Date: 2015-04-10
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Clingmans Dome
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

It had been 1 1/2 days since the Iceman had eaten. When he finally got to the top of Clingmans, he left the shelter at 5:45am, it was 8:15am and the Sherpa was there with a salad, chicken tenders, an apple and a large container of orange juice. The orange juice and apple were complements of the Baymont Inn and Suites. As the Sherpa was leaving the motel at 6:30am she told the gentleman on duty at the reception desk that the Iceman was completing a hike on the AT and needed orange juice and fruit and he said to take whatever was needed. After eating the salad and the apple and drinking the orange juice the Iceman began complaining of terrible cramps in his fingers and toes. We soon realized that he needed electrolytes. Back at the Baymont, a quick shower and change of clothes and we were off to a pharmacy to see if there was such a thing as a powder or tablet form of electrolytes that could be put into his water as he hiked. After several stops at outfitters and pharmacy's, we found that Walgreens had a product called Electrofuse which contains potassium and sodium and that sounded like just the thing to bring on the next hike. It's a product that you squirt into your mouth, not a powder or tablet to dissolve in water, but it was the best we could find. Also we found that "Vitamin Water" had lots of potassium and other vital minerals in it and it was better than Powerade or Gaterade2 so we bought lots of bottles of Vitamin Water. The Iceman deserved a good dinner and off we went to the best place in Cherokee, NC, Harrah's Cherokee Casino. Dinner at Brio, an Italian restaurant chain, was very nice and the casino was beautiful. Friday, 4/10, was a rainy day but the Iceman was determined to hike from Clingmans to Newfound Gap a hike of 8+ miles. The Sherpa dropped him off at the top of the highest mountain in Tennessee in the rain with the temperature at 49 degrees and the wind blowing at 25 to 35 MPH. The entire day was like that. Walking in the clouds and rain all day at that altitude was not great but at 2:30 he reached Newfound Gap and was greeted by trail magic. There were sandwiches of every kind, soft drinks and a cheese assortment. All of the younger hikers were chowing down and enjoying a short rest before going on to the next shelter which was in 3 miles. The Iceman took only a can of soda since he knew he'd be having dinner later that evening. Back to the Baymont Inn to look over emails, shower and change for dinner. Dinner was in a town called Waynesville at a tiny restaurant, Chef's Table. It was about 45 minutes from Cherokee but nothing is close in this region. Waynesville is the county seat and a town with lots of hip places, music venues, microbreweries, great places to eat and more. It's a very pretty town and would be a nice place to spend a week or so. The Iceman is now getting his backpack ready for tomorrow when he starts hiking from Newfound Gap to Tricorner Knob Shelter, 15+ miles. He will have to bring enough food for three days because the entire hike is 40 miles and there are no roads that intersect the AT between Newfound Gap and highway I40 which is a total of 40 miles. He may make it in two days but that's hiking 20 miles/day which is very difficult. He's bringing Spam in a foil bag, baked beans put into small plastic bags, Tuna in a foil bag and a sandwich of Salami, Swiss cheese and relish on rye bread. He doesn't take anything that has to be cooked or that needs boiling water because the apparatus needed to boil water is extra weight and every ounce counts when you're older and not as strong as you used to be. The base camp will remain here in Cherokee for another day and then it's on to another interesting town, perhaps Hot Springs, NC or maybe a town in Tennessee whichever is closest to the AT as it goes north and east.