Ankle-deep mud, constant rain and fog, cold winds on the ridge, rocky trail. Tough going for everyone. After experiencing a minor (but humorous) meltdown on an especially long uphill where the trail more closely resembled a stream, I made it to a shelter at 12 miles and decided to park it. The next day brought freezing rain and snow. We only made it 6 and stopped to hibernate - but many of the folks we had passed made it to the same shelter that night and we enjoyed being soaked, cramped, and exhausted together.
Someone has pictures on Clingman's Dome - which could be nearly anywhere because all you could see is white fog. Charlie's bunion was thankfully clear and as beautiful as I remember it being from a trip along this same stretch of the AT 2 years ago. The second to last morning the trees were still completely coated in ice and I had to cover my head as it melted and fell in the early afternoon. Beautiful weather on the way out and down to Davenport Gap.
On Mr.Green Tea's birthday we decided to stop at a place just past the Smokies called Standing Bear Farm to buy some food and ended up staying due to beat up feet, familiar faces, and the promise of BBQ. Standing Bear looked essentially like a summer camp with bunk houses, fire pits, a stream and kitchen - so we got to shower, recover, and enjoy some BBQ and beer.
The remaining days into Hot Springs were long 18-21 miles, but with reasonably pleasant weather. Passing over Max Patch (a cool bald in NC) we hit some of the craziest wind I have ever experienced - it was a blast, I couldn't walk straight and couldn't stop laughing.
In Hot Springs I got a smoothie with Pheonix and MGT before having to say some sad goodbyes when friends from Asheville came to pick me up. The first leg of this journey has been incredible and I'll be counting the days until I'm back in Hot Springs headed NORTH.
Smokies
WIND on Max Patch... so much for trying to camp there.
Friends on Max Patch.
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