Month: March 2019

We made it to Standing Bear.

Our stage is Standing Bear (from the Guthooks/FarOut app that divides the trail into sections)

This morning at the shelter.

And the trail magic.

Admittedly a terrible picture.

But Tugboat is a man among men.

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Standing Bear is an iconic part of the trail. It is where you finally exit the Smokies and is a hostel that has been there a long time. The workers tend to be “work for stay” employees, some who imbibe a lot at work—to the point it impairs their memory.

It is also a place where many vortex.

To Vortex

To hang out at a location and put off continuing your hike.

How vortexed? We had a guy who started January 1 and was still there.

The “Purple People” —two musicians in all lavender clothes and gear hiking the trail to create publicity—were there. We skipped their concert.

Their big problem is they hiked NOBO so they were in a bubble rather than getting new exposure.

The meals served here were great. Low price. Large quality servings. The bunkhouse was full so we got space in an unfinished overflow area.

We did laundry (some of it with mechanical washboards) and caught showers. I had to go into the bunkhouse for towels. Even pretty much congested I gagged at the smell. I was glad to be where we were.

We met Lady Di and some others here.

We made it to Standing Bear. That is basically where the trail drops out of the Smokies and a place that gathers all the thru-hikers at one stop.

Our stage shows up on the map breakdown as Standing Bear Farm.

This morning at the shelter.

And the trail magic is in the picture below.

Admittedly a terrible picture.

But Tugboat is a man among men. Great trail magic.

We had a week on the trail and a zero in Gatlinburg.

Where the road met the trail people were lined up with trail magic (food and snacks).

There was also a line of people waiting to drive hikers into town.

We did laundry and ate one town meal a day. It is a resort town, but pleasant.

And yes, they really have a line for hitchhiking down from the gap.

The rain today and tonight is melting snow and should clear by tomorrow when we will be back on the trail.

I’m surprised by how pleasant it is and how peaceful.

Otherwise, it gets close to 8:00 and I start to feel like going to sleep now.

Our first day out of the NOC was 40k steps.

Some good days. Some days more up and down than others with a lot of vertical.

A week on the trail and a zero in Gatlinburg.

We did laundry and ate one town meal a day. It is a resort town, but pleasant.

They even have a line for hitchhiking down from the gap.

The rain today and tonight is melting snow and should clear by tomorrow when we will be back on the trail.

I’m surprised by how pleasant it is and how peaceful.

Otherwise, it gets close to 8:00 and I start to feel like going to sleep now.

Derrick Knob in the Smokies

Our first day out of the NOC was 40k steps.

Some good days. Some days more up and down than others.

There was a lot of ice and snow. Temperatures got down to 17 degrees. The shelters in the Smokies allow fires and those made a difference.

Gatlinburg was great for respite from the cold and laundry.

Had a real meal.

We overlapped with Rambling Man & Venom who had a rocky relationship and with Pony Keg who was doing a yo yo (had hiked SOBO and was now hiking NOBO back to Katahdin).

We stopped at some hostels and used the wonderful hot showers available at the campground with the Fontana Hilton.

We made good use of all of our gear.

So we ended up going to Wolf Creek Hostel instead or about 16 miles. Then Cable Gap Shelter. By the time of this entry we had reached Fontana Dam. From there we would continue to the Fontana Hilton (a Shelter nick name, not a hotel) then back into the smokies tomorrow.

Weather has been beautiful. Down to slightly below freezing at night. That was much warmer than it had been.

Beautiful clear days. Perfect company.

So we ended up going to Wolf Creek Hostel instead of where we planned or about 16 miles. Then Cable Gap Shelter. Made it to Fontana Dam when I made this entry.

From the Dam we planned to continue to the Fontana Hilton (a Shelter nick name, not a hotel) then into the smokies tomorrow.

Weather has been beautiful. Down to slightly below freezing at night.

Beautiful clear days. Perfect company.

That was the plan. Early to bed. Get up early and then have an easy break in day.

It was cold. Ice on the ground in places.

Mild wind.

Then we got to Sassafras and it is lunchtime, dirty, cold and empty. We were too early.

So, just a few more miles.

Instead of 6.9 …

Closer to 17 instead of 7.

Beautiful views.

Caught a shuttle. Next thing we were Warm. Real bed. Did laundry and showered. In this section we mett a 68 year old retired farmer and hiker. Great guy. Just Alan. (He was renamed ninja mouse). Earlier we were given trail magic muffins by Too Bad.

Passed nine hikers, passed by seven. The numbers are backwards.

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The Smokies were neat. We had a cold spell. Met a lot of people including a pediatric neurosurgeon who missed the weather update about snow rolling in.

We met trail runners and forest rangers. Stayed in several shelters. Met Rambling Man and Venom who we overlapped with for a while.

Also met Pony Keg and some others. These entires were much too short and missed a lot.

NOC to Sassafras Gap Shelter was our plan.

We were early to bed. Our plan was to get up early and then have an easy break in day.

The morning was cold. Ice on the ground in places.

Mild wind.

Then we got to Sassafras and it was lunchtime, and the shelter was dirty, cold and empty.

So, just a few more miles.

Instead of 6.9 …

Our day was slight more than 17 instead of almost 7.

We had beautiful views.

At the gap we caught a shuttle. Warm. Real bed. Did laundry and showered. Met a 68 year old retired farmer and hiker. Great guy. Just Alan who later got trail named Ninja Mouse.

Alan is a great guy. Earlier that day we were given trail magic muffins by Too Bad.

Passed nine hikers, passed by seven. The numbers are backwards.