From the Journals: DAY 15

Coach

Double Spring Gap Shelter - Newfound Gap: 10.7 mi

Started hiking in the snow with several inches on the ground @ 8:06am. Boots were still soaked along with most of my hiking clothes. Basically, we got out of the Smokies before the really bad snow hit. Ran into a Ridge Runner, who we told about Spring Breakers we shared the shelter with.

Professor

Hiked out of the snow- taking a Zero Day in Knoxville tomorrow.

Pictures Courtsey of Manager Mike- Newfound Gap Pick-up

From the Journals: DAY 14, March 9

Coach

Spence Field Shelter - Double Spring Gap Shelter

So yesterday I thought the gauntlet was thrown. Turns out I was wrong. We passed 6 thru-hikers in two separate shelters, who decided to take a 0 day instead of hiking in this weather. Of course, we hike 13 miles in the most outrageous conditions. (Freezing rain, 40mph wind gusts, trails running like creeks). Rocky Top was awesome. The wind was blowing us around. Also, I have once again reached the conclusion I need more food. We also made 2.0mph over sloppy, sloppy terrain and against rain and wind. Gear ended up performing quite well. Learned that "waterproof" is a relative term. It is also amazing what goes through your head when you walk through a storm on a mountain.

Stayed night in a shelter with a group of Spring Breakers from Michigan. Worse shelter experience so far. These are the type of people that need to be rescued or else die in the Smokies in bad weather- completely unprepared.

Professor

Trail Magic List as of DAY 14

1. Blood Mountain Pedicure, which included heated rocks, sunset, stars, airing out of feet

2. Honey Bun Fanta Boosters (set there by Trail Angels)

3. Discussion with Brian the Ultra-lighter

4. Magical walking stick for Coach (after foot stone bruise)

5. Lunch on Standing Indian Mtn with Treebeard and Stormsong, first learned about pantyhose

6. Hiking enthusiast couple at NOC

7. Fontana- Manager Mike and Moonpie's Chili

8. Kentucky Grey Beard and stories of ridgerunning

9. Old guy at Mollie's Ridge Shelter with two artificial knees that gave Coach a knee bandage wrap brace for his bum left knee

10. Dan @ Spence Field Shelter, gave us chicken soup and hospitality after spirits were low becuase of initial blow by the Smokies

From the Journals: DAY 13

Coach Fontana Gap Shelter - Spence Field Shelter: 16.7 mi This is indescribable. PAIN. Low point for 3.5 miles before Mollie's Ridge Shelter. College kids on Spring Break suck. The Smokies threw the gauntlet. Trail Magic: Old guy with 2 artificial knees gave me a knee wrap that allowed me to keep going. Professor I hurt worse today than I've hurt the entire trek. The shelter is a zoo. Pack of 6 Michigan Spring Breakers, one older fella, Coach, me, 4 or 5 people from KY (Lexington). Unbelievable, somebody had speakers they hooked into an iPod. I'm so tired and hurt I think I might pass out anyway...Food everywhere (no respect for bears). There is a guy named Dan that is very nice though, gave us soup. Earlier today- Coach's knee is bothering him so much I'm worried if he can continue, we almost didn't make it pass Mollie's Ridge. An older guy gave Coach a brace, seems to help him, made it to Spence Field. I'm worried about my feet, they hurt bad today. I'm hobbling and limping. The Spring Breakers are trying to make a fire in the shelter fireplace with live and wet wood. They are smoking us out! I might have to holler at them like an old man with aches and pains trying to sleep.... which is definitely who I feel like right now.

From the Journals: DAY 12, March 7

Coach Cable Gap Shelter - Fontana Dam Shelter: 6.6 mi

Professor swears that thieving mice carried off his Platypus (water bag)...

"It's Joe Sullivan"

Winter Wonderland

ATL Dave

Professor

Ice crystals growing off a branch...We woke up and hiked through a winter wonderland this morning. It was a short easy day to Fontana where we met Manager Mike for resupply. When we walked up he was already hanging out with Treebeard, Stormsong, and their friend Moonpie who had brought trail magic in the form of a huge spread of food out the back of her minivan. It didn't take long for them to convince Coach and I to take a "Nero" day and indulge in Moonpie's Trail Magic chili and beer.

