03/23/12 - Cosby Knob Shelter - 230.1 miles
So tired today. I was ready for bed as soon as I woke up. Poured on us most of the day. Everything is soggy. Get to see dad soon!
***
Showing posts with label Great Smoky Mountains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Great Smoky Mountains. Show all posts
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Day 22
03/22/12 - Peck's Corner Shelter - 217.2 miles
Breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts! Yum yum yum. Took the NOC shuttle back to the trailhead. Treated like celebrities again, but nice people. Shared the shuttle with Dr. Trailmix and listened to Herbie Hancock. Then we hiked with Dr. Trailmix a bit and talked with him at camp. Nice guy. Passed Charlie's Bunion! Finally got to the shelter and that same group of Boy Scouts was there! Overcrowded again. A lot of us are tenting. Anna and I are further back in the woods. Creepy owl is at it again tonight.
***
OK, so we were haunted by the Boy Scouts even after we took a day off... however, remember that father son trio I told you about? Well, when we parted ways a few days earlier, I immediately regretted not getting their contact information. They were so kind and encouraging to us and gave us lots of delicious hiker food that morning... and I knew we would probably never see them again because they were heading another direction. But while in Gatlinburg, I kept thinking about how cool it would be if we saw them. People were everywhere, though. So. Many. People. And after 24 hours of being in town I had accepted the fact that our paths wouldn't cross.
Literally 10 minutes before we had to get on our shuttle, they walk right into the lobby of the NOC. I was in disbelief. And so happy! We exchanged info and talked for a few minutes, and I shared with them how thankful I was for our first meeting and for this second reunion. And just before shaking hands and parting one final time, the father smiles and says, "Persevere, guys."
I will never forget that.
You should probably follow them on twitter.
Breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts! Yum yum yum. Took the NOC shuttle back to the trailhead. Treated like celebrities again, but nice people. Shared the shuttle with Dr. Trailmix and listened to Herbie Hancock. Then we hiked with Dr. Trailmix a bit and talked with him at camp. Nice guy. Passed Charlie's Bunion! Finally got to the shelter and that same group of Boy Scouts was there! Overcrowded again. A lot of us are tenting. Anna and I are further back in the woods. Creepy owl is at it again tonight.
***
OK, so we were haunted by the Boy Scouts even after we took a day off... however, remember that father son trio I told you about? Well, when we parted ways a few days earlier, I immediately regretted not getting their contact information. They were so kind and encouraging to us and gave us lots of delicious hiker food that morning... and I knew we would probably never see them again because they were heading another direction. But while in Gatlinburg, I kept thinking about how cool it would be if we saw them. People were everywhere, though. So. Many. People. And after 24 hours of being in town I had accepted the fact that our paths wouldn't cross.
Literally 10 minutes before we had to get on our shuttle, they walk right into the lobby of the NOC. I was in disbelief. And so happy! We exchanged info and talked for a few minutes, and I shared with them how thankful I was for our first meeting and for this second reunion. And just before shaking hands and parting one final time, the father smiles and says, "Persevere, guys."
I will never forget that.
 |
| The Doss family. |
You should probably follow them on twitter.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Day 21
03/21/12 - Newfound Gap [Gatlinburg] - 206.8
Nero! Hitchhiked into town (first time ever) thanks to a former NOBO '99/SOBO '01 who stopped to pick us up. Staying in the Grand Prix Motel. Awesome. Israeli flag flying and nice people and hiker discount! Went to KFC, NOC, Walgreens, Smoky Mountain Brewery and Baskin Robins! Yum yum nom nom. Going into town is fun, but kinda overwhelming, too.
***
Nero! Hitchhiked into town (first time ever) thanks to a former NOBO '99/SOBO '01 who stopped to pick us up. Staying in the Grand Prix Motel. Awesome. Israeli flag flying and nice people and hiker discount! Went to KFC, NOC, Walgreens, Smoky Mountain Brewery and Baskin Robins! Yum yum nom nom. Going into town is fun, but kinda overwhelming, too.
***
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| Just what we needed... a Ripley's museum. |
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Day 20
03/20/12 - Mount Collins Shelter - 202.3 miles
Climbed our first "mount" [Mount Love], hit 200 miles, AND climbed Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT! 1 year and a half ago, Anna and I were at Clingman's and said the next time we were here, we would be thru-hiking. And here we are! Tonight we are staying in the shelter with a bunch of Boy Scouts. Hailed and thunder stormed earlier. Anna and I drew pictures of each other. Mine is terrible. Anna's made me look exactly like Jeff Goldblum (see page 31 in the guidebook).
