I survived

“Hey all,

Just to let everyone know I'm back from my trip up to Mt. Leconte in the Smokies. That had to be the worst weather in the history of that mountain. It was freezing cold yet it was pouring I mean pouring rain. It was miserable. I can't believe someone didn't die. What an adventure I loved it. Hurt my heel a little on some ice but I loved it. Here's a picture of us on the way out of the shelter

”

“Looks like goooood times.”

“ImaHiker, so glad you guys went. So who is who in the picture? Did you do the Alum Cave Trail like you hoped?”

“Yea I made it up Alum Cave barely. They didn't open the road from the construction until 8:30 am Saturday morning and then while we were up there they closed the road because the storm was so bad. My dad is on the left and I am on the right. That is one awesome trail. Very dangerous with all the ice.”

“I am so glad you got to go!.. Your dad looks so familiar!.. anyways.. glad you went.. we DID try to tell you about what to expect tho.. The Smokies are often underestimated.. as is ANY mountainous area..

It looks like you guys were well prepared tho! So did you sleep at LeConte shelter? I am assuming you walked up, did the overnight and came back the next day?

The Smokies are one of my Favorite places tho! There are so many good trails and areas there.”

“Yea we stayed in the shelter, a group of 4 other guys were up there to but they came up Rainbow. I thought one of them were gonna die he looked really rough when he got into the shelter. It took him about 8 hours to get up there. That's alot of exposure to such harsh weather.”

“That wind is a killer.

Yep, ice and Alum cave trail, a slippery combination. Hey man you finally covered it. How sweet is that?

Sounds like a fun trip.”

“It was a great trip! Still in a good mood from it.”

“So who's the cook? You or your dad?”

“Actually he had a leak in his boot where it filled up with the freezing water and by the time we reached the shelter he was near hypothermic. So I spent most of the time cooking and making hot chocolate while he shivered in the sleeping bag trying to get warm.”

“well I hate that. So what did you end up cooking for your dad to eat? You make something awesome for dinner and breakfast the next morning?”

“For dinner I cooked some tubs of chef boyrdee lasanga and for breakfast I heated up some frozen Snickers and hot chocolate. Not much of a cook really.”

“So did you take any other pictures?”

“Do they still have the bear fence in front of the shelter at Mt. Lecont?”

“As I loooked at the picture I was thinking brothers. I'm sure your dad would like to hear that, sorry imahiker.

There's nothing like an adventure to make you feel good about your outdoor skills.”

“heh.. agreed.. he looks so familiar, I was sure I had hiked with your dad sometime! (kinda looks like skidder).

anyways.. I am sure it was a hike to remember.. heh.. like all that snow?”

“Here's the answer to all of the above question: I actually didn't take that picture, the group who went with us had a digital and emailed me that picture this morning. I have other pictures but my scanner is broken I will try to get some more scanned in soon. They do have the bear fence up still. That sheter is in need of some work it's lookin pretty bad.
I'll make sure I tell my dad that next time I talk to him he'll love it. Do I look old or something. TownDawg you probably haven't hiked with my dad he hasn't been hiking with anyone but myself. He's really the only person I go hiking with besides just a couple of trips.”

“Cold feet suck! On New Years I was warm everywhere except for my feet. My boots and my down booties were both wet. Only thing that saved me were the wet acorn socks covered by wet booties.

Nice to see another face to go with the name!”

“Wouldn't it be great if you could put your feet under your armpits to keep them warm like you can your hands? Here is where someone brags about the fact that they can.”

“Imahiker, were you and your Dad on the AT in the Smokies last Memorial Day weekend? You look alot like some folks I ran into up there then. Maybe you're the same folks?”

“We refer to that shelter as the low rent district. It's the worst one I've been in of all the shelters I've seen.”

“Woah! What a concept, wolfsister! I thought you were gonna make that claim. Then I was immediately gonna make airline reservations to come hike with you, tomorrow.”

“Arclite-Sorry cookie-keep looking. That's not one of my talents.”

“Can you imagine?
Elderly pair survive frigid ordeal
They were sooooo fortunate!”

“I think he said it all when he recalled he hadn't been there for 80 years!”

“Wow! That's a survival story!”

“I am so ashamed of myself. When I first read the story, all I could picture was the poor little old lady moaning "I've fallen and I can't get up". I am glad they are okay, that had to be hell.”