Woke up early for a long day of hiking--at least 15 miles.
The highlight of the day was reaching the highest point on the Appalachian Trail, Clingmans Dome (elev 6,655 ft).
We walked up the tower on top of Clingmans and down to the gift store. The guidebook said there would be sodas and snacks; it lied. In our plight to find the soda we met Joan, a Smoky Mountain volunteer. She wants to hike the Appalachian Trail next year and was happy to talk to us and gave us her lunch. After politely declining, Dan-o, Otto, B and I gobbled up her chicken salad, carrot sticks and cookies.
Back on the trail we proceeded the last 4 miles to the shelter for the night. They turned out to be the looooongest miles of the day. The trail turned to ice. The snow had compacted, melted, then froze and at that point had become a royal pain in my rear--literally, I fell multiple times.
Slid into camp, ate a Lipton side with old and new friends and was in bed by 8 p.m.
So where is your next post office drop and do you need anything? Got worried cause we haven't heard from you guys, but i understand no signal.
ReplyDeleteJayW213