Date: 2007-02-28
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: The Dave and Terri Nelson's House
Miles today: 10.5

Hands down my favorite day of the entire trip (so far).Today we hit the 200 mile mark. It seems like the second 100 miles went a lot faster (and smoother) than the first. Our day began a lot earlier than usual, around 5 am. We woke up and quickly packed up. It was bitter cold because we were at an altitude of about 5507 ft. We took off up towards Clingman's Dome,the highest point on the entire Trail, with the intent of seeing the sunrise from the lookout tower at the summit. We were later getting off than we had hoped so we high-taled it up. Whateva took his first fall on the trail with the utmost grace. We didn't want to stop for fear of missing the sunrise so we kept our warm layers on and were drenched with sweat. By the time we reached the top we were almost at a running pace. We did the 3 miles of uphill in under an hour and got to the top of the lookout tower just in time. We had one of the most amazing views - a full 360 degree of the sunrise. It was well worth it. I doubt many people (thruhikers considered) get to see what we witnessed. The sky was clear except for a few airliners and was the most magnificent blues, oranges and shades of red the silhoutted the distant mountains including the highest on the east coast, Mt Micthell. We were able to see what we estimated as over 100 miles as the sun continued to rise. We stayed up there for as long as we could bear the wind and headed down the tower ramp. We kept moving but were quickly slowed down by a thick accumulation of ice (over 2 inches in some spots) on the trail. We took it slow going down and Ant and Whateva took an uncountable amount of falls. They both report bruised fannies but have yet to show me proof of such. At one point we sat down and slid down the trail on our butts. We passed about 5 section hikers headed up and warned them about the ice. They assured use they had "crampons" and would do fine. We sat down in the sun and ate breakfast at around 9 am. and then pushed on down to Newfound Gap. After almost an hour we finally managed to catch a ride down into Gatlinburg,TN. Gatlinburg is a place unlike any other (except maybe Myrtle Beach) for which we were all unprepared to see. As soon as Smoky Mtn National Park ends Gatlinburg shoots up. It is densly packed into a tiny area and based around one road. It was truely a shock for us coming from the solitude and simplicty of the woods. G-burg threw Riply's, every corperate fast food resturant, and tons of lights and tackiness. It is like a Disney World or Myrtle beach thrown in the mtns of Tenn. Wingfoot describes it as a "tourist mecca that overwhelms the senses". When we were able to collect our thoughts we found a local mexican resturant and ate lunch. We then sat for a few hours in front of one of the many candy shops on the strip and enjoyed people-watching. Ant's cousin, KAYLA (who, at her request will be named from now on in the journal) and her friend special Adam came and picked us up at around 4 and brought us to Farragut (a suburb outside Knoxville). We were welcomed, despite our stench and had a wonderful meal with the Nelson's and friends and chatted for a while. We are thankful to be amoung family/friends and to have a shower and a bed. We concluded that it was the most eventful day thus far. "I lift up my eyes to the mountains,From where shall my help come?My help comes from the Lord, Who made Heaven and Earth.He will not allow your foot to slip;He who keeps you will not slumber.Indeed He who watches over IsraelWill neither slumber nor sleep."-Psalm 121 A song of Ascents.