Day 24, Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Day 24, Tuesday March 23, 2021

1 Kings 1 - 22

Snowbird Mountain campsite to Roaring Fork Shelter campsite.  12 miles hiked - AT mile 257.0.

Cold and windy morning as we quickly packed up and headed out.  We had a couple of significant climbs to make that day, totaling about 3600 ft of elevation.  The morning was uneventful, and we stopped for lunch about 6 miles in around noon.

That afternoon we reached Max Patch summit, a local scenic spot that had been cleared for cattle many years before and now maintained as a bald.  It was the highest spot for miles around, and offered great 360 degree views.  It was cold up there, so we didn’t stay long.

From there, the trail was mostly downhill, and the forest around the trail was gradually changing.  There were signs of the old cattle ranching done there in past years all around.

We arrived at the shelter campsite a little after 3 and decided to call it a day.  We found a couple of decent tent sites just down from the shelter.  After setting up, we spent some time catching up with Smoky, who we’d met our first week on the trail.  Dinner followed and bed shortly thereafter.

Until next time...

Day 25, Wednesday March 24, 2021

      

2 Kings 1 - 25

Roaring Fork Shelter campsite to Deer Park Mountain Shelter campsite - 14.9 miles hiked - 271.7 total AT miles hiked. 1921 or so miles left to go.

Woke up this morning to a wet camp as we got overnight rain.  The rain had stopped by the time we arose, and the tent was soaked on the outside.  Fortunately everything inside was perfectly dry.  I am really growing to appreciate this REI Flash 2 tent.

After retrieving our bear bags from the bear cables (food is hung every night to discourage the local bears from seeking out food in tents or the shelter), we packed up and headed out.  A beautiful day for hiking, sunny with temps mostly in the sixties.  

The day’s hike began with two significant mountains to crest, first  the smaller (Walnut mountain) followed by the more significant Bluff Mountain.  As we reached the top of Bluff at lunch time, we found  a nice rocky outcropping to sit and eat.  We were joined there by Der De Dos, a 70 year old through hiker doing the trail for the 2nd time.  He apparently has quite a You Tube following as he is chronicling his trip.  He took some video of us to post to his site.  I’ll have to look it up when I have WiFi access.  I was able to FaceTime with family (including my 2 oldest granddaughters) as there was decent reception on top of the mountain.

After lunch the rest of the afternoon was mostly spent on a gradual downhill for about 7 miles into the next shelter. A leisurely afternoon enjoying the pleasant weather and scenic views.

Arrived at the campsite around 4:15, and set up camp.  Blizzard was already there, who we had shared a ride into Gatlinburg last week.  Also met a woman who had been hiking 2 weeks longer than we had (started 2/15), and was doubtful she’d be able to complete the trek before they shut down Khatadin for the winter.

After dinner, another FaceTime- this time with my other granddaughter (and her parents), before calling it a night.

Tomorrow will be a short day as we head into Hot Springs NC, with plans to possibly stay the night.

Until next time...

Day 23, Monday March 22, 2021

    

2nd Samuel 1 - 24

Cosby Knob Shelter to stealth campsite on Snowbird Mountain - 13.9 miles hiked - 245.0 AT miles total.

Got an early start and topped Mt. Cammerer (4950 ft) in a couple of hours.  From there it was all downhill to Davenport Gap, the northern boundary of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.  At the gap, we dropped off the 2nd half of our Smokey permits and were officially through that section , 72 miles of the toughest hiking I’ve encountered (yet).

The last couple of miles down included some amazing river and creek crossings, and stunning scenery.  It seems like every section we pass through has new vistas not seen up to that point.

Leaving the Smokey’s, the trail actually follows a paved road for about 1/2 mile, taking us under Interstate 40.  Just past that was Standing Bear Farm, an aging hippie commune that has transformed itself into a thru hiker hostel and resupply.  We had lunch there (pizza) and did some minor resupply, but found most of the food to be well past expiration dates.  Several of the older and younger crowd we’d come to know spent the afternoon there including Orlando, The Kid, Happy, and 9 to 5.

We headed out after a couple of hours, planning on camping along the trail later that afternoon.  We found a spot on Snowbird Mountain (4263 ft) after climbing all afternoon from the Standing Bear (elevation 1761).  Long day but enjoyable.  Set up, dinner and bed by 7:30.

Until next time...

Day 22, Sunday March 21, 2021

   

1 Samuel 17 - 31

Peck’s Corner Shelter to Cosby Knob Shelter- 12.9 miles hiked - 231.1 AT miles.

