Smoky Thru-Hike Trip Report-by trekkngir l

“I added by trekkngirl so my fellow hikers not familar with TT could find it.OK-OK :~ )

Wed.6/4 Our trip started with Wagee(means WOLF),Whippoorwhil,and myself leaving a car at Big Creek Ranger station.We drove to Fontana Dam,packed up and headed for the Applachian Trail across the dam.We had a gain of about 2100 FT over 3.5 miles to Shuckstack Tower.We climbed the tower with amazing panoramic views of the Smokies.About 2 more miles we reached Birch Springs campsite where we set tents(no shelter there anymore).
Thurs.6/5 We arose early for an elevation climb of 700 Ft over and over for the next 10 Miles.Passed Mollies shelter where we saw many chipmunks.Passing through Abrams Gap and beautiful grassy Spence Field,Whippoorwhil reported he saw a black bear asleep on the trailside.Both were startled and went their own ways.
At Spence Field Shelter we met a women's club of thru-hikers going north to south,One of which was called Climber.She remembered me being at Trail Days in Damascus,Va.and also that cute,nice man at the backingdeals.com booth that sold her everything so cheap. Also a young AT thru-hiker came slicing through our came doing 20-30 miles a day he says.He didn't like his trail name Poptart so I renamed him Slicer.He liked that better.

Fri.6/6 Up early for a long hard day of 12 miles of trekking over beautiful Rocky Top 5,441 ft and Thunderhead 5,527 ft.These mountains were covered with rhododendron and lovely views of Fontana Lake.Wagee saw a bear on this trek as it ran off.Today I was worn out by the continous up and down of the same elevations until I reached Silers Bald Shelter as the last one.Then it started to rain and it rained all night.Slicer had to stop there because he turned his ankle.

Sat.6/7 Wished Slicer luck with his ankle as we were leaving and I told him to let me know how his trip turns out, since I am his "trail Mom" by giving him his trail name.So with it still raining we headed for Clingman's dome 6,643 ft.We met many trail workers in progress,it was trail days they said.We told them we appreciated all their work and they offered to give us their shovels,pick,and saws,but they didn't look ultralight to us so we said maybe later.
After summitting Clingman's Dome we started down to Mt.Collins Shelter.It opened and poured.All our waterproof shoes and clothes were sopping wet.?? Anyway I found this day the best.The trail was full of water as running streams.I felt like a child again playing in the rain,quiet stimulating I thought.Wagee and Whippoorwhil weren't as happy about the rain though.Did 8 miles today.

Sun.6/8 Left Collins for Newfound Gap.There we washed up and laid wet clothes out to dry while we waited for BugEater (??) to arrive with more supplies.But all these tourist people kept looking at us like we were some smelly,grimmy thru-hikers or something, HELLO.Then BugEater arrived and we left for Icewater Springs Shelter.Missed the great views today because of rain earlier,but this place is really gorgeous.7.5 mi today.At the shelter we were fixing supper when thousands of black flying things began to cover everything and us.BugEater was preparing potatoes and many of these bugs helped themselves to her dinner.She just continued and ate the things too.Hince the trail name Wagee gave her.It did look like pepper though. AT hiker came through,said he saw 3 bears in the last mile.I was already bedded down for the night but I remembered the pack of jerky I left in my coat pocket which is now my pillow.So I got up and put it in my handydandy bearcan.All was safe now.

Mon 6/9 Left Icewater Spgs.Wagee and I and headed toward Tri-Corner Knob.Beautiful views of North Carolina side of the Smokies.The rolling hills seem to go on forever.Hiking along I heard a loud gutteral growl,Wagee heard it also.I looked into the brush hoping to see him(since I haven,t yet) but another growl let me know I should just back off and go on down the trail.So we did.At Tri-Corner the ladies enjoyed the sun while our boots and some clothes were drying.13 miles today but great weather.

Mon6/10 We had planned 2 days for the next 16 miles but we were ready to move on out today and get an early start home.This was mostly down hill of 4,000 ft,but very beautiful views.Whippoorwhil again saw a mother bear and her 3 cubs.He clapped his hands and one cub jumped into the tree.Isn't that cool.Wagee got to Davenport Gap first and then walked to the ranger station to get his SUV.Thank you Wagee.My toes felt like mush.We left for Gatlinburg and because someone wanted Kentucky Fried chicken (really bad) we stopped and ate there.We could hardly walk as we got out of the car to go in.BugEater looked like the "tin man"on OZ.It was so funny.We ate,laughed,and talked awhile and headed out.Why did I think about MULCH after the going to the toilet????
On to Newfound Gap,we got our dumped items and gear out of BugEaters car gave a group hug and she departed for home.Wagee,Whippoorwhil and I headed to Fontana,I got in my car and we followed each other out of the mountains.

This was a most wonderfulfor all I feel.Great company and nature,s beauty are a great combination.My dream is to do the whole AT someday.This was a dream and it came true so why not?

Sorry no pictures yet I don't have one of those Diggy cameras,but maybe WW or Wagee will share some of theirs. SORRY SO LONG

JUST SO AWESOME !!!! :~ )”

“trekkngirl-

you are so lucky you saw bear!! (and even luckier it ran off!) that'd be cool!

great trip report, thanks for sharing!”

“great trip report, can't wait to see the pics!”

“Thanks for the trip report trekkngirl. I hope to be doing Newfound to Davenport Gaps this week.”

“Your welcome guys ! Stovestomper I knew your hike would be close,but not close enough.When will we hike together again? Six months is too long--ya think? We went into Mt.Mama's for a coke also.She didn't have any chicken... :~ (”

“Trekkngirl - You SHOULD have come on the Firey Griz trip you stinker.
But no, you had to go on another trip that weekend. ;)
Despite a head cold, I'm leaving tonight to pick up my nephew and tommorrow we'll be in the Smokies.
Woo Hoo!”

“brings back memories... i did thru hike of smokies last july...”

“Great report Trekkngirl!
Glad to hear the bears didn't give ya any problems.
I hope someone posts some pictures at least by tommorrow. I leave out Friday for South Dakota and will be gone for a week.”

“Great report and I concur, having been there for at least the best part, the bugs in the potatoes.”

“You be careful in them Black Hills Dude.Have a hoo-rah time..

Welcome bugeater glad to see you made it home ok.Awesome trip Yeah!!”

“Trekkngirl: Thank you. It is reports like this that make this site a pleasure to read.”

“Yeah! I couldn't move this morning though, but a dip in the whirlpool did the trick.”

“Way cool TownDawg..Thanks”

“This is a very cool trip report, Trekkngirl.”

“Cool trip report Trekkngirl, Guess I need to watch out for bugeaters "pepper"
I am looking forward to seeing the pictures!”

“awesome Trip Report! Thanks! Can't wait for the pics!”

“phil”

“what a great report.....sounds like a peak experience trekkngirl...having covered those miles while living in tenn, i could picture it... but I never did it all at once....very good on YOU!.. u da girl ...girl!
nice to have a week off to really do some trekkin ..eh?
it is the way to go~~~~~~”

“Awesome trip report trekkngirl sounds like you had a great time.”

“Would like to hike with you again soon om.

The best I can do on the pictures is posting Whippoorwill's website.If any one has a faster connection please help.

www.whippoorwill.com\ttahikes

AT Smoky 2003”

“Great Pictures!
Needs captions though.

Thanks Trekkngirl!”

“Nice report, thanks for sharing.”

“Wonderful trip report! Maybe we'll see some bear this weekend on our Gregory Bald trip. :)”

“I would love to see some but would love even more to be out of harms way.Looking forward to this weekend. :~ )”