Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Day 2

Birds were chirping, and sunlight was beginning to show. I got up around 630am. I was also awaken by others who had stayed in the cabins that passed by the shelter around 6am.

April 23rd, 2019

When I booked the reservation for the shelter ($4), I was told that 7 others had already booked it, and it held 12. Only 6 of us showed. In the 6 of us, 4 snored. This served as a superb reminder to bring earplugs next time. Thank you Chad for forewarning me of the chainsaw snoring Frankie. I thought for sure half of the forest surrounding us would have been cut down by daybreak. Bear prevention 101. Have an outstanding snorer in your shelter. The bears will stay away. That they did.

On the prior evening, a local by the name of Scott shared many stories about The Smokies. One such story was when he was sleeping in the shelter, and was awaken at 3am by field mice. Here, it had got so cold out, they literally bunkered down on his face. One on each cheek, and one on his forehead. They were using his body heat to stay warm. He even said one or two got into his sleeping bag with him once. All they wanted was to stay warm. He went on to say that he frantically woke up and swatted them off. Such a funny guy he is. Other locals shared similar stories.

Combine the snoring, mouse stories, extremely physical Day 1, and I got little to no sleep. It didn’t help when I was awaken by a mouse. I was barely awake and heard it moving by my head. Instinctively, I shewed it away, covered my head with the sleeping bag, and sealed it shut.

TechTrekDan – 1, Mouse – 0

Myrtle Point

(.7 mile)

Then came 630am. I got up. I then rolled my sleeping pad and sleeping bag up, got my pack down from the cables, ate an apple I had brought, made a fruit smoothie with some powder mix I had, wished the others well, and departed for a stellar sunrise at Myrtle Point just seven tenths of a mile away.

What a sight it was….

Boulevard Trail

(5.3 miles)

After soaking in one amazing sunrise, I got back on the track and veered onto the Boulevard Trail. This had to be one of the most physical, beautiful, and death defying trails that I have ever hiked. Only the Franconia Notch in the White Mountains of NH can challenge you more.

Let’s start with some utter beauty.

Then, let’s show you some of the cables you were nearly forced to use to avoid slipping and falling to your death thousands of feet below.

The trail went up, then down. Up, then down. Up, then down several times. All in all, it dips down a few hundred feet, then goes back up a few hundred. It basically turns your body into chip chopped ham with a 50lb pack on.

According to the sign, I had went 5.3 miles already and still had over 2 to go. The goal was to make Newfound Gap by 1200pm, as the last complimentary shuttle departs at 1230pm. First Baptist Church voluntarily provides the shuttle to take you back to Alum Cave parking lot over 5 miles down the road.

Appalachian Trail

(2.7 miles)

The Boulevard Trail intersects with the AT. This is where I met 25-30 AT hikers in pursuit of Mt Katahdin in Maine. I did manage to meet some very nice people, and wished them well on their journey and hoped that I would see them in Maine when I visit there in August. One such group of 6 or 7, I nicknamed “The Train.” It had appeared that the Alpha Male was leading the train, and the others followed almost in a uniform manner as they were all in sync like a well oiled machine with their steps and trekking poles. They literally zoomed right by me. When I asked where they were headed, the Alpha Male replied in stride, “Eventually Maine.”

Time was ticking away, but my pace was picking up. I had noticed that it was after 1200pm. I started running to make up time. At last, I had finally made it to the parking lot at Newfound Gap. I was walking at a fast pace heading for the shuttle when a small SUV pulled up. An older lady had asked me if I needed a ride. I said, “By God’s Graces of an Angel, I sure do!” She smiled and said, “load up and jump in”. I loaded up, and asked her graciously if she could wait just a minute while I got my photo taken at the State line. She said, “Sure, go right ahead!”.

I jumped in and off she drove. As we were driving, she told me how she hiked the AT in 2012, at age 72. That her pack only weighed 27lbs. She went on to give me some valuable tips. I couldn’t have thanked her enough. She kindly refused any money from me. Such a sweetheart.

After she dropped me off, I set my pack down, opened my car, and then got an ice cold beverage out of my RTIC cooler. I immediately went over to the river where I stepped right in shallow water. My Merrell MQM Ace Mid Waterproof shoes held back the water, but I could still feel the coolness of it. What a relief it was! I then knelt down the to water and took this photo.

What a trip that was. Mount Le Conte was so gorgeous. I believe the next time I make this trip, that I will pony up and get one of the $190 cabins. Of course, you have to reserve it almost 9 months in advance. NOTE: No tents are permitted outside of official park campgrounds in the park.

Clingmans Dome

(1.4 miles up and down to my car)

I went to my hotel, got cleaned up, and then went immediately over to Clingmans Dome. What views it had.

From here, I was off to a well deserved dinner and ice cold local IPA.

Cheers my friends! Day 2 was complete!