Taking my first "zero" day today, after rolling into Hot Springs a day ahead of schedule with Professor T on our last day of hiking together. We've had a great time hiking together with gorgeous weather and scenery for 2 weeks across the Smokies and then some.
Hot Springs
Knowing a warm town was only 15 miles away made it pretty easy for everyone to get in gear early this morning and boogie on down the trail to Hot Springs. A wintry stretch of trail this morning up and over Bluff Mt. through 3-6" of fresh snow in some places, but it was all downhill for the most part after that down into town.
Roaring Fork
Well, it was bound to happen eventually. Celebrated my third-week trail anniversary today as our good weather came to a screeching halt as 70-degree sunshine was now a steady day-long snowstorm. And, yes, for those of you back home up north, this is still North Carolina.
Standing Bear Farm
Last day in the Smokies with about 8 miles to the northern boundary, and we awoke to another drizzle of rain that again split into sunnier skies. Lots of great wildflowers to see as we got closer to the park's edge at Davenport Gap. The good news is that I finally figured out how to take a good close-up with my camera! Saw lots of violets, bloodroot, false and true Solomon's Seal…
Cosby Knob
Started off in fog and mist today expecting rain, but we never got a drop as the clouds mixed with sun in the afternoon. Didn't have any view from Charlie's Bunion in the morning, but had some decent ones in the afternoon of the mountains on both sides of the trail (the trail is also the North Carolina/Tennessee border here).
Icewater Spring
Don't know where to begin about this incredible day—start to finish. Professor T and I woke up at 4am and headed up to the summit of Clingman's Dome for a sunrise at the trail's highest point (it's all donwhill from here, right?), and we weren't disappointed.
Double Spring Gap
Another absolutely amazing day. Really started to get into the heart of the Smokies with Professor T today, walking over several grassy balds and open fields. The sun made it very warm and sweaty on some of the tougher uphill climbs, and my feet were definitely complaining more today than yesterday.