Day 20 Cosby Nob Shelter 12 miles

Today we woke up to subzero temperatures that lasted well into mid afternoon. The gang is looking forward to warmth at lower elevations and the possibility of pizza at standing bear tomorrow. Lucky has been collecting firewood for the past several hours and has just started a fire. I've never seen so much wood in a shelter.

Flounder has been educating me on the finer points of Cuban fibre tarps and underquilts for hammocks. Sweet T and baker have been sharing their knowledge of food dehydration recipes for camping. I realize now that I should have invested the time.

Day 19 pecks corner shelter 10 miles

After a late start to the day of all you can eat breakfast, lucky, dll and ice runner and I took the shuttle back to the trail head. It was a clear day but very cold. Sheets of ice surrounded the trail. I did one back flip and was cushioned by my pack. The shelter is full tonight and we have a fire going but it feels like it may be the coldest it's been here yet - about -10 Celsius.

Day 18 Gatlinberg 10 miles

We awoke in the shelter this morning to tales of mice from weekend hikers on spring break. I am lucky that no mice seemed to have been interested in my stuff.

I was given an extra bit of trail magic from section hikers last night and in the morning. It was the extra bit of protein O needed to get up klingman's Dom. The highest point on the trail was Icey and we all fell quite a bit on the way down. We are now washed, fed and warm in Gatlinberg. The trail begins for us again tomorrow.

Day 17 double spring shelter 15 miles

Today was marked by some early morning trail magic by some section hikers staying in the shelter. I got free bacon and eggs and two shots of bourbon for tomorrow morning. The hike today had me fantasizing about food with more protein in it. I met up with lucky and daddy long legs on the trail and ended up seeing Izzy and Nathan down at the shelter.today had some spectacular views as we approach the highest part of the smokies. Izzy built a fire in the shelter and had the mice running. Happy at patty's day.

Day 16 spence field shelter 17 miles

Today saw the separation of the gang known as dirty mike and the boys. Paunch and trail finger stayed behind and took a zero while Matt mike and I pressed on. They plan to do a 20 mile day tomorrow to the top of klingmans dome. I don't think I'm up for it. This morning I got my first trail magic from a group of ladies. They were all 800 milers and knew the smokies well. Entering the smoky mountains was momentous but so far appears to be like rest of the trail. Tomorrow will be a high climb. I taught Tbo, Matt and mike how to stretch out their calves with a hiking pole today.