Date: 2006-04-18
From: Double Springs Gap Shelter (GSMNP)

To: Ice Water Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

The topic of discussion this morning was the heavy dew that settled on everything last night. It always adds to the excitement of packing up all your gear when everything is completely wet. Although this wasn¢t the most pleasing thing that we have faced while on the trail it could have been a lot worse. While packing up we noticed two more deer grazing out behind the shelter and while we scrambled to get our cameras they made themselves at home. All of our commotion while snapping off a few pictures did not faze them at all. After breakfast and with everything packed we headed off to Clingman¢s Dome. Clingman¢s Dome is the highest elevation on the entire trail at 6,643 feet above sea level. One would think that since we are reaching the highest point on the trail our morning would be extremely difficult but surprisingly it was pleasant. This is partially due to the nice weather this morning, the spectacular views across the mountain range, and knowing that once we reach the summit the rest of the trail is all down hill from this point. From Double Springs Shelter I hiked most of the way to Clingman¢s Dome with Jangles and Baro. We stopped for a group picture at one of the lookouts as the clouds were rising from the forest floor below. We reached Clingman¢s Dome around mid-morning and decided to take an extended break to wait for everyone. We dropped our packs at the base of the observation tower and started our ascend to the top. Since the dome is in a national park that sees millions of visitors each year the observation tower is currently under renovation for improvements and closed to all road traffic. This made the experience that much nicer because the only visitors there were thru hikers. This eliminated the city riffraff. After sitting atop the tower for a while we gathered nearly everyone that stayed at the Double Springs Shelter last night and posed for a group photo at the base of the dome. After breaking the huddle and preparing to set off for New Found Gap Shasta and H-Bomb rolled in having disappointedly missed the great photo opportunity. On the way over to New Found Gap the big idea of going into Gatlinburg, TN for pizza hit and after that there was no chance of changing our minds. Just before the gap we crossed a rather interesting ramp made of steel grating. The ramp was used to cross the fence but it was also there to prevent wild hogs from entering the National Park. The hogs will not walk up the grated ramp. Not sure how much good it was doing since there was a tree that had fallen across the fence just a few feet away and had taken out a small section. We reached New Found Gap around mid-afternoon and started trying to catch a hitch down off the mountain. Shortly after trying a taxi pulled up and Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Scarecrow jumped out. Luck us it was going back into town and the driver gave all of us a ride for $20. It was a good deal I though because they paid $50 for the ride up the mountain. I guess going down hill you save gas therefore the fair is cheaper. On the way to town I tried to joke around with the driver but she was a stick in the mud and really wasn¢t in the mood for jokes. When we got into town she dropped us off at the Happy Hiker and we settled the bill with her. The Happy Hiker for years has been one of the links between the trail and I. I have always gone into the store when in town to glance over all the hiker photos that have passed through town on their way north. Now I am on my way north and will happily have my photo on the wall too. After Baro, Jane and I posed for our picture we signed the front and turned it in to be posted before finishing our shopping. By the time this was all done we were starving so we made our way over to the Smokey Mountain Brewery for dinner. There is nothing like a hot calzone full of steak and cheese after a hard day on the trail. To top off dinner we stopped at the candy store and grabbed an ice cream cone before returning to the mountain for the night. Lucky us my Brother in law Daniel was working down in Pigeon Forge and drove up to Gatlinburg to give us a lift back up to New Found Gap. Thankfully he has a F-250 because with all of us and all of our gear we pretty much filled it up. On the way to the top he filled me in on life back at home and then dumped us off at the Gap parking lot for a quick picture beside the NC/TN state line sign. Weasel and I stayed behind for a short while and finished our cold 24ozers that we brought back up from town before setting off on the final 3-mile leg of today¢s trip. It was now dark but absolutely peaceful in the mountains and the 3 miles went by in no time. When we got into Ice Water Springs Shelter for the night the shelter was completely full so this gave us another excuse to get to tent camp while in the national park. Shortly after setting up camp I settled in for the night and was off to sleep in no time around 10:30pm. Tonight at Ice Water Springs: Chardonnay, Cabernet, Scarecrow, Jangles, Baro, Weasel, Donkey, Hot Springs, Silver Foot, Doc Narley, Shasta, H-bomb, and a whole slue of others.