Date: 2018-07-15
From: Clingman's Dome

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 3.2

Friday after work, Count and I took off in a single car to Easton, PA. "Why a single car, Applejack?" you might ask. It is because, dear readers, that Count's Prius battery died on Thursday night! That on top of our Smokies backcountry permit having to be rearranged due to "aggressive bear activity" made me consider dumping this year's trip. I felt as though the universe was trying to tell us something. BUT, it felt worse to cancel, we we forged ahead with the plan.Saturday was spent driving from PA to NC - it was a long day, but we made it to Big Creek Campground before dark despite going to rent a car from the Tri-Cities Airport. It was a super low pressure car rental. Thanks, Enterprise. We were given a Ford Fusion and it seems to be a decent car. We set up our new tent for the first time (!!!) and didn't have too many issues. The stakes are odd and the poles are all one connected unit, but we figured it out. It was shelter and fairly easy to set up. I slept horribly, though. We were right next to a rushing (read: loud) creek, so many people would like that, but that isn't my favorite. Also, getting used to a sleeping bag and mat was hard - the first night usually is. Plus other campers had flashlights that kept flicking onto our tent and others were still coming in and out in their cars. I woke up around 4:30 feeling the call of nature, but I stayed put because Count's head was pressed up against the zipper to get out of the tent and I didn't want to disturb him.We left Big Creek around 10 AM and headed to NOC Great Outpost to pick up a headlamp and hat - after our night we figured we would want hats in the higher elevation shelters we'll be sleeping in. Gatlinburg did not fail to amaze in its "wow" factor as an insane tourist spot.We left the craziness of Gatlinburg for the craziness of the Sugarlands Visitor Center. SO MANY PEOPLE were in there that I didn't even look in the gift shop area! For those of you who don't know me, this is incredible. Then we went on to the Clingman's Dome parking area (with a stop at Morton Overlook) to start our backpacking adventure through The Great Smoky Mountains National Park!We walked the 1/2 mile up the paved walkway to the observatory which was closed, but it didn't really matter because we were in a cloud. Clingman's Dome is the highest elevation on the AT at 6,667 feet above sea level. Even though we had our 25-30 lb packs on we still passed many people. Maybe I'm in better shape than I think. We hopped onto the AT next to the observatory and began our lengthy hike to the Mt. Collins Shelter. Just kidding! We hiked a total of 4.2 miles including our walk from the parking lot and a half mile to the shelter. It started raining pretty much when we started hiking - not hard, but enough for me to get out my pack cover. It rained on and mostly off the entire 3.2 miles on the AT. When we reached the shelter it stopped. Of course. I was pretty cold sitting in my wet shirt, so I put on my pajamas and am much warmer now. I'm not sure what the temperature is here, but it was about 65 degrees Fahrenheit at Clingman's. We are at 5,963 feet at this shelter, so we are probably only slightly warmer.This shelter has a "bear warning," but according to the register, no bears have been here in over a month. Just mice. I'm going to hang everything I don't need in my pack tonight - up on the bear cables. We are here quite early since we had such a short hike. I think we'll have a lot of down time on this trip, but I think I'm okay with that. :)The sun has been in and out here and we did hear some distant thunder... Mt. Collins is a very nice shelter - it has a table and benches built in where I am sitting right now. There are benches on either side plus an elevated sleeping area. The roof is partially plastic that is "frosted" so it isn't totally dark. Plus the roof covers everything including the eating area. Probably because it rains so much here.