Last night I did 15.2 miles to Cable Springs Shelter. I spent the night packed like sardines in with 5 other folks. It was plenty warm with all the body heat in the little shelter. It was a super sweet and funny group of folks in the shelter and camping in the area. I love the sense of community out here. Everyone (or close to it) helps everyone else out and is more than generous in sharing the little they have.
I woke up around 7 am to snow on the ground. I was packed up and hiking by 7:45 am and only stopped to add or remove layers as necessary. The ground was a little slick, but I was fortunate to be one of the first ones on it this morning, so it wasn't hard packed and slippery yet. I was walking and talking to Simba this morning and about 2 miles from town we look around and all the snow was suddenly gone! It's odd how different the weather is from one side of a mountain to the other and from one elevation to another.
Once we got to a road crossing by Fontana Village we ran into a super sweet family who had been doing a short section hike and were off the trail. They very generously gave Simba and I a ride to the Fontana Village and Resort where we met up with two other thruers and split a room. Not only did they give us a lift, but they also gave us a ton of their food. I was so set after their generosity that I only had to do minimal resupplying at the village. Which is good, because it's crazy expensive here!
Around the campfire.
I woke up around 7 am to snow on the ground. I was packed up and hiking by 7:45 am and only stopped to add or remove layers as necessary. The ground was a little slick, but I was fortunate to be one of the first ones on it this morning, so it wasn't hard packed and slippery yet. I was walking and talking to Simba this morning and about 2 miles from town we look around and all the snow was suddenly gone! It's odd how different the weather is from one side of a mountain to the other and from one elevation to another.
Snowshine.
A couple miles later, no snow.
Once we got to a road crossing by Fontana Village we ran into a super sweet family who had been doing a short section hike and were off the trail. They very generously gave Simba and I a ride to the Fontana Village and Resort where we met up with two other thruers and split a room. Not only did they give us a lift, but they also gave us a ton of their food. I was so set after their generosity that I only had to do minimal resupplying at the village. Which is good, because it's crazy expensive here!
Raven and Davinci grubbing at the lodge.
I'm taking a zero day tomorrow (no hiking) to give my knee a chance to heal before heading into the Smokies. Please keep your fingers crossed for good weather!
<3
Awesome post! Thank you! We were all missing hearing from you. I've got my fingers crossed, hoping for good weather in the Smokies and a non-angry knee for you. Love you!!!
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