Date: 2003-04-16
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Awesome, awesome day!!! Our 4th day of sunshine in a row!! Walking the ridge line of the Great Smoky Mountains -- a mile high -- loving the incredible views. This day ranks up there as the best on the AT so far.After our usual slow start, we set off hiking for Newfound Gap -- approx 4.5 miles up the trail -- arrived to a strange tourist parking lot with many shiny cars, RVs and tourists (tourist Mecca Gatlinburg's just 15 miles down the road). But tourists = food, food we don't have -- yogi time. Mmmmm -- enter the Rymashes -- Jim, Carrie and daughter Brooke from Connecticut. Intrigued by the idea of thru hiking, they asked questions, we answered them and the whole encounter ended with them willingly donating to our bellies some fresh fruit and a caffeine-free diet coke (for 42). Very nice folks -- not just b/c of the offering.Moo even managed to yogi another thru hiker -- Boiler Plate had set up shop on the lawn with a fresh pot of red beans, rice & sausage. Moo asked "hey, what's cooking?" BP answered with an offer, Moo accepted -- offer, acceptance = contract (see, law school learnings are very helpful on the trail). Anyway, BP was waiting for his girlfriend who was visiting and he was heading off trail for some loving -- so he didn't mind sharing.Got a good photo at the NC/TN state line sign with Chapeau the duck and broke out the Moo gut cam -- monitoring the downward progression of his stomach, despite the yogi-ing.After about an hour and the use of a true restroom -- we hit the trail, heading up for a steep 3-mile climb to the next shelter (Icewater Spring Shelter). We hiked there with Pez/Pants/Zev -- a nice guy from NYC (lives right near Fordham Law, in fact). We spent those 3 miles answering questions about law school and reminding Pez that many practicing attys don't dig their careers. You see, Pez aced the LSAT and plans to apply to law school. Now, just to be clear, we were not discouraging Pez, just informing him of some facts. Had a late, but wonderful tuna-salad lunch @ the shelter with Pez. Moo & 42 set off to hike another 7.4 miles to the next shelter -- Pecks Corner Shelter. This 7.4 miles was absolutely beautiful, magnificent!!! The vistas were so numerous and simply marvelous!! If anyone reading this would like to know what day hike to take, just to sample the beauty of the Smokies, this is it -- park @ Newfound Gap, hike North past Icewater Spring Shelter and on to Pecks Corner Shelter. We took our sweet old time, taking in the breath-taking views and enjoying every step of the sunny afternoon.Got to Charlies Bunion, a cool rock outcropping just off the trail. We dropped our packs by the side of the trail, grabbed the camera, and walked the 5 minutes or so out to the Bunion -- wow!!! Waited for Pez to arrive to take our photo -- then spent 15 or 20 minutes just hangin' out, taking in the thrill of nature.Hiked the rest of the way to the shelter, still up over a mile high. Got in just before dark @ about 8:30 -- shelter full, of course. No worries, pitched our Zoid tent with a lovely privy view, cooked up some hot food, called the folks for Happy Passover wishes (got thru to J & H, reached B & R next morn) and bedded down for the night.What a great day!!