Date: 2014-03-04
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

So I think I'm pretty much prepared sleeping wise in cold temperatures. Well, at least temperatures no lower than 10. The one thing I was definitely worried about is one of my most confident and favorite things, sleeping. Although getting out of my bag in the morning is a different story. I have gloves but trying to pack my backpack properly,(which is important)is very difficult with them on. So my hands are just completely frozen in the morning. On a good day it takes about 30-45 minutes to wake up, pack up, eat, and go. Although it stormed yesterday, today is a different story. Sunny skies made the icy trees glisten which was beautiful. With the warmer temperatures melting is sure to happen, so all day I was pelted by fallen ice and snow from several feet above. Even though it was sunny, I had to wear my uncomfortably hot rain jacket and my backpack rain cover, which I have not been happy with it's performance on keeping my pack dry. (Get the Sea-to-Summit cover, not a cheapy) There were several close calls of bigger ice landing on my head, but for the most part it was small. Though normally I would find this annoying, it really didn't bother me today. I was hiking in the Smokys on a Tuesday, nothing to really complain about.16.4 miles sounds like a lot in the Smokys, but it is very doable. The grand part about the Smokys is not really the difficulty of them, but more of the beauty and the constant high elevation. For 5-6 days you are constantly at 5000-6000+ feet, which makes weather unpredictable. Especially in March. That said the terrain still isn't easy, but huge climbs are not the norm here. A great hiking experience for sure. There is still many slippery spots. Without trekking poles I'm sure I would have completely "butt plant" several times now. Rocks and logs are slick even though ice might not be on them. A few close calls today, but still upright. I'm sure I will completely fall eventually. Can't wait.I passed by 4 guys who were day-hiking southbound. They looked too old to be spring breakers from college, but who knows. Unfortunately after talking to them a bit, one of the guys had a knee issue and their hike was cut short. They said they left a whole bunch of dehydrated food at the shelter if I wanted it. Not turning down yummy dehydrated food....you kidding me? It put thoughts in my head about my well being out here. Knees seem to be an injury that occurs a lot when hiking. It doesn't haunt me, but I still wonder. I'm not as young as a lot of these guys. Ended up at Double Spring Gap Shelter around 5. Jesi and Mark were already there along with 2 spring breakers, and a mid- 40's solo female day-hiker. The dehydrated food they left was self done. Chili-mac, beef stew, and even eggs with bacon. Mark and I packed our bags with it, but Jesi looked at it with caution and wonder. I ate the chili-mac and it was great! Nothing like a hot meal after hiking.We played Rummy 3 handed to pass a little time before slumber. The shelters in the Smoky's are 2 storied, and have a tarp in the front. The 3 of us choose the bottom cause we thought it would be warmer, and the day-hikers were on the top. They also have a fireplace inside the shelter. Mark and I got the fire going for a bit, but everything was still wet for the most part. Oh well, we tried.Looking forward to Clingman's Dome tomorrow, plus a half day of hiking before taking a NERO in Cherokee!Song of the day, Your my Home, -Billy Joel Great, not as popular song by him.Movie of the day, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The final scene is just the best. "Blondie!!!!!!!, You know what you are!!!!!!!???? Your nothing but a....."