backpacking

I am planning to go backpacking for the last time in a while. My friend Mark is having ankle surgery and as I usually go with him, I may not carry heavy things on my back in the woods for a few months. We usually go more often when it's cold and right now it's only quasi-cold. We will be in the Smoky Mountains and it should be beautiful this time of year. We will be traveling from Clingman's Dome down to Cades cove over three days.