***
Click here for a more detailed account of our Boy Scout encounters.
Climbed our first "mount" [Mount Love], hit 200 miles, AND climbed Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT! 1 year and a half ago, Anna and I were at Clingman's and said the next time we were here, we would be thru-hiking. And here we are! Tonight we are staying in the shelter with a bunch of Boy Scouts. Hailed and thunder stormed earlier. Anna and I drew pictures of each other. Mine is terrible. Anna's made me look exactly like Jeff Goldblum (see page 31 in the guidebook).
***
Click here for a more detailed account of our Boy Scout encounters.
 |
| I'm no artist, but Anna's specialty is Goldblum. |
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Day 19
03/19/12 - Silers Bald Shelter - 194.3 miles
Tenting again, along with Chief. Large group of people at the shelter. We were debating a night/early morning hike to Clingman's Dome for sunrise, but I think we may just stay put 'til morning. One of boyscout leaders offered us food in the morning! ::KitFox says "hi!":: Also risking a night without my rain fly. Could be a disaster. Just saw our first deer as we were hanging our bear bags. It was not afraid of us at all! No bears yet...
***
The "boyscout leader" who offered us food, was actually not a boyscout leader, but a father out on a trip with his two sons. I will share more about them in a few days... when we experienced, what I believe, was a divine second meeting.
Tenting again, along with Chief. Large group of people at the shelter. We were debating a night/early morning hike to Clingman's Dome for sunrise, but I think we may just stay put 'til morning. One of boyscout leaders offered us food in the morning! ::KitFox says "hi!":: Also risking a night without my rain fly. Could be a disaster. Just saw our first deer as we were hanging our bear bags. It was not afraid of us at all! No bears yet...
***
The "boyscout leader" who offered us food, was actually not a boyscout leader, but a father out on a trip with his two sons. I will share more about them in a few days... when we experienced, what I believe, was a divine second meeting.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Day 18
03/18/12 - Russel Field Shelter - 179.6 miles
Welcome to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Crossed over Fontana Dam in high spirits and into the park. Then the bugs came. So many gnats, flies, and little tiny grasshoppers. EVERYWHERE. Instead of snow, we got bugs. Excited to be here though. Tenting tonight. Anna is scared. I might be scared if I see a bear... but right now I'm not sure if they exist anymore. We shall see. Quote of the day was this morning when Anna greeted me outside my tent, "Well, hello Pinoccio!" Because the clothes I had on reminded her of Pinoccio. But you can imagine what everybody else thought when they heard this.
***
Welcome to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Crossed over Fontana Dam in high spirits and into the park. Then the bugs came. So many gnats, flies, and little tiny grasshoppers. EVERYWHERE. Instead of snow, we got bugs. Excited to be here though. Tenting tonight. Anna is scared. I might be scared if I see a bear... but right now I'm not sure if they exist anymore. We shall see. Quote of the day was this morning when Anna greeted me outside my tent, "Well, hello Pinoccio!" Because the clothes I had on reminded her of Pinoccio. But you can imagine what everybody else thought when they heard this.
***
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Day 17
03/17/12 - Fontana Dam Shelter - 165.8 miles
Again, I was struggling today. It was an easier terrain day, but for some reason I could have taken a nap at any given point. But now we are at the gateway of the Smokies! Tomorrow we cross Fontana Dam and are in! Found out that Sunshine and Rocky are getting off the trail for a week to rest. I hope they make it back. They started from Springer the same day as us. Right now it's a beautiful evening looking out over Fontana Lake with the mountains in the background.
***
The next time we would see Rocky and Sunshine would be for one day in Harper's Ferry, WV.
Again, I was struggling today. It was an easier terrain day, but for some reason I could have taken a nap at any given point. But now we are at the gateway of the Smokies! Tomorrow we cross Fontana Dam and are in! Found out that Sunshine and Rocky are getting off the trail for a week to rest. I hope they make it back. They started from Springer the same day as us. Right now it's a beautiful evening looking out over Fontana Lake with the mountains in the background.
***
The next time we would see Rocky and Sunshine would be for one day in Harper's Ferry, WV.
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