Date: 2009-04-14
From: Cosby Knob Shelter, NC

To: Standing Bear Farm, TN
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: moderate rain

Just about everyone in the shelter packed up early this morning. I think everyone wanted to get out of the Smokies and to The Standing Bear Farm. The weather started out okay and I hiked out without raingear, but within a mile it had started raining. So on went the rain gear and pack cover. The hike today started with an upgrade and then just a long descent out of the park. I am definitely starting to get in better shape as I am getting up the mountains a little easier each day. I don't go any faster, just don't have to take any breaks. It is nice to feel like I'm getting better. It rained on and off all day today, but I did get one really good view of some distant mountains with the clouds trapped within their peaks. I didn't see any snow today. Yeah! As I went down in elevation, the trees changed from mostly pine trees to mostly oak and maple trees. I got to the boundary of the park and was expecting to see some kind of sign, but nothing. I only knew that I had left the park due to my data book. All the way down the mountain towards the park boundary my spirits were lifting. I am very happy to be out of the park. As soon as I got out of the park the white blazes became abundant. In the park the blazes were far and few between. I started to see more and more wildflowers as I continued walking. I know I saw at least a dozen different flowers and also several of what I believe were flowering dogwood trees. I took lots of pictures. As I was coming down out of the Smokies a young guy came running down the hill as he was in quite a hurry to get to The Standing Bear for a pizza. There was a road just out of the park and he went running to the left down the road. I yelled that he was going down the wrong road, but he didn't hear me. I continued up the trail. A few minutes later he came running past me saying it wasn't down that road. I asked him if he knew where he was going and he said yes and continued running past. We had to go under I-40 and just on the other side was another road. When I got there he was running back to the trail saying it wasn't down that road either. He stopped this time and I got him to take a look at the data pages after which he took off running. Cracked me up. He got here about 15 minutes before me and I didn't even have to run. Ha. I walked by a beautiful creek which had several beautiful waterfalls. I had to rock hop across it several times. I really like walking past moving water. Part of the trail was by the road and I walked across a bridge going over the Pigeon River. I then followed the blazes under I-40 which was a little bizarre as I was having to watch for cars entering and exiting the highway. I then moved back into the woods. I passed through an area that looked like it was part of a recent wildfire. I thought it was recent as there was absolutely nothing green like grass or flowers growing. I finally arrived at the road to The Standing Bear Farm and turned left down the road. This is a very unique place. I chose to sleep in the cabin that sleeps six versus the bunk house that sleeps many more. The laundry is an old washtub with an old washboard and a old-fashioned wringer. There is an actual modern day dryer. There is another outbuilding with food such as pizza, chips and other goodies for the hungry hiker. Another building has a couple of showers and it felt so good to get cleaned up. I didn't think my feet were going to come clean after all the mud they've walked through. Everything is based on the honor system. We put our name on an envelope with an itemized list and put the money inside. Easy as that. I am so glad that I was in the cabin as there is a major party going on right outside the bunk house with much beer being consumed. It sounds like the party is going to go on for some time and most are in the bunk house tonight. Most of my cabin mates are already in for the night journaling or reading. They are Pickle, Trusty, and Skunk Ape. Moose is still out partying, but one coming in late is better than many. Hope he is able to negotiate the ladder to the loft when he gets in. The forecast is calling for afternoon showers tomorrow and then several days of nice weather. I would really enjoy the nice weather as it would help in getting the hikers spread back out. We are all bunched up due to the snow last week. I have a large ascent tomorrow and then it looks relatively easy into Hot Springs, NC. It isn't very far and I should be there sometime Friday. Another shower is always blissful. Glad I have dry, clean socks as well.