Clingmans Dome to Derrick Knob

“I got a last minute reservation for Silars and Derrick Knob Shelters.

I figure to make a casual stroll on FR and SAT and then hoof it all the way back to the car Sunday. Weather should be good tomorrow and Saturday, but it looks like it could storm on my parade Sunday.

In any event, it will be damn good to get away for a day or two.”

“chili, have a great trip”

“Thanks”

“Have a good time.

BTW, I'm back in Melbourne, FL. Came home a week ago. Sorry I never made it up to your area again while in GSMNP.”

“Those are both nice shelters, and it's an easy walk mostly along the ridgelines as you know.. Have a good time!.. hope it don't get too hott.”

“What about a campsite along Forney Creek for Saturday night? Then you could do a loop. Just an idea.”

“It was a cake walk from Clingman's to Silars. I got in there about 1 and had plenty of time to lay in the sun and read. Temps in the 70's with an intermittent cloud cover. Next morning go up early and hammered out the 5 miles to Derrick Knob and had plenty of time to repeat Friday's plan.

Two really good days on the AT with no barn burning mission in mind. Just hanging out, meeting new friends and enjoying the moment.

I got up this morning, decided I wanted to beat the rain and hoofed it back to Clingman's from Derrick Knob. I got back about 20 minutes before the bottom fell out. What a way to finish a nice trip!!

I met the AT Ridge Runner at Derrick and gave him a ride back from Clingman's to Cades Cove so he wouldn't have to flip flop back from Double Spring. Interesting guy. I think I just found Stikmon's twin.”

“

"I think I just found Stikmon's twin."
chili36

I hope you didn't mention TT. One is enough!

LOL.”

“chili, that has to be the same guy I saw last weekend. When he was coming down the trail from Icewater Spring Shelter I had to do a double take because I thought it was Stikmon. poor guy..lol”

“Must be Ewker, I had to do a double take too when he walked into camp at Derrick Knob. Even walked like stickmon.

I had a chance to talk to him quite a bit driving around to Cades Cove. He is also the caretaker of Springer and works as a Ridge Runner in the Park and in Pennsylvania”

“Was he a Park Ranger?”

“yep, that is him. We chatted some on the trail. Man wouldn't that be a cool job”

“No, nowslimmer, he is employed by the ATC.

no kidding ewker.

Glenn thruhiked the AT in the mid nineties. I think he told me it was 94.

The guy hikes the AT 4 days a week. I left camp 45 minutes before he did, he stopped to clean up both Silars and Double Springs and stopped to chat with the hikers going South (including a southbound thru hiker) and I beat him to Clingmans by only 30 minutes.

He normally will start on one end or the other, hike to Newfound Gap (actually to Mt Collins or Icewater) and then flip flop back to his vehicle.

He checks permits, sort of looks around camp and gives advice to those who need it. He talked me into volunteering for trail maintenance on the AT. I am calling tomorrow to get involved.”

“Good for you, chili36. I could get interested in doing some things there, but I live too far away. I may get envolved doing some things with the FTA(Florida Trail Assoc.) locally. Next meeting is Thursday evening.”

“Yeah what a cool job to be a ridge runner! I met him when Ewker and did the hike to LeConte, and at the time I thought "WOW! He must be in EXCELLENT shape!"”