Hiking Recap

April 18: Up and out early for our highest mileage day, yet- 17.1 miles! It was a big push, a long day, but totally doable. It felt good. Plus, the Smokies are gorgeous! So far, today was my favorite day of hiking, with the flowers and the many shades of green and the breathtaking views along over the ridges.

Plus there was this cool looking tree that I hung around, hoping a hobit or a cookie- making elf would come out, but no such luck.

When we got to the shelter, a weather system looked like it was moving in, but the shelter was quite full with folks who looked like they had been there a while. So out we went to set up our tents for a windy night!

April 19: After a windy night, we got up to the beginning of a deluge. We quickly took down our tents, put them away wet, and ran into the shelter to eat some breakfast on this:

The same comfortable looking folks who had been there before were getting even more comfortable, planning on staying in the shelter all day ( for some it was their 3rd day there!) It soon became clear that the rain wasn't clearing up any time soon, so we donned our rainwear and ventured out.
At first, it seemed like things were better once we got off that windy ridge, but then things deteriorated and we were essentially walking ankle deep in a rushing river that the trail had become. The last me to the next shelter was pretty miserable.
We entered the next shelter and happily, saw Schweassel and Shrek! They moved right over and made room, gave us space to dry by the fire, and shared hot drinks. The shelter quickly filled up with sodden hikers- Subaru and Hawkeye, Papa Smurf, Slick, Coon, SeaBiscuit, Catlady. In was a wet, windy, crowded party! Around 3, the rain stopped and several of the shelter people left to get on a few more miles. We had JUST started warming up by this point, so we decided to stay the night. 5 miles after pur big day is rather disappointing, but you can't fight the weather!