What you need
Pack
There are many types of packs. Some are designed for short day trips, some for long trips. Some have an external frame, others internal. Make sure that your pack is adjusted to fit snugly and comfortably on your back. You will need to be able to balance with your pack full to make it down rocky trails or cross slippery rocks in streams and rivers.
Water filter and sterilization method
There are many ways to treat water: iodine, boiling, water purification tablets and ultraviolet devices (think mini light sabers that use UV light to kill germs in clear water). You'll need a filter to remove sediment from the water before you sterilize and drink it.
Because of the drought in the Smokies, water sources at some campsites were so low that backpackers scooped water out of inch-deep divots in the ground lined with sediment and leaves. Pump systems are available that make extracting water from puddles easier. Check conditions at a ranger station before you hike.
Water bladder
You'll be thirsty, and not always sure how thirsty you'll get, before you reach the next campsite or water source. Stock up before you leave a campsite in the morning. You'll be glad to have water once the sun gets high.
Food and cookstove
If you're heading into the backcountry, you want to pack light -- but you also want to make sure that the food you bring is nutritious and balanced. Dried fruits, nuts, energy bars, dense breads and crackers are good.
There is also an amazing selection of freeze-dried foods available at camping retailers. I liked Mountain House and Backpackers Pantry, but after hiking all day, ramen tastes good, too.
Lightweight collapsible cookstoves are available wherever camping supplies are sold. They range in price from about $25 to more than $100. If you don't want to carry a stove, you can build a fire using fallen branches or eat cold foods. But a stove is the most efficient way to boil water and cook a hot meal.
Miscellaneous
Map
Compass
First-aid kit
Pocketknife
Spoon and metal cup or bowl
Sunscreen and insect repellent
Lantern
Waterproof matches
Fire starter
Spade and biodegradable toilet paper -- It's important to find an appropriate place to properly bury your waste. Think about where you and millions of other people who visit the park get drinking water.
Sleeping bag
Sleeping bags are rated by temperature. Check the weather forecast to get an idea of how cold nights will be. Inflatable or foam sleeping mats are also popular.
Hiking boots
Boots should be waterproof. Also, boots should protect ankles from twists; many trails are rocky.
Tent
There are three-sided wooden shelters along the Appalachian Trail. If you're not interested in carrying a tent in your pack, register in advance with the park service to stay in the shelters. There are also some high-demand campgrounds that require pre-registration.
If you go
You can plan your trip at
www.nps.gov/grsm.
To reserve a site or a shelter, call the Backcountry Reservation Office at 865-436-1231. Backcountry permits are free and available for pickup at facilities around the park.
Also check for trail closures and warnings. There are an estimated 1,500 black bears living in the park, and rangers can tell you which campsites or trails to avoid because of heightened bear activity.