Huffhike

Day 10 (mile 181.1):
After taking a shower and trying my best to recharge my power bank, I settled in for the night. Seeing that a storm was in the horizon, I was excited that I could try to sleep in (by sleep in I mean 7am). However, once I laid down the guy to my left told me he snored. No worries I thought I can just put in the old earbuds and fall asleep. However, he was a SNORER to the point the headphones couldnt drown out the noise.

When 1am came, I had enough and handled my irritation in my normal way of looking at the stars. I then went back into the shelter and moved to the second floor where the suppised mouse lived. I heard some scurring throughout the night, but I was able to sleep for around an hour until the storm rolled in. The shelter had a tin roof so on top of the thunder and lightnight keeping me up, the rain pattering on the roof kept me up.

At around 7am I got out and decided I would take the 9am shuttle to the Fontanta Village to get some ear plugs. Prior to leaving I asked if anyone needed anything and someone said they needed Peanjt butter so I grabbed my wallet and headed off. Unfortunately they did not have earplugs, but another AT hiker had an extra unused pair so he gave it to me, and I bought the $7 peanut butter.

Once I got back, I packed up and headed back on trail. The trail up to the Smokey Mountains was brutal, probably a 7 mile hill. Originally the game plan was to stay at the first shelter, however after seeing on Farout there was a bear issue I pushed to the second one. After I got to shelter I made some dinner and chilled for a bit. At around 6pm someone started yelling “hey bear”.

Within a few minutes people kept coming in and out of the shelter grabbing their phones to take pictures of the bear and to try to scare the bear away. However the bear was so comfortable with people that it did not leave until it got bored and left.
Day 11 (197.5):
Once I laid down in the shelter, I was out within minutes. When I awoke in the morning, I was talking to another thru hiker Mike who told me there was a storm coming, so I threw on my rain jacket and was ready to go. Before I left another hiker came around the corner to say that a bear ripped apart there water blatter pouch, and supposedly the bear was slamming itself against the tarp (I slept past that part so it could have very well been the wind).

Anways, after about an hour on trail, I hit the first shelter and quickly made a pit stop for the privy and ran into a hiker Jack who had the same idea as me, to hit Clingmans Dome for Sunrise on thursday. So after discussing a bit we figured we could hit a shelter right before, as stealth camping is illegal in the Smokey Mountains.

After hiking and chatting a bit we went our ways, he stayed at the shelter a bit to strech as I passed on. While hiking the storm started again, and I was absolutely drenched. But I put on some music and zoned out some miles while walking through the rain. I dont know if its from hiking in New England, but I love rain hiking. Something about slashing puddles as you walk and just vibing.

After I arrived at the shelter, the cold instantly hit me, so I threw on my long underwear, rain pants, and my warm top layers which consisted of my alpha direct hoodie and puffy jacket. I then hung out a bit with a threw hiker who was already at camp.

At around 8pm we heard a British voice talking to 2 female hikers. After getting out the hiker explained that he was a day hiker who got lost and hiked 17 miles until he hit the shelter. We then collectively gave him and made him warm food, as most of us were resupplying the next day. While getting him food he contacted search and rescue to see if they could get him.

Rightfully so, they declined to send anyone to him as he found food, shelter, and we informed him of a free shuttle that ends at the end of April. Additionally someone gave him there emergency blankets, so throughout the night you could hear the loud noises in the shelter.

Day 12 (mile 211.1)
After getting a tad on and off sleep, myself and Jack headed off at 5:15am to try to catch a sunrise at Clingmans Dome, as well as to catch the first shuttle into Gatlinburg for 10 am (10 miles away). We ended up summiting Clingmans Dome and caught a bit of the sunrise. Although most of it was covered by clouds it was still incredibly cool and worth the push.

While at the summit we met a couple from Wisconsin who were very openly carrying firearms across there chest to “protect” themselves from bears. Outside of breaking the park rules they were chill. We then did the last 7 mile push to Newfound Gap where we were greated to trail magic (Mnt Dew, cinnamon buns, and a bannana) and we then took the free shuttle into Gatlinburg where I purchased new fuel, a mountain house meal to use as a daily bowl, and I found some sweet flip flops and a water blatter in a hiker box.

I then went to Cics pizza where I got some unlimited pizza, some salad (gotta eat healthy) and charged up the phone. I then took the shuttle back to New Found Gap where I am air drying my clothes as I wait for a box that I paid a shuttle to deliver for me (which was unnecessary in retrospect). After I pack up I am going to head to the closest shelter in 3 miles and call it a day.

Water Blatter – What you use to carry / hold dirty (unfiltered water)
Stealth camping – camping at an undersigned sight
Emergency Blanket – the reflective blankets marathon runners have