Date: 2005-04-23
From: New Found Gap

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light snow

The shuttle was promised to be available at 9 AM. We, all who wanted to leave, were ready by then. Problem was nobody told the driver. The weather turned cold and snow once again was predicted. Those of us who decided to leave needed to make a decision, either stay for another day or hitch up to the Gap. I decided to hitch, I walked to the road and never even put my thumb out when an SUV pulled over and was asked if I needed a ride up. Gratefully I loaded my gear in the back and climbed in (Trail Magic for sure). The gentlemen's name was Kip. He and his wife was heading over the pass and said they always tried to give hikers a ride (Thanks Kip). They were in their 70's and still actively hiked there in the Smoky's.    By the time I reached the Gap and was dropped off, the visibility was down to about 25 feet. The road was closed I was told soon after and was closed for two days. I was in my shorts and tee shirt when I entered the trail (it was nice down below). I moved on till I came upon the Ice Water Spring Shelter @ 5920 feet. Here I ran in to Pig Bear and his Girlfriend all cuddled up and cozy, playing the guitar and singing (nice). He said he heard my Bear Bell ringing and knew it was me. When moving I was fine but once I stopped, wow the cold hit me. I have suffered frost bite twice and near hypothermia once during my life. I did not like the way I felt and quickly jumped up a couple of snivel levels real fast. A snivel level is military jargon for putting on more clothes. Pig Bear was laughing at me as I described what a snivel level was and how I was an expert at speed dressing.    Once settled in I cooked a small meal and was contemplating on moving on. Praying Mantis and New Heart stopped in and said Noodle was ahead of them and passed me by without stopping in. They were about to move on and asked if I wanted to come with so off we went. The weather turned to freezing rain but the trail was clearly marked. Noodles foot prints were the only ones ahead of us so we figured we would move on and link up with him at one of the shelters up the trail. The wind was hawking (blowing hard) and the trail became slick but no problem moving along. New Heart (named because of recent heart surgery) was tiring and we decided to take a break. I asked Praying Mantis to move forward and find a place out of the wind, that I will hike with New Heart and once he found a spot to get his stove cranking. We ALL needed something warm by this time. Praying Mantis found an excellent place and we had something hot in us within minutes. I even let New Heart sit in my chair (I could have sold those chairs by the dozens on this trip).    Most hikers would say that they would not carry the extra weight (12 Oz) but once they sat on it, out of the mud and snow, they all wanted one. (note: a picture of this break is on file) We soon passed the next shelter and could tell by the footprints that Noodle passed this one by. The next shelter was another five miles away and we had plenty of daylight left so on we continued. We spent the night at Tri-Corner Shelter with 20 other hikers. It was tight quarters but not impossible. The question always asked was just how many people can you fit in one shelter? The answer... everyone !