Date: 2004-04-05
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Campground
Miles today: 18.1

I write tonight after an awesome day of hiking. I am thrilled to be done the Smokies despite amazing views. Upon reflection, yesterday was hideous hiking. Last night my feet were ice cubes. I thought I was being a wimp for complaining yesterday, although I bruised my feet and hurt my knee. One of the 2 guys in the shelter tonight, Full Moon, has hiked the whole trail and thought that yesterday was the worst day ever....this made me feel nicer.   For all the bad yesterday was, that is how splendid today was. I hiked 15.6 miles in 6 hours to leave the Smokies. The snow melted and ice went away. I saw a fox squirrel (which is endangered), I saw old growth forest, and I saw more breath taking views. Almost all day was downhill and every step was a blessing after yesterday's torturous conditions. I left at 8 AM and hiked with "Hawkeye". We were both stunned at how quickly the nastiness turned gorgeous. I hiked the last 3 miles out of the Smokies with Full Moon and we flew. We then pushed 2.5 miles past the Pigeon River and I-40 to the Standing Bear Campground.    Today I saw Trillium and smal flowers that look like mountain confetti. Trees were even in bloom......one might think that it is Spring. By 3:30 I had covered 18.1 miles, had a great time of prayer, and had unthawed the shoes that had been frozen solid in the morning.   Tonight a friend of Full Moon drove us to Pizza Hut. I also had a warm shower, cleaned my clothes, checked e-mail, and called to wish my dad a "Happy Birthday". Beast and Full Moon are with me tonight and are both awesome laid-back guys. Beast use to live in D.C. and Full Moon was a bartender so there is plenty to talk about. In addition, Full Moon has a beautiful Golden Retriever, Jessie, who reminds me of our dog Destin at home. I love talking with the guys and getting e-mail from home. I am in such high spirits tonight.    To everyone who writes me, thank you. You cannot imagine how much it means to me. God has blessed me so much and I had an amazing time of prayer again. I will close with my deep thought of the day and a poem:Deep Thought: The tough days strengthen you such that normal days no longer seem bad at all. Part of today's enjoyment was the contrast to yesterday's strain. I already knew I could handle so much more after yesterday's hike. In James 1:2 it talks about how the trials of life grow us and produce perseverance and hope.Poem: The Smokies to MeThe Smokies a place of beauty and painThe views spectacular, the weather insaneSteep but awesome, with beauty surroundingTo stare off a ridge, simply astoundingMore than mountains, or Dolly Parton's homeMore than Rocky Top, more than Clingman's DomeMore than bears, shelters, or tourists to meFor I know there was more God wanted me to seeTo see that the path is greater than a destinationTo see beauty that coincides with tribulationTo see how whats rough, only serves to make you strongerTo make you more tough when the path only gets longerThe Smokies were hardly a "walk in the park"For every view beautiful, was a step that was starkBut through perils and falls, not sooner but laterI was not as amazed at the creation as I was the creator.Goodnight, Beatbox   ttt