Date: 2014-04-03
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Icewater Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

In which so much has happened I hope I can remember it all.I was up and out of the shelter by 0730 this morning. A new record for me. Many miles to cover today so best to get an early start. We had hoped to see a sunrise from Siler's bald. Mother Nature had another plan. It was cloudy, misty and occasionally rainy with traces of lightening this morning. Needless to say the view from Siler's Bald was white, involved clouds and rain drops and a confusing rock with a path around it and ambiguous AT white blaze markings, funny in a way. Hope I can find that picture to post.We hiked another 4.8 miles to Clingman's Dome and saw 3 deer along the way. The forest below was beautiful, smelled fresh and was very pretty. Then we climbed up to the Dome above tree line. The wind was blowing. It rained some. There were ridge walks with views of clouds and dead tree trunks piercing the clouds, also very mysterious and beautiful. Remnants of the snow graced the muddy trail. When we arrived at Clingman's Dome it was socked in by clouds, no views were offered but we went to the top of the tower for pictures anyway.Then the real fun began. It was back to the trail which was mud, slush, ice or a stream. I set out by myself and immediately took a sliding fall down an ice covered rock. Landed safely and no body parts were hurt, other than my pride. My shoes again were covered in mud, were wet, my socks were soggy and my rain pants were bathed in mud. Mud was everywhere! I'm seeing a theme here. The walk coming down from the Dome was very enjoyable and pretty. There were pine forests that smelled like Christmas, moss covered logs, and the trail briefly morphed into a rock bedded stream in which I rock hopped down the stream. Staying dry was not an option today.After Fork Mtn. trail there was a piped spring and an inviting area to sit and take a break. That I did and was joined by Murphy, Superscout and Opie. I also passed I Believe who said there was trail magic in Newfound Gap. Yeah! Always welcome on a long day. The incentive of free food always motivates a hiker to press on, quickly might I add. I hiked 3.4 miles in record time through a fenced off area of Birch Forest intended to keep the wild boar out. Interesting. Then rumor became reality. As I came up out of the Newfound Gap there were Bernie and Beth. Trail Angels providing Trail Magic! Beth motioned me over, asked if I'd like a sandwich and then proceeded to treat us all like royalty. She made me a bologna and cheese sandwich on white bread with mayonnaise and wasabi. It was the BEST sandwich I've ever had in my life. If that wasn't enough she offered me not only a bag of fritos but also a coke a cola. I haven't had a soda in years and I knew that rule of mine was going out the window on this hike. Calories, right? It was just wonderful. Then she had hiker boxes full of any kind of supplies a hiker could ever need. I got more blister bandaids and hot sauce! Wow! Thank you so much for your generosity! It's truly humbly to see how people are so willing serve this rag a muffin bunch of hikers out of the goodness of their hearts! Thank you from the bottom of mine! I can't wait to pay it forward someday. Oh, and I got a pack of Nutter Butter cookies to go. I'm in heaven!Newfound Gap was a flurry of activity with car traffic driving to and from Clingman's Dome and Gatlinburg. People were everywhere, cars were whizzing by and it was quite an exciting place for a break. Eventually I had to pull myself away and hike the last 3 miles to the shelter, but I was powered up and ready to roll. I hustled to the shelter at 5939 ft. in record time. I saw a copper colored snake sunning itself on the rocks by the trail. I saw a boar trap set up in the woods. I saw red squirrels and identified the noise I've been hearing as the Ruffed Grouse. Another mystery solved! A Ridgerunner was at the shelter when I finally arrived. The shelter was full and a reservation for 8 people yet to come allowed me the opportunity to set up my tent and camp outside the shelter. So I did with Rob and Inflammable. Rain it threatening again so Murphy opted to stay in the shelter since there was room for one. She and I are the only females here tonight in a bunch of 20+ hikers. This shelter has the best view over a valley and sea of mountains. Was a very scenic place to cook and eat dinner. Hope to catch a glimpse of a sun rise in the morning weather permitting.I passed the 200 mile marker today. That's kind of unbelievable when I think about it. I hiked my longest day yet, my feet hurt a little and I am very happy to be off them at the moment. I'm crawling into my tent and enjoying the luxury of my own space not invaded by other people or mice!