Saturday, April 22, 2006: Walnut Mtn Shelter to Hot Springs, NC....13mi

Cold and windy last nite in my tent...propably about 45 degrees...we got in late after a long day..set up camp...had supper and went to bed with the knowledge that tomorrow we would be in Hot Springs in time for their Spring Festival...Trail Fest...a celebration of the hiker community... I got in about 1400 and checked into my room at the 160 y/o victorian hostel called the Sunny Bank Inn... Quite a nice place with plenty of friendly faces to go around...I took a much needed shower and went to do my laundry...As you probably already guessed Im not carrying much of a wardrobe with me on this trip... I have trail clothes and clothes to sleep in...LOL...thats it...so get use to lookin at me in tan and green...lol I went by the festival square a little later and mingled with the other hikers met up with Gingo, Donkey, and a few others and we went for a beer and later Gringo and I went for dinner and met up with a group of about 6 55-65 y/o hikers doin the trail together and had supper with them...Quite an interesting group I think Ill be seeing them again...Ranger Dog and company... Couldnt get a signal for the cell phone anywhere in town so I used the calling card for the first time to phone home and check in...

Pictures:
1. Thats Donkey walking ahead of me through a Rhotodendrum forest...This would be spectacular when in bloom...
2. Another stunning wildflower found along the trail... These help to make my days out here...
3. A trail sign indicating my arrival to Hot Springs...
4. A "before shower" pic at the AT monument in the Center of Hot Springs...
5. The gang meets in the center of town for after shower pics... Trail Fest is going on right across the street... I took a day off from hiking here to rest my aching shin splint, to get caught up on my blog entries, and to enjoy the towns people before heading out again...

Friday, April 21, 2006: Standing Bear Farm to Walnut Mtn Shelter...20.3mi

I left just after the rain began to slow a bit and hoped that it would soon stop...LOL it rained all day... About 2 miles out of Standing Bear Farms I had my first bear encounter...A bit exciting and frightening at the same time... A cub ran across the trail about 20 yards ahead of me in a driving rain...I couldnt believe it and as I reached for my camera I thought to look for MOM...she was on the ridge above me with another cub seeking cover...I forgot the camera and backtracked about 50yards watching the cub race off and also my chance for a pic of the little guy fading... I waited quietly for a few mins then decided I better start making a bit of noise at least above the sound of the rain... After about 15min, I decided it was time to move on and did so calling out "Hey Bear" loudly for some time to come... I never saw them again... I was a long day of T-storms but not too cold and I stopped in to Groundhog Creek Shelter for a break about 1100 and had some lunch with a couple who were waiting out the storm...They had been there for more than a day already...LOL...probably still there too... "Gringo", "Trixter", and "What" caught up with me here and we all left together headed for the Walnut Mtn shelter another 13 miles away... The weather did clear some and the walk improved expecially with some unexpected Trail Majic at Brown Gap about 1230... After that it was a bit difficult to move...ate tooooooo much...lol...
Pictures:
1. This one is out of sequence..from the top of Max Patch Bald... Highland farming began back in the 1800s when farmers cleared the tops of these Mtns for grazing... The Forest Service purchased this piece of land, which has a road almost to the top, for all to enjoy. The views are Magnificient even on a cloudy day like this one... Thats Gringo, Donkey, and "What" taking off in the background.
2. "TRAIL ANGELS" What more can I say... These folks, thats OX and PEBBLES,took time off from their lives to flip burgers, and hand out love on the trail for the entire weekend. It was fitting that the weather cleared here around 1100 when we came up on them parked on a back road, miles from anywhere...WHAT A SURPRISE!!!! THANKYOU
3. Thats myself, Donkey, and Gringo enjoying the moment on top of Max Patch
4. Approaching Max Patch the weather was still a bit blustery as you can gather from this pic...It did improve moments later... We had a chance to dry off a bit before continuing on our way and another 8 miles before making camp at Walnut Mtn Shelter about 1900 where the weather dipped to about 45 with high winds all night. We were comfy in our tents and sleeping bags...

