AT thru the Smokies 5/6 - 5/9

“Unfortunately I'll be in VA Beach that weekend taking my kids to the Monster Truck show. Thanks for the invite though.”

“I might be up for this one, Could I meet ya'll at the Dam. I would be driving up from Florida.”

“I will have to wait until closer to May to decide if I can take time off for this. More likely, I will squeeze in a day along the route somewhere.”

“I might be able to make Saturday and Sunday hike. Chili may let me go!”

“hehe.. I thought you meant THRU the smokies..

That's only half.

;)”

“Flatlander - Yeah, you can meet us at the dam. I'm guessing it'll take us a good hour to drive there from Newfound Gap.

TownDawg - You should come along. It would be great to meet some new TT'ers.”

“Actually, I'm thinking about it! I just need to verify if I am free that weekend.”

“I would love to come will have to wait until a little closer to time. If I do come my hubby would be coming also.
I maybe changing jobs really soon and I think it will work out.
Sounds like a great trip.
Barbara”

“Sounds like a great trip..I did a total thru hike (71 miles) south to north a couple years ago..loved it..count me in..I may try and pick up Leconte a few days before this hike starts..woohoo!!!”

“I've have to bail on this one. I didn't realize that's the weekend of baccularate.

Oh well. I'll find me another.”

“Trekkngirl - Nice to have you along. Looking forward to hiking the AT. Should be a great one!”

“Sounds like fun. Coming from florida to so flatlander you close to Orlando? Just curious. Im gonna try and make it.”

“I'm up near gainesville.”

“I'm from up in Pensacola....
I worked for the Nantahala Outdoor Center last summer(its real close to the Fontana Dam). The views are amazing up there! I posted some pics a while back..if you go to view North Carolina pics and my old name was MichaelNorberg.
We hiked the AT from NOC to Cheoah Bald a few times. Its rough coming in and out of the Nantahala Gorge because its either almost all uphill or down hill around there...but its worth it! I'd suggest stoping by NOC if you have time, there is some good stuff in the outfitters store. Good luck on your trip, and I hope everyone who goes has a blast!”

“Hi Norb,

Yeah, I've hiked with several people who have mentioned the NOC. It would be nice to stop there, and possibly pick-up some new gear. You can never have enough! Right? :-)”

“The trail north out of the NOC does allot of tru hikers in. GA into NC that first week they stop to rest there, and feel good about it again then it's about 10 miles of up. Not steep, but for some reason is pure hell. It's a mind thing when your solo.”

“Trekkngirl,

Do you have any pictures online from your last hike on the AT in the Smokies?”

“No unfortunately..that was before my digital..but I did do a trip report..might still be in the archives..this will be an awesome trip..can't wait.”

“Salem: I'm in as a maybe.... The Smokies are just too cool to not go. It all depends on work, golf, home schedule, but I'll try.”

“Golfhiker, You know you have your priorities all wrong. Hiking should be first on the list! :-)”

“I live in Knoxville and am a friend and hiking buddy of golfhiker. I would like to participate but due to obligations on Friday I would have to hike up solo on Saturday and meet the group at Derrick Knob shelter. Great time of year to hike this section of the trail. Should be some good wildflowers and perhaps some mountain laurel just starting to come out.”

“profpark,

Looking forward to meeting, and hiking with you. I've been to alot of different parks, but the Smokies are still my favorite.”

“profpark: Glad to have you on the team. It's good to have someone as knowledgeable about the Smokies as you going with us. As for meeting up on Sat., no problem. It's all good.”

“Salem,you got mail.”

“Hey Pepwalker, good to have you with us... It's getting close to registration time for shelters, 30 days prior (4/6/05), so all the maybes above should consider being in or out.. just a thought!”

“I'm still in..woohoo!!!”

“Salem, Pepwalker is Duane... finally got him registered on TT.... trekkngirl, great attitude!”

“Pepwalker,

Looking forward to hiking with you again. Two months to go!”

“I come to this trip as a friend of golfhiker. I have heard many great things about you all.
Both myself and my wife would like to attend this trip.
I have hiked the Smokies many times, but the wife lacks a "real" smokies backpacking trip. I will continue to check the thread, but we should be considered definates! Hope to see you there GH!”

“I would probably hike up to Derrick knob and back out without making the whole trip. Not sure I could take off a Friday and Monday.”

“Like all good trips, the excitement is building! Less than 60 days....”

“Hiking Rooster - Hope you, and your wife can make the hike.

Chili - It would be great to meet, and hike with you if only for part of the weekend. Just curious where would you park, and hike in from to get to Derrick Knob?”

“I am the wife of Hiking Rooster. This is so that the number count is correct. We'll see you all in Lexington, KY for the car-pool down.”

“Gee, Roosters & Lizards. That should be some fun trip to the Trail. See you in May.
GH”

“Salem and Golfhiker, I would like to go but just can't get away. Take lots of pics to post for us.”

“Ewker,

Sorry, you can't make the trip. It was great meeting, and hiking with you on the AHT.”

“Ewker: like Salem said, sorry you won't be able to join us.. A Tennessean should always be on a Tennessee hike. I enjoyed meeting & hiking with you on the AHT... I'm sure we'll catch a trip together again.”

“Happy St. Patricks day... Only 50 days to go!”

“I'm interested but am looking for a job right now. If I am working by then, I don't know if I will be able to get the time off.

BTW, I post on the "other side" as Woodswoman and am new here. I recently moved to east Tennessee and am looking for folks to hike and backpack with.

I have backpacked the Clingman's Dome to Fontana route before, way back in the early 80's. It was a wonderful trip and I'd love to do it again. I don't know about now, but back then there were showers available for thru hikers at the Fontana Dam Visitor's Center.”

“Woodzie: I guess I hope you get a job, but maybe not till May 11, that way you could join us on the AT... As for showers at the Dam, they do have them, but why? The beauty of a good hike is the hard earned aroma at the end.. You can shower anytime, but a good 40+ mile hike is to be savored..... besides, I don't sweat. Hope you can make it.”

“I changed my status from "maybe" to "confirmed." I don't want to miss out on this trip.”

“Way to go Woodzie, we now have a complete group. Stay tuned for the details as we get closer.... Good to have you in the group.”

“Woodzie,

Great to have you on board. Looking forward to meeting, and hiking with you. A little over a month to go!”

“Salem, I just signed up for this trip, hope I'm not too late...??”

“Yathrigan,

Unfortunately, to get a permit for the shelters we're planning to stay in the group size limit is 8. I will put you down as a "maybe," for now. If someone drops out you're more than welcome to sign-up.”

“My bad. But, Salem, thanks for keeping me in the wait list though. I appreciate it. I'll keep watching the thread for any drop outs. Thanks again.”

“I am excited about doing this trip again with some new folks! It will be great fun, and maybe we will see some bears :-)”

“Woodzie,

Yeah, it would be great to see a bear. Hopefully, not up close, and personal! :-p”

“A little sad news... I just talked w/ Pepwalker and learned he can't make the hike. He broke/smashed his big toe when he dropped a large piece of furniture. He's quite bummed, as he was truly looking forward to this trip. His doc says 2/3 months with no major stress on the toe, so May in the Smokies won't work. We'll miss him!”

“Salem,

Is that means, I am IN?”