Date: 2010-03-30
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter (Smokies)

To: Icy Spring Shelter (Smokies)
Miles today: 13.8

Brrrr!! It was very cold last night and I didn't sleep too well. The day started out cloudy once again and it was very difficult to put on my frozen clothes. Everything I put on was frozen; shirt, fleece, rain jacket, hiking pants, rain pants, socks, and boots. I quickly took off and had never beens so happy to start on an uphill. Approximately an hour after I started hiking the fog and clouds cleared way and the sun began to show its face. It was so wonderful! The ice from the last couple of days had caused the the pine branches to hang low and everytime I flung a branch up ice would fall down my neck, brrr, and I ascended the mountain the snow became deeper, but fortunately it had been pretty well packed from the previous hikers.It was only a few miles before we hit Clingman's Dome, the highest peak on the AT, and at over 6,600 feet I really felt like I had accomplished something big! Despite the wind in the tower, it felt great to stand up there and look out on the Smokies (at least what I could see of them due to a little bit of lingering fog).As I descended Clingman's Dome, the temperature had really begun to rise and as the ice falling from the trees turned to liquid, it felt like it was pouring rain with clear skies above me and I was soaked!The conditions coming down the mountain were poor, the snow was drifted very high, and although it was packed ice, the warm temperatures were creating dangerous snow bridges. Many time I would place my foot in the wrong spot and have the snow underneath my feet collapse on me. Having my microspikes was very handy and once I took them off a little too early and started sliding all over the place. Fortunately, most of the blowdowns had been cleared but I can imagine as the temperatures get warmer, the danger of snow collapsing will increase and some of those drifts were very big and it may become even more dangerous. I can imagine the eleven miles to Newfound Gap was much higher having to climb up and down drifts all day and it was definetely hard on my ankles.Newfound Gap was a shocker. I had been alone for most of the day but as I hiked up to the gap I found it to be crawling with people! More people than I had seen in a long while. Many left there cars only to take pictures of the NC/TN and Appalachian Trail signs, but there were kids climbing up a little stone tower and day hikers galore. A former thruhiker, Jericho, and his wife Sharon were doing trail magic and I was so grateful for soda, cookies, cupcakes, and all types of goodies! Thanks guys! I even managed to fit a few extras in my pack for later. I was told that all my friends had gone into Gatlinburg to dry out there things and it was mighty tempting to join them, but the thought of seeing my dog in a few days drove me on to Icy Spring Shelter. It was pretty entertaining watching the day hikers the first few miles on the trail skeetering on the sides to avoid the snow and mud. Even after a couple miles a few of them still managed to keep their white tennis shoes clean. I got a few funny looks as I splashed through the mud and snow keeping my rythm up the mountain, but after the first two miles I saw nobody.Icy Spring shelter was in a great location, and although it was pretty full, the guys managed to make room for me, thanks!