A BIG thank you to Manager Mike for this resupply...

People on the Trail

Kentucky GreyBeard- Ridge Runner, believe it or not he is actually from Louisville! But, when he isn't enjoying retired life in the Bluegrass State, he's running the ridges of the Southern Appalachians saving Spring Breakers and scaring bears. I kid you not, one of his duties as "Ridge Runner" is to..."give problem bears a bad experience with humans..."

TreeBeard: "It's me, Joe, Joe Sullivan!" he proclaimed. I learned TreeBeard's real world name. It's on the few real names I've heard while out on the trail. I almost felt embarrased, like I saw something I wasn't supposed to see. A reminder of lives beyond the Trail...

Photos Courtesy of Manager Mike: Fontana Dam

Arriving at Fontana

Arriving at Fontana

Trail Magic

After a shower

Hiker Dave, Coach, Professor, Stormsong, Treebeard, Moonpie

Professor's Blisters on Left Foot

Coach and Professor laundering

Next Destination- The Great Smoky Mountains and snow!

From the Journals: DAY 11

Coach
Sassafras Gap Shelter - Cable Gap Shelter: 16.7 mi

7:40am start. Experienced yet another type of weather today. It is amazing to see it change so quickly and run the gambit at the same time. Took it easy on the pace. The Professor is starting to get annoyed about his prep time on his feet. It is taking a long time, but there really isn't an alternative. Got in bed by 6:30pm. Arrived at shelter and ate and quickly got into bed. Temp. dropped quickly.

Professor
Rain and fog Cable Gap w/ ATL Dave. COLD 22 degrees. There is a mouse in this shelter...

From the Journals: DAY 10

Coach
Cold Spring Shelter - Sassafras Gap Shelter: 18.4 mi

Cold Spring Shelter was very creepy. Started 8:15am in light rain. Made good time to the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) where we ate lunch. Very strange vibe from people at NOC. Pushed to Sassafras Gap, where we ran back into Treebeard and Stormsong, who apparently stayed in the next room at Ron Haven's Budget Inn. Bad storm at night.

Professor
Just when you think you can't get any wetter...my calf really bothered me today. I had to wrap it with an ace bandage. 18.6 miles, in the rain, went through Nantahala Outdoor Center; took midday break, much needed for calf and feet. Hiked til right as it was getting dark. Staying @ Sassafras Gap Shelter. Everything has gotten wet to varying degrees:

Backpack = soaked (we sent home pack covers)
Clothes = Hiking Set is wet and cold (we sleep with them to keep them from freezing, and our body heat dries them a little), and Sleeping Set is damp because we sleep with our hiking set.
Sleeping Bag = damp from sleeping in clouds.
Boots = wet, if we hike for a bit on dryish ground we can "hike them dry"

Caught up to Treebeard and Stormsong, met ATL Dave for the first time.

From the Journals: DAY 9

Coach
Winding Stair Gap - Cold Spring Shelter: 16mi

Excellent breakfast at Lois's Diner (pancakes, eggs, gravy + biscuit, hashbrowns)
Hit the trail at 9:40am in rainy and foggy conditions, which continued all day. Stopped for the day a while before 5:00pm. We made excellent time, but don't really remember most of it. Another 18.4mi push tomorrow.

Professor
Today was hard. But it was a kind of difficult I had not yet experienced..with the exception of straining a muscle in my calf, and all of the normal aches and pains. We hiked faster and stronger of any hike yet if you go by the clock. But it didn't feel that way. It felt hard. Today turned into a mental battle of coming to terms, realizations and questioning the hike. Today was the first time my homesickness was in my forethoughts.

We hiked in a cloud, physically and mentally. We walked through fog and sometimes rain, drippy wet air that you can see floating around you. It was a lost day; happening fast and leaving you wondering. Cold Spring Shelter is living up to its name. Drip. The gurgling of the spring out of Earth's opening. Drip...wind...gurgle...drip...wind in the trees...night falls fast here.