Date: 2019-03-16
From: Mount Collins Shelter 

To: Newfound Gap/ Gatlinburg 
Miles today: 4.9

Saturday Day 27 Nero 4.9 Miles from Mount Collins Shelter to Newfound Gap then to Gatlinburg.Saturday morning was a cool 24 degrees when I woke up. I slept very warm. I am pleased with my sleep system now tested down to 7 degrees; the extra weight of my Sea to Summit Thermo reactor liner is well worth it , my 19 degrees Igneo REI mummy bag is fantastic. Most every one on trail uses a quilt nowadays but it¢s hard to beat the warmth of a mummy bag in my opinion. I¢m using a cheap thin space blanket as a ground cloth and I sleep in my icebreaker 200 pants and my new 33 degrees shirt with my Patagonia R2 fleece , darn tuff socks and down booties with either my LLbean toboggan or my smart wool balaclava on my head,And always my head lamp around my neck I think the secret weapon is having my Arcteryx Cerium puffy over my head creating a little airway and not breathing into my bag . I know I¢ve covered my sleep system in the past but if you are planning to do the trail this is one of the most important kits you will need. Cowboy Up had to buy a zero degree bag on trail ( we are envious) but now he sleeps super comfy. Certainly the lower the rating the warmer , I just did not have a zero rated bag but the liner does fortify mine for me. Halo Disclaimer:Everyone sleeps differently this is a super personal what works for me may not work for you kind of thing but wanted to provide a reference. I¢ve got a 19 degree night tonight in the mountains hopefully will never see 7 degrees again until Everest of course. ( just kidding Rhonda)This morning was the best ,right before town day prep, we hiked out in our sleep clothes with no concerns of keeping them dry and clean, no cleaning dishes, no rationing TP, we eat what we want if anything at all as town food and resupply is around the corner .I was especially in high spirits as my brother in law and sister in law Resa and Herb Byrd from the Knoxville area were hiking up to meet me on my way down and then take me to Gatlinburg where they had gotten a room for us!!We packed up and headed out and about a mile down the trail there they were !They had gotten up super early driven about 2 hours and hiked approximately 3 .5 miles up the mountain Amazing!!What an awesome reunion I introduced them to Q ,Sparky and Cowboy Up and we then proceeded to the Gap. Resa and Herb are excellent hikers and had no issues scaling the trails and we made it to the gap in record time. They magnanimously offered to carry Finish Line, Q, Sparky and myself into town. We dropped Q and Sparky at the Hampton Inn and we dropped Finish Line at the Lodge of Legends where she joined the Wandering Women and Detour.Later Resa and Herb treated me to a wonderful lunch at Five guys where I filled up on peanuts, fries and a huge bacon cheeseburger.Then we went to the NOC to check things out , I really didn¢t need anything but it¢s such a cool store. Resa checked us into the Days Inn very clean accommodations with a washer and drier . Resa had brought me detergent, drier sheets and quarters! These two spoiled me with so much trail magic. We watched the Tennessee vs Kentucky basketball game which was quite the nail biter!After I did my laundry and straightened out my gear Resa and Herb again treated me to a fine meal at Texas Road house. Did I mention how incredibly awesome these two are!! Well tomorrow we will go to Church and later they will take me back to the trail. Depending on the time I get back on will determine how far I will go.