Date: 2010-03-31
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 24.3
Weather: broken clouds

Yes I am "alive"!!!This will have to be a three day entry, sorry, but I will hit the highlights.3/29 Spence Field Shelter to Derrick Knob Shelter, 6.3 miles, the 30% chance turned into the worst all day rain ever. I made a big error in how I dressed for the day and started out in shorts with a rain coat. 6.3 miles later I was very close to hypothermia and decided to stop at DKS and get out of the wet clothes and get into my Zero Degree Sleeping bag. Lessons learned were if you are wearing your rain top, wear your rain bottoms. Do not walk 6.3 miles non-stop just because it is raining, take breaks!!!3/30 Derrick Knob Shelter to Mt Collins Shelter, 13.5 miles, the absolutely hardest day so far. Climbing up and over Clingmans Dome was never ending. The hill just kept going up!!! At the top of the mountian I forked to the right to get out of the wind to eat lunch, the AT forks to the left. I kept going down the wrong side of the mountian for another 1/2 mile before realizing my blunder. So today was actually 14.5 miles. Back at the top I had trouble finding the trail down the other side. Finally on the right track, the hike from the top to MCS was very difficult. Snow 5 to 6 feet deep still, limbs and trees hanging all in the trail, and if you didn't stay right in the packs tracks you sank to you waist, once to my chest, in the snow. If that wasn't enough I just couldn't make any time in the deep snow and ice. I was one tired camper when I arrive at the MCS shelter, which is .5 miles off the AT, so now we are up to 15 miles, but only 13.5 count. Right!!! So tired I just got out of the wet clothes and again got into my sleeping bag.3/31 Mt. Collins Shelter to New Found Gap, 4.5 miles, 5.0 miles total, remember I had to hike back up to the AT. Arrived at NFG, and the parking lot was full of Spring Breakers. Jack Pot!!! A shuttle to Gatlinburg was 40.00 dollars and I didn't really want to pay that. So I stuck out the old thumb, and 20 minutes later a wonderful couple from Indiana gave Hermit and myself a ride to Gatlinburg. Thanks again John and Kathy.I am now human again, bathed, fed, clothes washed, and sooooooo happy. I hope to find a libray tomorrow to get my photos updated so everyone can see them. I took a lot of photos overt the past 7 days, I think you will enjoy. I still have 3 more days to finish the Smokies and get to Davenport Gap. I will take a Zero tomorrow.Medical Report: Right knee fine, no pain, knee brace works great. Left knee, killing me, I suppose it got jelious. Nothing that Aleve hasn't taken care of so far, no brace to wear! The doctor said that I would eventually lose all the skin on my cold damaged big toes, so that has started. Yuck!!! Left toe almost completely normal, right toe still completely numb. As I sit here right now, every bone in my body in hurting. This is truely "Heaven"!!!Thanks to all who have signed my guest book and for all the encouragemnet, except the comment by George F. from work. I am so glad that people are enjoying my journey with me.Please send a lot of prayers, as the next three days on the trail will be difficult, as the snow remains deep, and the ice is slick.It really does beat working, trust me!!!