Date: 2016-05-07
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Days 17-21 Fontana Dam to unnamed campsite.The Smokies of North Carolina and Tennessee are beautiful. They actually remind me a lot of Idaho as they quite a number of fir trees. The Smokies also seem to attract interesting weather phenomena. And so it was for me. I departed Fontana Dam in a solid rain. I met up with Woodstock, Polar Bear, and Gandolph the Green. We climbed over 4,000 feet together and finally the clouds began to open. We talked a lot about literature. All were very well read. Gandolph could also pull out some good quotes and was working his way through the entire works of William Shakespeare on this trip. He is a chef. Woodstock is a self avowed anarchist. First I have ever met. We actually had a great visit. He believes global warming will lead to the next revolution in the US.We rolled into camp around 5 after a solid 12 miles. It was really cooling off. There, we ran into Teddy Bear, Jim, Mosie, Monkey Leg, Shortie, Lady Slipper and her husband Sage, Phillip, Peace Foot, Sailor, Up Hill, and a few other folks. Multiple bears had been sighted so we were on high alert. The next shelter up had been closed due to bears in the shelter two nights in a row. The next day it was misty and cold. The walking was fast though and I made time. I caught up with most of the folks that had started before me. Cool views were had from Old Rocky top from UT fame. There were also some amazing fields of trees. I decided to pound out 18 miles to Siler's Bald Shelter and was glad I did. I got to the shelter and some section hikers already had a fire going and gave me scotch! What a treat. I was joined by Philip, Gandolph, Shortie, Monkey Leg, Peace Foot, Sailor, and Up Hill. It was very cold by this point and the weather forecast did a complete 180. Instead of clearing skies, we were to expect a little snow. The next morning it started snowing and did not let up. I joined up with Philip, Peace foot, Up Hill, and Sailor and we decided we needed to make it to   Icewater Spring Shelter 15 miles ahead as that is what our supplies would allow. Visibility was very low and we talked about Christmas Carols and things of the Christmas season.   It felt like it and looked like it. We were in the middle of a full on blizzard. We made it to Clingamans dome, the highest point on the AT and went to the observation tower. It was pretty neat, but all we saw was snow. I used my trekking pole to wipe the snow and ice away from the sign showing what we would see on a clear day. Breathtaking I am sure. We made it to the shelter and joined some section hikers already there. It was a tough shelter and no fire was built. Even though we were bone tired we went out and found enough wood to at least dry off a few items. The next morning we found five inches of snow and it was cold. Again, the five of us set off and hiked in snow, slush, mud, and miserable conditions. A few times the sun came out and gave us hope. I also thought of how tough our special forces guys must be if they are in this day in and day out with only a poncho. We trudged 19 miles and made it to Colby Gap shelter. It was a bit lower and the weather was starting to lift. For the first time we were able to see some views. The Smokies are very beautiful. Today, we got up and it was above freezing for the first time in three days. We hiked down the mountains toward Standing Bear Hostel to pick up a resupply. We made it down around 2 and the temperature had made it into the high 60's! It felt great! I bought a round of beers for the group and so did Philip. I washed my face in a stream and it felt heavenly. The hostel felt a little creepy. It was filled with folks who decided to wait out the weather and were mostly drunk or stoned. The place was a little run down and could be amazing, but is instead run down and poorly managed in my opinion. They did have a cool little dog though. It came up to me and set a rock on my shoe. I threw the Rock and he would fetch the rock and set it back on my shoe. We decided to hike on as we did not like the looks of the folks at the hostel, so we went about three miles and made camp. Peace foot named our group 5 Alive. I think very fitting. I will describe the remaining four in more detail, but I will say that the 5 of us took on 2 of the hardest days of trekking I have experienced and made it. I will be in Hot Springs, NC on Monday and should provide more info then. My phone and external battery froze up and I was unable to take photos or even tell time for the past four days. Guess I better get a watch....