Date: 2009-04-09
From: Newfound Gap

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

I got up before 7 (after having gone to bed a little after 1am), showered, ate some breakfast, and packed everything up. I paid the desk clerk $10 to send my shoes back to Erik (or so I thought...!!), and four of us loaded into the taxi van to be taken to our adventure in the snow! I was the last of the group to hit the trail, as I had to put on my crampons, and I was glad I had them at first, as the beginning of the trail was icy! (Mr. Ed said that I was cheating when he saw me with them... I don't think so!). The snow was not nearly as deep as I had expected (I guess the sun the day before had melted a lot of it). It was only a few inches deep, with only a few places reaching my calves. I passed the three people ahead of me and continued the rest of the day on my own. I did meet a very nice man who had thru-hiked in 2006, along with his wife, and he wrote down my name and took my picture! I felt more like a celebrity than I probably ever will! I'm sorry to say that I did not get his name, but I hope that he will sign my guestbook! Then, it was off to Charlie's Bunion! I was hoping to be able to hike this section on a sunny day, as I heard this was the prettiest section of the Smokies, and once again, I got lucky! It was cold and very windy on the bunion outcrop, but it was beautiful. I took the sidepath around the bunion, and enjoyed the landscape around me. Then, I ate a power bar, and headed off. The trail got slushier and mushier along the way, and I did a lot of side-stepping to avoid the puddles and mud. My boots still got soaked, though. I found a nice place to have lunch on Eagle Rocks, and took a relaxing break there. 'Rattler' came along, took a quick peak at the view, and kept moving.   Before I saw him, I didn't know if there would be anyone staying at the shelter with me, as I didn't think the hikers behind me would make it that far.As I continued on, I heard a loud yell, and wondered if I was close to a shelter, or if someone had slipped and hurt themselves. It turned out to be 'Rattler' cursing from slipping and turning his ankle, which was happening to all of us. We couldn't tell where the rocks and roots were in the snow, so we would often step, slip down, and turn our ankles. It was 6:20 and I knew we must be close to the shelter. Rattler thought it was within a mile. Luckily, the sidepath was just up the hill! As I approached it, I found it buzzing with activity! I wasted no time in finding a spot to sleep. As I opened the tarp to the shelter, I saw Truckin' in her sleeping bag in the lower berth! A friendly face! She said she was glad to see me, and I felt the same way! I was introduced to 'El Hombre', who apparently saw me that first day excitedly running around Amicolola falls and wondered to himself, "What is a lady doing running around the wilderness in a skirt?".    I set up my sleeping pad and bag and got out my stove to make myself dinner. 'Bound' and 'Jeremiah Johnson' came into camp, also from Newfound Gap, and Truckin' and El Hombre kept asking them, "When is story time?" They said they would have to wait until after they had their dinner!   I walked over to the bear cables in my bedtime socks and crocs, which was a mistake, as the path was all muddy and wet! Now I had wet socks to wear to bed! But the story we were treated to made up for that! I laughed and laughed, as Jeremiah Johnson told his story of a certain hiker that he was trapped in a shelter with during the two-day storm. Funny things happen out here that you just can't experience at home. He told 'Bound' that she could take over, and she first had to admonish him for leaving out several important details! Bound and Jeremiah Johnson love to sing songs and talk excitedly about the meals they make for themselves. Little things provide a lot of amusement out here.El Hombre was excited to make hot chocolate a little later on in the evening and Truckin' sang, "It's hot chocolate... it's hot chocolate time!" Fun people!