saturday singing songs and playing games on the trail. 

I felt so incredibly proud of the group’s perseverance and positive attitude. Faith and I had never backpacked in conditions this cold before, but everyone felt a healthy level of challenge, and we were all so close to one another after experiencing it together. 

Through this outing, we created a supportive environment where participants could grow, problem-solve, and experience the power of outdoor adventure. National Park Trust played a crucial role in helping make this trip possible, and we are so thankful for the opportunity to explore these protected spaces and share them with others