We packed up off the side of the mountain and got moving before daylight as we have been hearing about a major weather change approaching with snow freezing rain and accumulating snow predicted tonight. We were thinking we'd best see if we could make a big push and possibly end down in elevation or out as we didn't have much in the way of cold weather gear.
As we climbed to the top of the mountain we were on we could see the top was heavily fogged in and covered in what's called rim ice, a heavy snow like frost. Actually made for very cool setting with this heavy white coating on all the foliage
As we climbed to the top of the mountain we were on we could see the top was heavily fogged in and covered in what's called rim ice, a heavy snow like frost. Actually made for very cool setting with this heavy white coating on all the foliage
As we ran into hikers we kept hearing that their is a bad night approaching so we thought we'd better give finishing a shot so on with a big push with many climbs right to the very end capstoned with a final climb up and over the Notch before a 6 mile decent to Fontana dam under a cold rain right at dusk. Took a quick pic and ran into the welcome facility for a quick change. By the time we jumped back into the car it was 32 then 31 degrees with heavy snow all the way out the 25 miles on route 28 "Tail of the Dragon road" out of the mountains. A Marathon which became a 22 mile nail biter at the end.
With this 165 mile hike across Georgia, North Carolina to the Tennessee line our AT dots are now connected with our 2015 AT walkabout through the southern half of the Smokey's.
Till next time Happy Trails
Post script
like my pack hanging. will switch to my War Bonnet Hammock with bug net next year as mosquitos were just starting to be an issue. Also this model, although slightly heavier allows for a really flat lie.
Both should have had another layer of base cold weather light weights in a water proof stuff to be better insured against the worst.
consider going synthetic rather than down on all. Reason being if the down gets wet it's really difficult to get dry before the next night. Where with synthetic it still has warming properties when wet. Again just to ensure against the worst case- wet pack with no backup at hand.
18.5 miles per day is a bit too far even for mountain men. Took its toll and wouldn't be sustainable if we were hiking continuously, especially in mountains such as these.
Would kick up food rations to include some dehydrated peanut butter to supplement the granola through the day.
Might also try the dehydrated packets the college kids were big on from Wal-Mart. Choice of rice, noodles, or kukus with vegetables and cubed chicken, or beef. They have a variety of these and tuna or salmon packets in lieu of Mountain Meal packets.
Like a $1.00 per packet plus the tuna verses $8.00 to $10.00 for the MMP.
1 can of fuel for the jet boil made it through the 9 days but this is the limit as it was running out. Best to pickup another if possible after 5th day.
Dan reported loosing 12 lbs. and I'm now 5 lbs. lighter (after leg swelling went down:) and went into the hike lean. So again, need extra food onboard to remain sustainable.
Lastly I'm already looking forward to our section next year. we may want to consider the week later to take advantage of more forest floor color while still not having the trees leafed out so we can get the views.
Till next time Happy Trails
Post script
like my pack hanging. will switch to my War Bonnet Hammock with bug net next year as mosquitos were just starting to be an issue. Also this model, although slightly heavier allows for a really flat lie.
Both should have had another layer of base cold weather light weights in a water proof stuff to be better insured against the worst.
consider going synthetic rather than down on all. Reason being if the down gets wet it's really difficult to get dry before the next night. Where with synthetic it still has warming properties when wet. Again just to ensure against the worst case- wet pack with no backup at hand.
18.5 miles per day is a bit too far even for mountain men. Took its toll and wouldn't be sustainable if we were hiking continuously, especially in mountains such as these.
Would kick up food rations to include some dehydrated peanut butter to supplement the granola through the day.
Might also try the dehydrated packets the college kids were big on from Wal-Mart. Choice of rice, noodles, or kukus with vegetables and cubed chicken, or beef. They have a variety of these and tuna or salmon packets in lieu of Mountain Meal packets.
Like a $1.00 per packet plus the tuna verses $8.00 to $10.00 for the MMP.
1 can of fuel for the jet boil made it through the 9 days but this is the limit as it was running out. Best to pickup another if possible after 5th day.
Dan reported loosing 12 lbs. and I'm now 5 lbs. lighter (after leg swelling went down:) and went into the hike lean. So again, need extra food onboard to remain sustainable.
Lastly I'm already looking forward to our section next year. we may want to consider the week later to take advantage of more forest floor color while still not having the trees leafed out so we can get the views.
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| more trail magic. Apples put out for hikers |
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| Dan looking the mountain man part. Seated on left with the other characters here |
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| End coming into sight. Lake Fontana |
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| At the end of 165 |
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| Lake Fontana Welcome flag. Connected the dots to our 2015 Smokey starting point |
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