Thursday, April 20, 2006: Cosby Knob Shelter to Standing Bear Farm...10.4mi

Got up early with "Slim" and we headed to the comfort of a hostel in the gap below... "Slim" and I along with "Gringo", "Trixter" and "What"( they just got married and are apparently honeymooning on the trail) have been hiking for a few days off and on now... But we lost "Gringo" last night, guess he held up at the last shelter...the weather being bad and all... Im off first and arrive at standing bear around 1230. It was good to get in early because it started to rain hard mid afternoon with severe T-storms around...
Pictures:
1. One of the really slow ones going north...LOL...these little guys are all over the trail...
2. Thats me posing at one of the side trails on the way out of the Smokeys...Yup they do allow horse back riding along some of the less arduous sections..
3. Thats "Slim" posing at a marker located at the entrance to the North end of the Smokeys on the AT
4. The road leading to Standing Bear Farm, only about 1/10th of a mile out of our way...
5. "Slim" getting comfortable
6. Pic of our porch, the dining hut, and a little further down on the left is the washer/drier/computer/phone hut...cute set up..
7. some of us gathering on the porch relaxing after walking about 260 miles...

Wednesday, April 19, 2006: Icewater Spring Shelter to Cosby Knob shelter...20.3mi

Well, it finally happenned....RAIN just about all day with hail and T-storms. I had a long day planned to help ease my way into my resupply point on the following day... Another 20 miler... But this time with inclement weather... My hands were frozen...I passed more than one hiker huddled under a tree for cover and thought to myself if I stop I will freeze...Im already wet and have a long day ahead...so best just get it done... Stopped at Tri-Corner Knob shelter for a break and lunch and it cleared for a rather pleasant afternoon of hiking...
Pictures:
1. Approaching Charlies Bunion, a geologic anomaly and quite popular...rain stopped long enough to get a few pics...
2. the bunion..
3. views from the bunion
4. another bunion...
5. later in the afternoon the weather settled and got some nice pics
6. nice sunset from Cosby Knob Shelter...1st night that I didnt stay in my tent...

Tuesday, April 18, 2006: Double Spring Gap Shelter to Icewater Spring Shelter...13.8mi

The shelters in the Smokies are spread apart by a few more miles and there is a rule that you must camp near or stay in the shelters. So its crowded every night... More Trail Majic today at Newfound Gap where "Gringo" and I planned our lunch.. Plenty of inquisitive tourists one from the South Side of Chicago provided us with drinks and snacks... We got into Icewater Spring shelter at 1530 but with the next one 8 miles away, we decided to call it a day...
Pictures:
1. Early morning views from Clingmans Dome observation tower on a clowdy day...we were so fortunate to have a break in the clouds for some nice pics...
2. A picture of Me, "Gringo", and another gentleman(name unknown) enjoying views from Clingmans Dome tower
3. Our friends from the South side of Chicago ... thanks so much for the trail majic... hope you had a pleasant vacation too..
4. A sign leading north bound out of Newfound Gap toward Icewater shelter
5. Examples of backcountry signs pointing you in the right direction...one hopes...lol
6. Views from the dinner table at Icewater Springs shelter... Lovely...

Monday, April 17, 2006: Russell Field Shelter to Double Spring Gap Shelter...16.4mi

Well didnt sleep too well last night, with the thought of bears is on my mind and with the wind rattling the bear cables holding our food giving all the impression some bear was hungry and trying to shake the bags loose... LOL... Well got up and out by 0745 for a good 16 miler today...Met up with "Donkey Love" and "Gringo" today as well as a number of others... Pretty uneventful day.
Pictures:
1. A different sort of trail majic...those lovely wildflowers
2. Close up of the wildflowers
3. That "Donkey Love", "Gringo", "Sage", and Me kneeling on the top of Silers Bald
4. Dinner time at the Double Spring Gap shelter...another full house tonight
5. Inside of a typical Smokie Mountain Shelter...2 levels which is less common up north... a testament to the numbers who begin but never end this trip...

