Date: 2006-04-18
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: light rain

Douglas Adams had a great hit with his 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' series. Here is my attempt to cash in on Mr. Adams' success. This is called "Hitchhiker's Guide to Gatlinburg", and it's by Steech. Number one tip for hikers trying to get to Gatlinburg: Don't. Resupply at Fontana Dam and carry through to Standing Bear Farm or Mountain Moma's. If you must hitch into Gatlinburg, just cross your fingers that you'll have better luck than I. Gatlinburg is 15 miles from the trail crossing at Newfound Gap. The road is quite busy, but it's mostly tourists who use that road, and tourists, of course, don't pick people up. Locals do, sometimes, however, and after about 20 minutes a local gentleman soon picked me up. and drove me three miles, which was as far as he was going. After looking in the car's rear-view mirror at my hair, I decided I'd have better luck if I wore my hat. Sure enough, 3 ladies stopped by and took me another ten miles, to Sugarland, the 'visitor center' of the Smokies. This was farther than they were going, but not as far as I was. So I walked the Gatlinburg Trail from Sugarland to Gatlinburg, and then, after waiting 45 minutes for a trolley that was supposed to come by every 20 minutes but didn't, I walked the remaining 2 miles up hill to the grocery store, my thumb out most of the way, but to no avail. I was now, finally, able to resupply, which was all I needed to do in the first place, and anxious to get the hell out of town. Hitching out of Food City proved impossible, so I called for a cab, but, apparently, there's only one cab company available in Gatlinburg, and the lady told me "it will be at least an hour and a half before I can get to you". Having played my last card, I began the walk back, thumb out every time a car came by, and finally decided to resort to aggressive tactics. I approached a man getting into his car in a parking lot, and asked if I could get a lift. He took me back to downtown, and I decided to inquire at the outfitters about a shuttle I had heard of. The end result of that, was that firstly, they only shuttle folks in the morning, and secondly, they'd love to come out now but they were busy, and thirdly, it would cost about $40 or something like that. It was getting towards 5:30 at this point, and I was considering stealth camping on the Gatlinburg Trail if necessary, but, the kid at the outfitter gave me a cardboard sign and a marker for me to write 'AT hiker to trailhead' on, and gave me helpful tips. (i.e. "put on a smiley face. It really helps.) At long last, a very awesome couple stopped and brought me back all the way to Newfound Gap, and I was able to get back on the Trail!!!!I got to Icewater Spring Shelter before dark, and it was the most beautiful place to be ever. Trickster and What were there ahead of me, and together we counted about 40 people at the shelter and tenting, but there was a pleasant, gentle vibe, and as I cooked dinner and the stars came out, my cozy tent waiting for me, nothing but easy conversation and the quiet woods around me, I thought, 'I am home'. After all-day struggle in Gatlinburg, I am finally home.