Date: 2008-03-18
From: Double Springs ap Shelter

To: Newfound Gap TN/NC Border
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we climb the highest peak on the trail (Yes,Johnny, there is a mtn. larger than Washington) and it's the second largest in the East. Hearts and a few others left the shelter at 5:00 to get to Clingman's Dome for sunrise. I'm glad I didn't get up because the day was awful- fog,wind,and rain as we climbed atop Clingman and went up the tower there. The day was very similar to the day I summited Graylock in MA during the remnants of the hurricane last June. Before we got the top, we saw a ranger, a gun tottin' ranger named C. Hester (No relation to the Clinton Hester's). He asked about the shelter, and we told him it was full. He asked about tenters and we said there were a few there, but reiterated that the shelter was full. As he left, his comment to Ron and me was typical, "I better get down there and see if I can write some tickets." My CCNS buddies will appreciate this since the Smokie has been replaced by the enforcer everywhere. OH. This attitude makes perfect sense. Who do you suppose is the Asst Supt of the Smokies? Only one guess? You got it. (Malcolm knows) As I walked today many, many , like 25 big big trees were uprooted everywhere on the trail. Big,big pines with root balls 25-40 feet across with huge trunks. I wondered if a hurricane or tornado had gone through there? I would like to find out. What destruction! I got to Newfound Gap and Shakedown was 15 min. later. We tried to hitch down to Gatlinburg TN. The first couple had a car full, but gave us some trail magic- a sausage biscuit and coke. wo people whom we spoke to on the trail picked us up and took us to town. He was a retired teacher from near St.Louis, MO. People come from all over to go to hike the Smokies. Ron went to the Food Lion and I to the library. I called Joellen and tried to get a mortgage on line but failed. I had to get to the PO before closing. I took the tourist trolly to the PO and got the food that I bounced here. I sent home my photos to date. I saw Ron getting off the trolly. He had had enough of civilization and was heading back to the trail. You should see this place. Tourist central. Honky tonk tourist trap- unbelievable. I even want out. The last time I was here was in 1969 with Paul Buffone and Arnie Hamm. We actually got kicked out of town A police officer caught us sleeping in the open and said, "Got to go now, you are scarin these people half to death, Scarin them half to death." Meaning the people whose house was nearby. Right now they are scarin me half to death. You get a different perspective when you are in the woods for a long time. Tonight I am staying with Spruce in a hotel on the outskirts of town. Hotels here are cheap ($25.00) We are going to have dinner after I get out of this library. I need to restock tomorrow AM with food, ibuprophen, and duct tape. Thank God for duct tape. I have a raspberry on my hip from my belt, and the only thing keeping me going is the tape, and I am running out. Yes, John, I took plenty but one of my four tape sits was compromised when I fell, and the poles scraped a rock and ruined the tape there. I will be in the Smokies for two or three more days then the rest of Tenn and on to Damascus, VA. Hope I can hold up. I have not taken a 0 day. I am a little tired, and my legs are not working as well uphill. It may rain 6 inches tomorrow, so tomorrow may be the day to take off- at leaast part of it! We shall see. Perhaps, a zero day. That's not a 0 but close to 0 - say 5 miles or so. One thing that you learn when you train for marathons is that you have to listen to the messages your body is sending and adjust. This 61 year old body is saying rest. We'll see. Don't know when I will be on next. It will be a few days. Happy Trails-Peace Squire