Sunday, April 16, 2006: Fontana Dam to Russell Field Shelter...13.5mi

Its Easter...Another lovely day for hiking...were out a bit late but hit the trail by 0930...we have quite a climb ahead as is usual whenever we drop down into a gap from these mountains...Today its a 2700 foot climb... I took a number of pics of the Dam and the surrounding area. Quite a few hikers stayed at the Fontana Dam "Hilton" last night and are starting out today... Even at 0930 Im one of the first on the trail...these younger hikers like to sleep late I guess... When I reach Doe Knob the most amazing view yet...a landscape full of wildflowers, reminds me of the Wizard of Ozz and the flowers... Any way a long day, kinda low mileage I think mostly due to the climb...
Pictures:
1. Fontana Dam trail goes right over it...
2. Entering the Smokies
3. Looking back once I reached Shuckstack
4. ATC Ridge Runner keeping track of all the hikers entering the park and where they are planning to stay...
5. You might have thought it snowed but there all wildflowers for miles throughout the park...Like a white blanket
6. Old style Smokies shelter with the bear cage across the front...They are removing all the cages and tell us to just not leave food out or feed the bears...Duh what a concept...

April 15, 2006: Sassafras Gap Shelter to Fontana Dam...22.1mi

Not a real pleasant night at Sassafras Gap...High winds whipped up some dust which ended up covering everything inside and outside of my tent...including me... Anyway I shake the dust off and pack up for another long day... my longest ever 22mi... Im out by 0730 and soon come across some lovely campsites, not in my book, on the top of Cheoah Bald. I stop for a moment and chat with a woman who stayed the night up there with her dog and admired the views... I push on and while descending into Stecoah Gap around 1000, I come across some Trail Majik... A large basket full of fruit, chips, and snacks of all sorts... Probably $50.00 worth of goods there... I take a few and sit at a picnic table down at the gap to savor my first majic... Its too early for a long break so Im soon off and arrive at the Brown Fork Gap shelter for lunch around 1130. I have lunch there with a gentleman called "Tipper" and take my 1hr break... About 1230 Im off again and headed for Fontana Dam where I get my first glimpse of the reservoir at about 1500. Its still a long walk to the Dam though, and by 1800 I finally arrive and call the hotel for a pickup...The shin is aching quite a bit more after today and Im not sure what tomorrow will hold. Nancy Hoch from the"Hike Inn" picks me up shortly after I call but not before I experience my second "Trail Majic" of the day... A group of hikers has put on a picnic for all thru-hikers serving all sorts of stuff...I grab myself a Heinekin, a burger and a dog and quickly down them all before Nancy arrives... After a quick shower, I put on my cleanest clothes, lol...and we head into town for dinner...Im still pretty hungry and have dinner with an elderly couple from South Africa who are thru-hiking...We have a lovely dinner at the local Mexican Restaraunt and soon I retire for the night hoping that my shin pain will subside by morning...
Pictures:
1. Lunch with "Tipper", yes he is wearing a kilt and doing some work for the ATC while on his Thru-hike North...
2. One of many lovely views to be had on this beautiful day before Easter
3. These butterflies are all over the place down here...This guy stayed still long enough for a pic...
4. A not so typical South bound hiker almost stepped on near the Cable Gap Shelter....A crawfish up here???
5. My first views of the the Fontana Dam resevoir
6. The Hike Inn

April 14, 2006: Cold Spring Shelter to Sassafras Gap...18.4mi

Rose to a chilly morning and out by 0715...Was fortunate enough to come across 2 large white tail deer who were grazing along a ridge right on the trail...One disappeared into the brush, the other ran off down the trail onto a more narrow ridge giving me another look before he finally found some place to jump off the trail back into the wilderness... I never regret getting out early...its the only time I ever get to witness some of the wildlife... I arrived at the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) for lunch...quite a long and steep decent which resulted in an inflamed tendon in my Left shin...my first shin splint!! The snack bar is open at the NOC so I order a couple of hot dogs with a coke and relax in the sun watching the river and rafters pass by... I chat with a number of tourists who are quite taken with all the hikers. The NOC has a bunk house that holds a number of hikers and my friends decide not to puch on but stay the night. I got 11 miles done but 7 more to go so after my 1 hour break Im off again for a long sustained climb out of the NOC and back up on the mountains. The trip is tough but I finally get into Sassafras Gap shelter around 1700 and select a lovely spot on a ridge just above the shelter...
Pictures:
1. Wesser Bald Observation tower with lovely views...
2&3. Views from the tower
4. The NOC
5. A Memorial on the trail reminding everyone of the sacrifices some people have made...