Date: 2013-03-31
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Left shelter first @ 7:30.   Nasty trail conditions but at least solid & frozen early.   Went thru Sam's & Buckeye Gaps early which means lots of elevation change before the haul up to Clingmans Dome @ 6643 feet & the highest point on the A T.   About 1/2 mile from the Summit I spotted the lookout tower but before I could get my phone for a picture the mist rolled in and poooooof, it was gone.   Most of the morning there was about 300 foot visibility and as usual, when I summited once again no damn view.   I took a picture of what I thought about that!   Think single digit!Wanted to get to Newfound Gap no later than 4:30 for the shuttle & the 15 miles down to Gatlinburg, TN.   Trail turned to mush with some 2 foot high sidewalls against the packed down 10" wide trail.   The most annoying thing was last nights snow stuck to all the Spruce trees bending their branches down and with the rising temps making the trek a rain event.   Put Packa back on and of course, start sweating like porky pig.Had to lean left or right or duck constantly to avoid dumping of snow on head & pack.   That sucked and tired me out.   After Clingmans Dome the trail went DOWN fast and fairly long only to bottom out at an unnamed gap for the climb back to 6446 summit of MT Love.   That was pretty taxing because of WET & cold feet.   Picture this:   Go outside in 8 inches of snow and stick your feet in a bucket of water.   Start walking & stick your feet in the bucket every 100 yards or so! SO MUCH SLOP on trail impossible to avoid it.   And of course there are the buried log crossings about 15" wide.   Miss step and boom - 24" hole. Just sucky trail conditions most if today's 18 miles.   This shir breaks the will of even the strongest of hikers and my guess is 2013 will be a low of completed thru hikes.   Hell,   There is snow another 200 miles up the trail.   Gunna rain over night and tomorrow so some will melt and make for mudholes.Anyway, persevered and got to the parking area @ Newfound Gap @ 3:55.Got a ride to town with another hiker in the back of a pickup.   Hunkered down to keep out of wind and it wasn't too bad & FREE!   That place was full but got a room across town.   No laundry service here, so after showering I used ALL the hot water and washed my stuff in the sink.   Plus, my good buddy found out I was overcharged!   Thx Ryan!No stinging in feet so hoping no frostbite.Bunions sore as heck but usually are at days end.   Don't hurt hiking so that is good.Ate in room, didn't feel like going anywhere, but have a plan for tomorrow morning as intently zero day as the rain moves in tonight & tomorrow.They have sn AYCE Breakfest buffet.   Not going to let them take away the plates til I am done!   Then picture and hopefull my good friend KC can post it.Back on trail Monday and weather window looks good for 3-4 days then.Maybe in future years I will look back on these last 2 days as a major accomplishment hiking from Fontana Dam to Newfound Gap (39) miles.   Almost positive no one else did it & actually annoyed (but happy) that the unFRIENFLY early season A T weather stymied my 3 day GSMNP traverse. Otherwise I in my bag at Pecks Corner ShelterAnd walking in rain tomorrow.   Kinda like this steamy room (drying clothes off my madeup clothesline above heater!!!Ryan asked me where the Bucko meter was at.Answer - what time of day?9 am. Minus 15Summit Clungmans Dome - 20Going up MT Love with wet feet Hell, they were wet almost all day, even stopped and changed them to my last dry pair). Minus 10.Summit MT Love - 70Lying here right now - 100!Such is the life of determined A T thru hikers!Hasta Ma±ana