Date: 2004-04-14
From: Newfound Gap, Smokies NP

To: Gatlingburg, TN (I'm even more ashamed)
Miles today: 0.0

We took another snow day today. The forecast called for winter conditions. Hikers have been entering the town to get out of the cold. The next couple of days are supposed to be sunny and warm.In the meantime, Catdog, Palmtree, Saltlick and I took a stroll through happenning Gatlingburg, TN. It reminds me of Niagara Falls on the Canadian side, including the mist. They have everything any all-American family would want in a National Park town--Ripley's Believe it or Not, Guinness World Records Museum, Haunting Tours, an Earthquake Ride (I really wanted to go on this but it was $7.99 and I prefer to buy a beer at the brew pub). Gatlingburg also has an aquarium (sponsored by Ripley's as well. Wonder if they have fish with three eyes and stuff).But the town is very hiker friendly. I learned from these ladies on the trolley today that when you use the slot machines at the Cherokee Reservation on the other side of the Smokies, you should use quarters instead of dollars. The return is better. Good tip. Considering that I am only three weeks out, 200 miles on the trail, and taking my fourth zero day in a city, I will need to get some more money somehow. But then again, that is what rich siblings are for.[Note from sibling transcriber: Dream on, Sheila.]I learned a few things about my fellow hikers. Palmtree is a retired CPA from Miami, FL (thus the trailname), and spent some time in Vermont shuttling hikers to/from Manchester, VT. Inspired by their stories, he headed for the trail. Catdog, who I sometimes call Cat, was in the Peace Corp in the Phillippines helping local farmers learn how to care for hogs. She has been planning to do the AT for a couple of years now. Saltlick knows the ins and outs of Cumberland Farms and knows that Burger King employees are not allowed to microwave mayonnaise (but does not know why--management won't tell them). Nobody knows anything about me yet.Speaking of hogs, we passed through a Beechnut Forest Enclosure yesterday. You can immediately see the difference in the grounds as the Trail passed over a wire fence. They are keeping out the wild hogs that are not native to this area. The enclosure had green grasses and moss. Very lovely.Can't wait to get back on the trail.---------------Later:We met up with Hawk who was elated to be in the sun and the city. Over dinner he told us about the last two days. The snow began yesterday after he arrived at Double Spring Gap Shelter. Hotrocks was also there and they spent the afternoon trying to figure out how to build a fire out of soggy timber. Eventually, sixteen people huddled there for the night.It snowed all night and by the morning the ground was covered with ten inches. Being from GA, he wasn't used to this. But even worse, the temps had dropped so much that his camelback had frozen.Each hiker headed out on the path. No one was sure which way to go but they managed to follow someone's trail. The snow let up occasionally but the wind continued to gust.Hawk said the pines were weighted down with snow so you couldn't help hitting it as you passed. Drops of the stuff would fall down your neck and back. His camelback never melted so he had to chew on snow for hydration.Both Hotrocks and Hawk managed to get a ride from Newfound Gap even though the road was closed for most of the day due to the low visibility.I am very glad that we decided to get out of the Smokies yesterday. My boots would have been frozen, and my toes along with them.