Date: 2017-03-26
From: Double Springs Gap Shelter

To: Newfound Gap - Gatlinburg TN
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

On to the finish line for this section. Today began last night as for some reason my mind was very active and I hardly slept a wink all night. I was going over the plans for today's walk. 10.4 miles is normally a very simple hike but I was unsure with the climb to Clingman's Dome mixed in. The big climbs are the main concern with my weary and weak strength level. Then around 4:00 this morning a monsoon hit the shelter with drenching rain and high winds. So I was going over whether to stay put or go out later if the rain let up. The distance was probably at my limit so I could not wait long to start and still make it. The only place to stop along the way is Mount Collins shelter a few miles past Clingman's Dome but 1/2 mile downhill off the trail (with that climb in the morning too). The rain and wind made the shelter seem like trying to sleep in a popcorn popper. Under normal conditions I hike in the rain and hardly bother with trying to stay dry except for my face (glasses) and upper body if hypothermia is a possibility. In this hard driving rain I needed to be careful. I decided to go for it as originally planned to Newfound Gap, loaded up the pack and was off. The climb to Clingman's Dome started at 5510' and Clingman's is 6643'. The trail up was like walking up a creekbed - water coming at me from above the whole way. Rain was blown by the wind which also blew clouds across the path with near zero visibility at times. But it went very well - about 3 miles. I was encouraged. I went to the spiral concrete tower at the summit to get pictures of it, but there were no views of the mountains - as expected. About 7 1/2 miles to go. A long downhill from the dome with the water now coming at me from behind on the trail. Then a big climb up over Mount Collins and down the other side to the shelter side trail. Took much longer than I thought - so much longer that I assumed I had missed the side trail somehow. Disappointment when I found the side trail and saw my progress was slowed way down. Then another 4 1/2 miles to go with the usual mixture of terrain.  Again I was disappointed when I saw a paved road ahead, and found it was Road Prong trailhead with a small parking lot on the Clingman's Dome road (road closed until April 1). At first I thought it was Newfound gap and the parking area there, but there were almost 2 more miles to go. Marlene had passed the phone number of Kirk C. to me in a text message awhile back. Kirk had offered any help I might need in this area of the hike. I had tried to call Kirk from several high points all day with no success. I tried one more time at Road Prong Trail and got him. We arranged for Kirk to pick me up at Newfound Gap in a couple of hours. Kirk and Bev are friends of ours from Campus Crusade for Christ days back in Colorado and California, and had both been in the bridal party at our wedding. Great friends, and today I needed a friend badly. I actually got to Newfound Gap a little earlier than expected. I had to layer up again as the cold blowing rain chilled me right away once the work stopped. Kirk arrived at the bleak stormy gap and we got to their home in Sevierville TN in about 45 minutes. Great friends, and we are relaxing and watching March Madness, catching up where we left off the last time we were together. I will make plans tomorrow but I need some time off to get fully recovered and also resupply. In our little snips of time when we could get text messages through Marlene shared that many were aware of my situation and were praying for me. Thank you so much. Your prayers were answered today. Goodnight Sweetheart.