My wife and I are going up to the A.T. near or in the GSMNP in January. Probably some where near Cosby. We will most likely take the Snake Den Ridge Trail that comes directly off the A.T. We will probably stay for 4-5 nights depending on the weather and such. We have been planning this trip for a couple of months and we are really looking forward to it too. Will stay mostly in the tent but may try a shelter or two again depending on how crowded they are. There is a shelter at Crosby Knob that is on the A.T.and we have looked that one over for a while too. I am sure that some one here has stayed on that trail a time or two...sabre11004...