Date: 2006-04-18
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Icewater Springs Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

It's days like today that get reassurance,confidence, and reminded of how fun this experience and journey is. We started the day off waking up in the middle of a huge cloud that left it's dew upon everything we owned. It was cheese grits and chocolate chip powerbar for breakfast to give much needed energy as we would start off climbing to the top of Clingmans Dome. It's not only the highest point in TN (I rememeber that thanks to my 4th grade TN notebooks project), but it is also the highest point of elevation on the Appalachian Trail. So I guess everything is downhill from here....right?! Ok, well that's not the case, but it is still exciting knowing we have reached the highest point on trail. The climb itself was not all that bad, but the combination of morning and of higher elevation left us all winded and out of breath where we normally wouldn't have been. Once there, we went to the top of the observation deck and stayed for a little while. Normally, the area is packed with tourists, but it must be too early in the season, and it was a rather foggy morning. So we had the area to ourselves...all 15 or so hikers. It was rather warm morning hiking, but as soon as we stopped it was very chilly. After taking pictures and eating some snacks, we continued on our way. The morning views consisted of great overlooks, mountain views, fog and clouds, spring flowers blooming, and each tree with a little more green and color to them than we had seen the day before. Our next destination was Newfound Gap. We hadn't planned on going into Gatlinburg, but if we wanted to, this was the place to catch a ride. The closer we got to Newfound Gap, the earlier in the day we realized it was, and the more our stomachs began talking to us. It was only 3:00 and we were only a couple of miles from our next shelter. Surely we could catch a ride into Gatlinburg, grab some dinner, and still have time to get a ride back to trail and make to the shelter before dark. Larry, Mouse, Salt, Donky Love, Silverfoot, River Weasel, and myself did just that. We all caught a ride into Gatlinburg and ate pizza. None of us had pizza since we started this trip and it was the best tasting pizza we had had in a really long time. There is also the "Happy Hiker" outfitter store in town that takes pictures of thru-hikers and displays them on the walls. So of course, we had to leave our mark there as well. (For anybody that is reading this and is planning on making a trip to Gatlinburg any time, you must go by the "Happy Hiker" and look for my picture! Remember....it's the class of 2006) We were only in Gatlinburg for a few hours, and we definitely stood out once again. Not only did we stand out because of our hiker appearance and odor, but also because the Regional Bridge Tournament was in town for the weekend and we were the only ones under the age of 60 in town. We met some really sweet people in town and they all wanted to know about our journey so far. We even met a couple of people who had friends on the trail that we knew as well! Thanks to Mouse and is connections of knowing people all over the place, we caught a ride back to the trail with his brother-in-law who was in town at the time. We started our 3 mile journey to the shelter and rushed there to make it before dark. It turned out to be a beautiful climb as the sun was setting and the coolness of the night was settling in. We made it to camp just shortly after dark and still managed to set up our tents even though the shelter and campsites were the busiest and most packed yet. It was full of thru-hikers and day-hikers alike. We had a great time today and we are continuing to make as many memories as possible. Thank you God for the blessings of today. Thank you for the great scenery and hike and for providing perfect weather for the day. Just as the seasons are changing right before our eyes, may I also realize the changes you are making in me and in my life. Forgive me when I take things for granted and remind me of the blessings You have given. Continue to humble me in whatever struggles out here, and to give you the credit when I overcome an obstacle. Thank you for yet another day and another opportunity on the trail.