Date: 2017-05-24
From: Siler's Bald Shelter 

To: Newfound Gap - Gatlinburg 
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: moderate rain

5/24/17 Day 17Siler's Bald Shelter to Newfound Gap12.8 miles Sometimes the mountain wins. Torrential downpours and cold windy conditions whooped me today and forced us into Gatlinburg TN. We woke up to near freezing temps and zero visibility and put on the clothes that were still soaked from yesterday's storms. The only thing to do is start walking immediately or start shivering. I started walking. Fast. The original plan was to do about 15 miles to Icewater Spring Shelter. The fog was coming and going and the wind was knocking all the leftover rain off of the trees and onto my head. The trail was beautiful through dense fir trees above 5500'. We also passed through high meadows but unfortunately there have been no views for us up to this point in the Smokies.A couple big landmarks today were climbing Clingmans Dome- the highest point on the entire AT and passing the 200 mile mark. We climbed the tower at Clingmans Dome just for principal and as I tried to take some photos of the fog, the wind blew off my hood and my hands quickly froze. I went down twice as fast as I climbed up and checked that off the to-do list. Just as we passed the 200 mile mark, the skies opened up with a freezing cold rain that had me soaked through in less than 5 mins. There was lightning flashing and thunder in the distance and I thought for a second "I should really get inside" and quickly realized there was no inside. Brief panic followed by acceptance kept me moving along. I better get used to the thunder and lightning. I'm certain it will happen plenty in the near future. I checked my map and found that I had 5.5 miles to Newfound Gap parking area where there are restrooms and potential hitches into Gatlinburg. I put my head down and made the miles, sloshing right through the trail which was now an ankle high stream. As I came out to the parking area, the rain had slowed and there were a few tourists just lingering out of their cars. I stood there shivering trying to check my phone for service and looking pathetic hoping someone would offer a ride. After about 45 seconds, I asked the 1st group of guys I saw if they could give me a lift. Blake, Mike, and Zeke didn't blink an eye and said no problem and even apologized for their smell because they had gone out on a morning hike. Hahahaha- I win any stink contest, hands down, against mere Day hikers. We had a nice drive into Gatlinburg and I even got some views as the clouds were breaking. It was nice getting to meet them and good luck Zeke, the future soccer star who's starting high school in the fall.  Within 5 minutes of landing in Gatlinburg, I get a call from Lazy Boy- I've been hiking with him off and on since about day 7. He got his name because he carries a foldable chair that he whips out on every break while the rest of us sit on the ground. He's literally in the store that I'm sitting in front of. Me, him, and another hiker (Mike) split a room at the Travel Lodge. Within 45 minutes we're all showered up and on the main strip in Gatlinburg eating at the Smokey Mountain Brewery. Hard to believe that an hour before, I was soaked and near hypothermic and now here I am in tourist heaven. Dirty Jesus, the German brothers, and Benji are in town for the night also so we hit the town again for 2nd dinner. We had a hell of a time at the brewery with the musicians and the locals are just incredibly awesome to the hikers.  Glad we got rained into this place.