These links have been helpful to us in planning trips, finding cool gear or were just interesting.

 Gear

REI is one of the best sources for equipment and information.

www.rei.com

Sierra Trading Post is an online source of all types of gear and is usually very well priced.

 www.sierratradingpost.com

Hennessey Hammocks makes my favorite piece of backpacking gear.

www.hennessyhammock.com

MSR manufactures quite a few good products. We use their stoves and water purification systems.

http://cascadedesigns.com/MSR

A good resource for product comparisons and other info:

http://www.backpacking.net/

One of the best gear review sites out there:

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/

Great backpacking meals at Mountain House:

http://www.mountainhouse.com/

Government information,park resources and other organizations

Tennessee state parks homepage:

http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/

Detailed list of all the state parks in Tennessee:

http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/findapark/

Info on the Smoky Mountains:

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

A nice website with information on all things outdoors:

www.cobaltspider.com

Appalachian Trail Info:

http://whiteblaze.net/

Friends of South Cumberland is a fantastic non-profit organization.  They do great work for the park and are an important source of information:

http://www.friendsofscsra.org/index.html

 A good list of a number of hiking clubs in Tennessee:

www.hikingandbackpacking.com/tennesseeclubs.html

Peer reviews of a number of Tennessee trails:

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trails/tn/trails.php

This Nashville based Meetup Group is fairly active with group backpacking trips and stays involved with volunteering efforts in our local parks:

http://www.meetup.com/NashvilleBackpacker/