Spring 2017 AT hike, day #7

Friday, May 19, 2017
Start: Fontana Dam shelter
End: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles: 21.9

Today I woke up around 6:10am and headed out by 6:55am.

I climbed from the shelter (1853') up to ~3800' and then descended down to Cable Gap Shelter (2878'). I climbed up to Brushnell knob (3928'), past Brown Fork Gap Shelter (3813'), up to ~4000, and then down to Stecoah Gap (3165') (my original destination). I then climbed up to Cheoah Bald (5062'), and then down to Sassafras Gap Shelter (4391').

My IT band started giving me a lot of trouble today. I spent most of the day keeping my right leg as straight as possible, with lots of immediate feedback about my technique. It was also hot and humid, making it very hard to keep up with water needs of the body.

I arrived at Sassafras Gap Shelter around 6:45pm. I was going to stay in the shelter but there are four men there already and the bugs are awful. I set up my tent and didn't open the door until bugs had settled down a bit. I ate dinner and got myself settled by around 8:45pm. Tomorrow will be a lighter day in terms of miles, which I appreciate.

Spring 2017 AT hike, day #6

Thursday, May 18, 2017
Start: Derrick Knob shelter
End: Fontana Dam shelter
Miles: 23.9

I woke up at 6:10am and left the shelter this morning at 7am.

From the shelter (4882'), I climbed over Thunderhead Mountain (5527'), past Rocky Top (5440') and Spence Field shelter (4916'), and then down to Russell Field Shelter (4348'). I descended to Big Abrams Gap (4115'), climbed to Mollies Ridge shelter (4586'), descended to Ekaneetlee Gap (3842'), climbed Doe Knob (4520'), and then started the long descent out of the Smokeys.

I arrived at Fontana Dam shelter (1853') at 5:30pm. I walked past the visitors center (1700') around 5pm and they weren't open, though the guide said they should be, and the soda machine was out of order. The Fontana Hilton is quite nice. There's a formal bathroom and shower with running water. The shelter is nice though I decided to tent. I was also totally bummed to find all four hostels at where I wanted to stop tomorrow evening are full up and don't have space. Unfortunately, that will mean rearranging my miles for the next few days. And the weather forecast isn't so great - rain every day for the next 6-7 days. *Sigh* We shall see how much suffering is involved.

Spring 2017 AT hike, day #5

Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Start: Newfound Gap/Gatlinburg
End: Derrick Knob shelter
Miles: 17.8

After a nice evening in town, I got to bed around 10pm. I was up this morning at 6am and my shuttle picked me up at 7am. I was on trail by 7:30am.

From Newfound Gap (5045'), I climbed past Mt Collins (6187'), descended to Collins Gap (5750'), and then up to Clingmans Dome and observation tower (6667') which is the highest point on the AT. I passed by Mt Buckley (6590'), down past Double Spring gap shelter (5510'), and over Silers Bald (5607'). From there, I went down to Buckeye Gap (4817'), up to Cold Spring Knob (5203'), and then descended to the shelter (4882').

I arrived at 4pm and settled in; there were already two people there, one of them a ridge runner (Morgan from Nashville). A group of 4 section hikers came in around 5pm and 4 thru hikers (B squared, Magic Mike, Bushman) arrived around 6:45pm. Looks like the shelter will be fairly full tonight. Here's to hoping things will be quiet-ish tonight; I bought some earplugs in town. Tomorrow I have a long day planned to get down to Fontana Dam Shelter.

Spring 2017 AT hike, day #4

Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Start: Tri-Corner Shelter
End: Newfound Gap/Gatlinburg, TH
Miles: 15.1 (+~3 miles in town)

Surprisingly, I got a mostly decent night's sleep. People settled down by ~8:45pm. I was up by 6:10am, and on trail by 7am.

I climbed up Mt Chapman (6216'), dipped down to ~5800', skirted the summit of Mt Sequoyah (5945'), and descended to Copper Gap (5514'). I then climbed to Eagle Rocks (5834'), went by Bradleys View (5476'), descended to Porters Gap (5364'), passed by Charlies Bunion (5522'), and stopped for a quick break at Icewater Spring Shelter (5935'). I climbed to Mt Kephart (6036'), and then descended to Newfound Gap/US 441 (5045').

I arrived at ~2pm. It took me another 45 minutes to catch a hitch down to Gatlinburg, despite the constant stream of tourists. Finally, a lovely family (grandparents and grandson and his girlfriend) in a pickup truck came by specifically to be kind and take me to town.

Once I got to town, I had to do some searching to locate a place to do laundry, as no motels here it. I managed to find a long term motel/room rental place right near the motel I'm staying at that will let me use their laundry. I did my resupply shopping close to the motel, rather than try to get to the actual grocery store outside of town. I paid more, by a long shot, but it was less stressful. I located a number of shuttle/taxi services, though few offered what I need, and arranged for a shuttle back to the trail tomorrow morning. I'm currently enjoying the ministrations of Mellow Mushroom's vegan Thai Dye... sooo good it will be breakfast too!

Spring 2017 AT hike, day #3

Monday, May 15, 2017
Start: Stateline Branch 
End: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles: 16.8

I had a great night sleep in my tent, waking up at 6:30am feeling good. I packed up and headed out by 7:30am.

I climbed slow and steady from Stateline Branch (1698') up to the GSMNP boundary (1975') and then past Davenport Gap Shelter (2591'). From there, I kept climbing, up to Mt Cammerer (4950'), and then descended to Low Gap (4242'), climbed past Cosby Knob shelter (4766'), up to maybe 5200', and down to Camel Gap (4674'). I climbed past Yellow Creek Gap (5902') and Deer Creek Gap (6054'), up to Guyot Spring (6302'), and then headed down to Tri-Corner Knob shelter. I got there by 4:45pm.

At the very start of my hike this morning, I had a massive nosebleed. I got it under control but my handkerchief took a hit. I rinsed it out mid morning and hung it on the back of my pack and it was dry by lunchtime.

So tonight has been less than optimal. The shelter is full up with thru hikers. So many of them are loud, obnoxious, and won't stop talking. It's 8:30pm and people are still arriving. There were very few camp sites and they were taken early, with the assumption the shelter would fill up (which it did). I doubt I'll sleep well tonight. *sigh* It might be satisfying to wake people up tomorrow morning... but we'll see. I have a light day tomorrow that will get me into Gatlinburg, where they have a Mellow Mushroom!!