Today will be similar to the hike I had two days ago. Runtrails hiked this huge segment going north. I don't know how she did it in one day. I am taking her advice by going south. I have a long day, but at least I have a large net loss in elevation. Of course, I will still have plenty of up including this bonus, a 1/2 mile hike up the paved walkway to Clingmans Dome.
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Double Spring Gap Shelter
In the picture above, note the chain link fence across the shelter.
There have been a lot of bear 'issues' in the southern Smokies.
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Silers Bald Shelter
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Derrick Knob Shelter
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I dropped down into a gap . . .
. . .which meant I would have to go up.
My biggest climb of the day was up to Thunderhead Mountain.
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The weather cleared a little bit. I still couldn't see anything in the valleys, but I could see more of the open areas of the trail.
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I saw several equestrians today. Apparently they didn't realize that horses aren't allowed on the A.T. In some ways, this was an easier section than the one I did the day before yesterday. It was much more runnable for one thing. What made it more difficult was that it was much warmer, and although I liked where we were staying I got a horrible night's sleep. When I started at 7:00 this morning, I was already tired with a long 30+ mile day ahead of me. I stopped to talk with these section hikers at Russell Field Shelter.
"Where are you headed?" one of them asked.
"Fontana Dam," I replied.
"TODAY," he exclaimed.
"Yep."
"Where did you start?" the other one asked.
"Clingmans Dome," I answered.
"TODAY," they said together.
"How can you go so far in one day?"
"An early start, a light pack, lots of running, and not wanting to spend the night out here."
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I was fortunate to have so much runnable trail today.
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Mollies Ridge Shelter
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I was hoping to see a bear today. I came close. On more than one occasion I had met hikers who had just seen one. Finally, a sign that has Fontana Dam written on it. 6.8 miles to go.
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Well that two miles went fast. 4.8 miles to go.
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This my last chance for a view in the Smokies. The weather still was not cooperating.
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I really hadn't seen any wildlife on this two week trek other than your typical squirrels, birds, small snakes etc..., so it was nice to come across this deer with about a mile left in my day.
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Lynn met me at the Fontana Dam Trailhead which is about a half a mile from Fontana Dam. Momentum and gravity were on my side so I continued walking until I reached the dam. Tomorrow I hike a tiny 2 mile section near the dam before beginning the long, long drive home.
