We left Fontana Dam on a frigid morning but seven uphill miles warmed us up really quick. We got to the shelter early (in the Smokeys you must stay in shelters) and hung around with some day walkers (non thru hiking folk). The next day started out very cold but turned into a really nice day by mid afternoon. We got to the highest point on the Appalachian trail that day and were thankful we could see something. Clingmans Dome stands around 6650 ft. and has a huge tower to get the 360 degree view. As we hung out I watched the other hikers come and go, all headed to the next shelter. It was then that we were warned of the weather coming in that evening. Realizing I needed to get a spot in the shelter, I ran down the trail, passing seven of my fellow hikers. I made it to the shelter to grab the last spot and felt the eyes of the other hikers on me as I set up. Little did I know, I was in for a very long night. As I wrote in my journal, I had to listen to two redneck gentlemen going back and forth with different stories of how they've snuck into bars in their hometown. I tried to tune them out and snuck further into my sleeping bag. Shortly later, I was awoken abruptly to what I thought was the earth splitting in two. I looked around, confused and realized this blow horn of a noise was erupting from the sleeping bag next to me. When he wasn't snoring he would let out the longest seepy farts I've ever heard in my life. In between bouts of insanity, I thought back to those last four miles when I passed my fellow hikers. Karma was a bitch that day and the man next to me will forever be known as Snorelufugus Longfarts(in my head). We made it halfway through the Smokeys the next day so I decided to jump down into Gatlinburg TN for the night. There's nothing I can say that could accurately describe Gatlinburg. Shortly after getting into town and grabbing a shower, I found my self in a moonshine tasting room. Resupplying was difficult afterwards. We then ran into a man named Walt who owned a condo and offered to let us stay the night. He made us a huge dinner and breakfast before sending us on our way. It snowed that morning and the temperature was dropping drastically. That night I got to a trail hostel where my good friends, Cara and Todd from the PCT, met me to hike for a few days. We stayed up late reminiscing about the good times on the PCT. We woke up to another snowy morning but hiked out anyways. It was a beautiful day until the afternoon when the wind started whipping and a cold front came in. We were freezing. The snow was blowing at us sideways and sticking to anything wet. We made it down to a shelter that had already stuffed as many people as possible into it and begrudgingly set up our tents. The next morning, I awoke to the sound of frozen boots being banged everywhere and the grumbles of their owners. Everything had frozen overnight, including my baby wipes and chapstick. We built a small fire with what dry wood we could find and started to thaw out our shoes. We had a nice leisurely day once the sun came out and we even got to dry all of our wet tents and sleeping bags. Cara and Todd have been giving us lessons on the local flora and fauna and even foraged for wild onions or ramps. I put them in my dinner that evening. We got to camp and had a long campfire with our good friend, Lemon before retreating to our tents and falling asleep. The next day we made it into a little town called Hot Springs NC where we took a zero day and took full advantage of their hot mineral baths and homemade ice cream milkshakes. Cara, Todd, Lemon, and I will head out today on our way to Erwin TN.
At mile 275 and still loving it!!!