Date: 2005-04-27
From: Newfound Gap

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: light rain

I am doing it the long way! I got lost in the Smokies! How in the world I did it, I have no clue, but I did. Just yesterday I was telling the three blind mice how I had had so much fun in Oregon being a part of the Search and Rescue team. I had even taught land navigation! Yet, I got lost again. Mind you, the reason I joined search and rescue in the first place is because I had gotten lost before. Not that they ever found me, but they did go looking for me at least three times that I can think of: Summer Camp 1977, Mt. Hood 1982, and a hunting trip in 1989! So, I headed up the trail from Newfound Gap early in the morning after a good breakfast of potatoes and hotdogs. I had packed a good lunch. Hot dog sandwiches and bagels with cream cheese as well as provisions for two nights though I was hoping to do the 30.1 miles in two days. I was dressed for snow and there was a fine sheet of ice on the ground. I heard the music of a bird called yellow crowned something or another and took a few photos of the Smokies in the morning mist. On down the trail, I came to a sign. I took a photo, and since it said 0.2 miles to Icewater Spring Shelter, I decided not to go check the log. I had a long day and I didn¢t want to walk 0.4 miles extra. Then off down the trail I went. (This is where I went wrong) Not too far down the trail (the wrong trail) there was a sign said ¢Jump off¢. I climbed up for photos, a most challenging trail, and returned to the sign. I made sure to go the right way. So off I went again (farther up the wrong trail) and on I went. After a while I checked my cheat sheet. It didn¢t list the jump off which was strange! And it said I should have been to Charlies Bunion by now. I was sorry I had missed it. I kept going and now I was actively looking for a white blaze. Just one would have been enough. I started to think angry thoughts about the Wilderness Rules, that they couldn¢t even tolerate a few white blazes and a sign now and then! Then as I rounded a bend in the trail, I could see I was not heading in the right direction! I was clearly heading North. When I checked my cheat sheet again (wishing I had found my map this morning) I figured out I was on the Boulevard Trail to Mt. LeConte. I had no idea how far it was, but since I had photographed it yesterday, I thought I¢d go check it out. It was a treacherous trail. Parts of it had cable to hang on to so you would not fall to your death! Ice and snow didn¢t help. The views started to go away as the snow clouds moved in. I could only see white! I finally reached a sign that said the AT was 4.6 miles behind me and the lodge was .7 miles ahead. Well, I had come this far, I went to the lodge. Hoping for a Margarita, or at least a hot chocolate! But unfortunately, it was not that kind of lodge. The dinner Lounge was closed and the office only sold candybars, postcards and patches. So I bought a postcard and a patch! The lady in the office offered me a candy bar, but I was carrying enough food already. I proceeded back down the way I came and met a couple dayhikers on their way up. I met another group of three who had passed three other hikers (who shall remain nameless) who had also gone the wrong way. They had turned around after 3 miles and where about 40 minutes ahead of me! I caught up to them at Icewater Spring shelter. That¢s where I decided to stay. I had done 13.6 miles but I had only accomplished 3 miles for the day! Chilly showed up and Mild Bill. Hal and another guy. Then two from Mt LeConte Shelter. I had seen their packs hanging earlier! After eating all my lunch and making lasagne for dinner. I was too full to eat it all. I gave it to Hal as he walked in. And Buzzsaw and NAJ passed by and continued in. It was cold and sleet was falling. There was a fire! The three blind mice read to us from ¢Lost¢ about a scout who had gone missing from this very shelter! The quote in the book went something like¢ Near the sign which clearly marked the way¢! I¢ll have to get the book I guess.