This morning I awoke to 6 plus inches of snow. The lodge lost power at 0300 hours and all cell phone service was down. Power was restored at 1300.Apparently a tree had fallen on the main power line into the Lodge. The lodge was very spooky blacked out. The are about 10 thru hikers holed up here from the weather. We navigated the Lodge with head lamps for lumination throughout the day.
Now I am forced to make an important decision to bypass the Smoky Mountain National Park due to weather. There is an estimated 2-3 foot snow fall in the higher elevations. However, the weather is supposed to clear tomorrow. If I skip ahead to Davenport Gap, the northern entry point of the Smoky's, I will be one week ahead in winter conditions of a storm already brewing in that region. I plan to do laundry and make a decision this afternoon. The consensus among the other hikers is mixed. I plan to use experience, age and logic in my decision. It will take some research. I do not wish to put my life at risk over a split decision...
While the power was down, I gathered up the other hikers and made a movie trailer about this spooky lodge. We had a lot of fun and it kept everyone occupied.... Hope you enjoy. As you know, my trail name is "The Infidel", so this film is written and produced by Infidel Films... Be sure to see the dramatic ending!!!
