One of the things that most people say that you ought to take with you when you hit the trail for a day or several days of hiking, is a first aid kit. You need to have a small kit with you so that you are prepared for those odd accidents that occur on the trail while you are hiking. This kit should be small enough to fit in your backpack and should be sized in direct correlation to the length of time you are going to be spending on the trail.
Things to make sure you have in your first aid kit (this is a place to start not the end-all-be-all):
Self-Adhesive Bandages – Seems like it is obvious but a box of multi-sized, self-adhesive bandages is a must. If you get a scrap or a cut, you will be prepared to stop the bleeding.- Disinfectant Spray – Another easy to explain item. It is nice to have something to disinfect those cuts when they happen.
- Gauze & Gauze Tape – Good for cuts and abrasions that need a little more treatment than a BandAid. Carry enough gauze rolls to treat a wound and at least 4-5 4 inch gauze pads.
- Alcohol Swabs – Great for cleaning a scrap or a cut. These sting a little but they are small and easy to carry. Remember though your goal is to leave no trace – pack out what you take in.
- Aspirin – A no brainer. Pick your favorite painkiller and keep some in your first aid kit.
- Triple-Antibiotic Ointment – First line of defense for any cut or scrap whether you are on the trail or at home. A little tube of this in your first aid kit does not take up much room and is perfect for easy the pain on that cut, keeping it clean and making it feel better.
- Tweezers – Splinters, bits of wood, glass, whatever may have found its way into your body, a simple pair of tweezers can remove that object quickly and easily.
- Moleskin – For blisters, this si the best relief ever invented. Keep a roll of it in your pack even if it is not in your first aid kit.
- Water-Proof Matches – A good rule of thumb is to pack for your day hike as if you might end up spending the night. Waterproof matches are have coated heads that will allow them to light even if you are caught in a downpour.
- Magnesium Based Firestarter – If you have to start a small fire, you will not be able to depend on finding enough tender to make a fire or that the tender you find will be dry enough to light. A magnesium firestarter comes with a bar of magnesium that can be shaved off into your tender or campfire. With a waterproof match or with a strike of flint on soem steel you will have a nice fire going without any problem.
- Signal Mirror – A small highly polished mirror that an allow you to signal passing aircraft or people that you see on other trails.
- Reflective Emergency Blanket – This reflective blanket harnesses the light and your own body heat to form a temperature barrier between you and the cold. Staying warm when you find yourself on the trail, stuck overnight.
The best thing is that you can buy small pre-made first aid kits with almost everything you need. Stop by your favorite big box store and pick up those first aid supplies that you think you might need on the trail .
Timeline:
The southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains, with its temperate climate, slow changes in elevation and lush greenery, is a haven to hikers from around the world. People flock to the Smokies especially to spend time on any number of trails, but the trail that is most popular and the one that a lot of people want to tackle part of is the Appalachian Trail. One end of the AT starts in the Smokies, in northern 
One of the next high points on the trail that you will come across is Fontana Dam. At this point on the AT you have made your way into North Carolina, your second state if you are heading north from Georgia. Fontana Lake is one of those TVA created lakes that took in the small towns of Judson and Proctor (near present day 
If you were to hike from the Newfound Gap trailhead and continue northward the next focal point you are going to come to is 
The Wild Eagle raises 21 stories into the sky atop Dollywood’s highest peak. Taking off from the Wilderness Pass area, riders will experience the sensation of flight as the coaster’s massive track swoops and soars around the park. Wild Eagle reaches a top speed of 61 miles per hour and maneuvers four inversions including a giant loop, a “zero-G” roll, and a giant flat spin. The two-and-a-half minute journey also includes a 135-foot first drop. Located 210 feet above the coaster’s loading station, the ride provides spectacular views of the Smoky Mountains.
The Barnstormer, Dollywood’s newest thrill ride, was a huge hit when it opened this past summer and is situated on a ridge alongside Craftsman’s Valley. Passengers are seated back-to-back on two giant pendulums that swing 81 feet in the air. The journey to the treetops reaches a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour and rotates 230 degrees. It’s big, red barn theme complements the Barnstormer’s barnyard setting which includes a large children’s play area. Lil’ Pilots Playground features a 22-foot by 16-foot wooden bi-plane while Granny’s Garden & Pig Pen offers play structures and water fountains.
Here is the premise behind the show. Once you walk in the door you will realize that you are in an indoor riding arena. The horseshoe shaped seating area covers three sides of the dirt covered ‘ stage.’ The crickets chirping and the man-made stars in the sky lend to the atmosphere. Once the action kicks off though you don’t have time to think about the scenery anymore, this high energy show will keep you on the edge of your seat. Horses, trick riding, games, competitions and plenty of music makes the time fly by. And the competition is the biggest part of the night. The idea is that the two sides of the audience are competing. Throughout most of the year, it is a competition between the North and South, during the winter months it is still the north and south but this time it is the North and South Poles. And not only is the cast involved in this competition but the members of the audience get brought down into the arena itself.
But let’s not forget the food. The food is just as big a highlight as the show. And because it is Dixe Stampede, the food is as big as the show. You get a whole rotisserie chicken, pork tenderloin, corn-on-the-cob, potato wedges, creamy vegetable soup, a biscuit and dessert. I know this sounds like a lot of food, and it is, but if you don’t finish everything they will bring you a doggy bag so that you can take the leftovers back to your hotel or cabin. The food is amazing and the fact that they can serve more than a thousand people while putting on a multi-million dollar show means that you get to watch two shows in one: the show in the arena and the show that the servers put on in the audience.
And there is still another option. You can always look to the small shops and boutiques in each of the mountain towns that surround the Smokies. From 
Trout Fishing – some of the streams and river sin the CNF are stocked streams and provide some of the best rainbow trout fishing in the Smoky Mountain area. Along with trout you will find bass, crappie and bluegill fishing that is beyond compare.
Milepost 469 – The Blue Ridge Parkway intersects with US 441 in Cherokee, NC
Located on a 14-acre residential campus in 
You’ll find the main stage at the festival’s center, literally. Over the next three days, there will be more bluegrass played on this stage than you can shake a stick at. Gospel is big as well and always draws a big crowd to root on their favorite local group or singer.