Woke to temperatures in the 20s, as we packed up and hit the trail. Welcome to the first day of spring. Tough hiking throughout the morning as freezing rain and ice dropping from the trees pelted us.  

By early afternoon as we stopped for lunch it finally cleared enough to see some of the incredible views offered through the trees. It also started warming up and the trail conditions gradually improved. By the end of the hiking day, it felt like we had gone from winter to spring to almost summer conditions (if mid 40s qualified for summer weather). Some of the variations I saw on the trail today are pictured.

We reached our destination about 4:30 and set up our tents. Some friends we’d seen on and off were already there (Orlando and Happy). We had dinner together (for me - tuna, potatoes, and crackers). Turned in early, anticipating our last full day in the Smokeys tomorrow.

Until next time...

Day 21, Saturday March 20, 2021

   

1 Samuel 1 - 16

Newfound Gap to Pecks Corner Shelter -  11 miles. 218.2 AT miles so far.  

Enjoyed the morning in Gatlinburg, including a pancake breakfast at Flapjacks.  Gatlinburg was packed with tourists so the wait for breakfast was 30 minutes.  We took that time for a resupply at Walgreens, as they carried most hiker foods.  Then on to breakfast.

After a filling meal, we headed back to the hotel to pack up and check out by 11.

On to the NOC to call our trail angel Tabasco, who was running hikers back to the gap to get back on the trail.  We ran into him in the NOC parking lot as he was getting ready to head out with a group.  He said we’d be his next load.

At 12:30 we loaded up and headed for the gap.  Our day’s hike started at 1 pm, and we shared the trail with hundreds of day hikers heading up to Charlie’s Bunion, a famous rock formation and overlook.  We stopped there for pictures and a snack before pressing on.

Our original plan was to stop at a shelter 3 miles in, but decided it would be too crowded with weekenders.  We pressed on, knowing it would be late when we arrived at the next shelter.

Hiking all afternoon through some of the most beautiful scenery yet, in perfect sunny weather, we arrived at our shelter for the night about 7:30.  Quickly finding tent spots we set up, fixed a quick dinner and turned in.

Until next time...

Day 20, Friday March 19, 2021

   

Ruth 1 - 4

Woke up this morning to a snow covered trail.  After a quick pack up, Rick, 92, and I headed out, intending to complete the 12.2 mile hike to Newfound Gap and into Gatlinburg.  We were concerned that the road would be closed again that evening so our goal was to get there by 4pm.

The trail was typically difficult, compounded by the ice and slush accumulated on the path.  We were only able to maintain a moderate pace throughout the day.

By noon, we accomplished two milestones almost simultaneously, passing the 200 mile mark and reaching the highest point on the AT, Clingmans Dome (6658 ft).  We stopped to climb the tower, which was incredibly icy, but there were no views to see.

From there, the rest of the afternoon was spent pushing through the ice, slush and mud to get to the gap.  Arriving around 4, we were met by two Trail Angels handing out veggie burgers, chips and drinks.

With the overnight weather scheduled to be in the teens, we decided that we’d get a room in town for the night.  Unfortunately everything was booked or outrageously expensive.  We decided to take our chances and got a ride into town with two other trail angels who were I. town for the weekend with the express purpose of shuttling hikers.  The told us of a relatively cheap hotel, the Gillette, I called, they had a room and we were set.

After a trip to the local NOC outfitter for Rick to pick up some new shoes sent to him, we had dinner at Five Guys and called it a night.  Tomorrow we head back out to finish the Smokey’s in the next 4 days.

One final milestone for the day as we had now entered

our third state, Tennessee.  Total AT miles hiked 207.7.

Until next time...

Day 19, Thursday March 18, 2021

  

Judges 11 - 21

Short day today.  Hiked from Derrick Knob Shelter to Silers Bald Shelter - 6.7 miles ending at AT mile 195.5.

It was still raining when we started out, but cleared up some by early afternoon.  We arrived at Silers around 1:30.   We were told that bad weather was moving in by late afternoon and there was no good option for camping beyond where we were, so we settled in there. We elected to stay in the shelter as freezing rain and snow were expected overnight.  When we settled into our slots there were only six of us in the 12 man shelter.  By 8 pm, about 10 more had crammed in making sleeping very uncomfortable.

We also had a trail runner come by to inform us that the road into Gatlinburg (where we were planning to head to the next day for resupply) was iced over and closed. That evening we got hail, freezing rain and ultimately snow.

We planned on an early start on Friday to make the 12 mile trek to Newfound Gap and head into Gatlinburg.

Until next time...