Date: 2009-04-13
From: Pecks Corner Shelter, NC

To: Cosby Knob Shelter, NC
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It started raining last night and rained on and off all day. I woke up to another foggy day, so we only got one nice sunny day. We are all looking for several consecutive sunny days in a row and warmer weather. I am not the only one with this wish. The only word to describe today was WINDY! Remember those awesome views I had walking along the ridge yesterday, well today I was afraid I was going to get blown off similar ridges. I know I looked drunk as I tried to walk across these ridges as the wind would blow me all over the place. When I'd pick up my poles, they'd blow to the left and then I'd aim them to a spot way to the right to get them to land where I wanted them to. I almost tripped myself with my poles several times. Big gusts would hit me and my pack which would turn me sideways. It was crazy. The wind was very cold and I didn't stop for anything. The ridges were a bit scary with places only being about five feet across with steep banks on each side and I was afraid I was going to be blown into the foggy space. I saw trees being blown free from the ground. They'd blow way to the left and I'd see the bottom of the roots before they'd move back upright. I moved quickly past the trees that were being blown across the trail. I'd like to know what the wind gusts got up to today. I felt like I was fighting it all day. I passed over the last mountain in the Smokies that is above 6000 ft. Yeah! I did a little dance to celebrate and headed for lower elevation. Lower elevation means warmer temperatures (in theory anyway). I was so happy when the trail went along the left side of the mountain and out of the wind. It was so nice to be out of the wind for even a little bit. However, most of the trail today was either on top of a ridge or on the right side. Windy, windy. The trail was in pretty good shape today for the most part. I did have to hike through some snow and some mud, but not as much as days past. The shelter is way crowed already and it is still early. We already have eight people on the lower shelf which is designed for six. I think the top is pretty crowded as well. There is another shelter about seven miles up the trail that is going to be super crowded tonight as well and all these hikers are going to be headed out of the park tomorrow. The Standing Bear Farm is a little ways out of the park and just about everyone is going to be headed there tomorrow for resupply, showers and laundry. Due to the snow, the hikers are all stacked up on top of each other. Three days after Standing Bear is Hot Springs and most hikers are talking about taking a zero there. I was planning on spending the night at Standing Bear, but it depends on how crowded it is. I may just get my mail drop and move on. I am so hoping for some good weather from here to Hot Springs as I will probably have to use my tent until I get there. The shelters in the Smokies are designed for 12 and hikers are cramming over 20 in them. The shelters outside of the park are a lot smaller causing more hikers to have to tent. Anyway, tomorrow I leave the Smokies. Yeah! I am hoping for nice weather which would give me three days nice weather and three days of fog. I will let you know tomorrow. Ha.