Day 22. Spence Field Shelter to Silers Bald Shelter

Another punishing day.... When I awoke at the Shelter this morning, I started to hike at 0630 in the dark using my headlamp. An early start for a long day. I did have a good nights sleep. My layering sleep system is working great. Down Bag, liner, down pants, jacket, thermals, and hat.

Early this morning I summited "Rocky Top". I'm sure you all know the song Rocky Top Tennessee. Well this is it. Google the lyrics sometime. It's about a man and a woman that climb Rocky Top looking for a moonshine still but only find the awesome views. This morning I totally wished I would find that still!!

Today's hike was long and hard. Numerous uphill battles. Snow covered the North Face of the trail for most of the day. I made it to Silers Bald Shelter at 1830, exhausted and barely able to take another step. My left two smallest toes are numb and stinging. I think from the combination of wet cold boots and the pressure against the inside of the boot. It's very painful at times...

Today I hiked 11.8 miles through the snow again over the famous " Rocky Top"!!

So far I have hiked 194.3 miles!!

Day 20. Fontana Lodge to Mollies Ridge Shelter

I left the Fontana Lodge at 0615 and hiked in the dark until the sun rose over he Fontana Dam. I hiked with How Bout and Rash. I entered the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.. The climb was ok for the first 6 miles util we reached 4,000 feet. That's when the game changed... Snow with drifts knee deep for the next 6.6 miles. The hike was agonizing to say the least. The water sources were unreliable. At on point I melted snow in my Jet Boil stove and made a liter of Gatorade to replenish my electrolytes. I arrived at the Mollies Ridge Shelter around 1700. The shelter was made of stone and wood. It had a nice fireplace inside with a tarp blocking the wind from the sleeping area. We hung our wet socks over the fireplace like Christmas stockings. Unfortunately, someone placed my boots too close to the fire and burned off the leather outer side and heel. They are still functional but not to pretty...

Today I hiked 12.6 miles. The trail was tough due to the deep snow.

So far I have hiked 176.8 miles. Today I crossed the state line into Tennessee!!! 4 states so far. The trail criss crosses NC and TN through the Smokies.

Day 21. Mollies Ridge Shelter to Spence Field Shelter

Had a nice warm night in the Mollies Ride Shelter. Ended up stripping down to only my underwear and my 20 degree bag. Started hiking around 0930. The trail was covered with snow and thick slush making it difficult to walk. At one point I was trying to walk in deep boot impressions when I lost my balance and attempted to place my trekking pole in front of me. The pole slipped off the ridge causing me to officially face plant into the snow!!! Lol. 5.7 miles was tough through the snow and slush. The snow seems to be melting. I hiked 5.7 miles to the Spence Field Shelter. Hopefully tomorrows mileage will increase.

So far I have hiked 182.5 miles!!! Not bad.

Day 19. Zero Day - Fontana Lodge Again...

The weather has cleared and I will enter the smokies tomorrow with How Bout. His resupply box never made it so I will share my supplies with him and push on in the morning. We plan to be on the trail at o dark 30... 11 plus miles to the first shelter. About half of the thru hikers left the lodge today to stay overnight at the Fontana Hilton Shelter. Two more arrived today.

I'm looking forward to getting on the trail tomorrow. I'm starting to get cabin fever... The snow is melting at a pretty fast pace here today so tomorrows climb should be ok.

Day 18. Fontana Inn Lodge (Snowed in)

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!!!

Video Updates March 4-5

Here's a couple of videos from March 4-5

Day 17. Sassafras Gap Shelter to Fontana Lodge

What a day.... But first, last night I placed an old tattered plastic tarp at the entrance to the shelter as a crude early warning device if the bear decided to visit during the night. I slept with one eye open and my camera close by but he never came. However, I do believe I found "Mr. Jingles" from the movie The Green Mile. There was one lone mouse in the shelter last night having the time of his life!!! He was running back and forth across the plywood floor of the upper sleeping level. It sounded like he was performing acrobatics in his own little circus... Every now and then he would take a peak at his sleeping guests. He behaved like a perfect gentleman for the entire night. He never attempted to violate my food bag or eat any of my wool clothes. I was happy!!! Before I left the shelter this morning, I left Mr. Jingles a handful of dried blueberries and thanked him aloud for being a good sport!!!!

I awoke to a misty cold morning. The visibility was low due to the fog. After a Pop Tart breakfast in bed, How Bout and I started hiking at 0930. The climb out of the Gap was slow and tough trekking through the slippery snow. Along the trail close to the shelter was numerous piles of fresh bear scat. One pile was still steaming!!! I knew Yogi and Boo Boo were close by. The visibility on the trail was less than 100 feet. I did not want to startle any bears, so I began singing "God Bless America" as loud as I could over and over. That seemed to work because I did not encounter any bears lurking in the thick fog. I'm quite sure they were not impressed with my singing skills... Lol.

As we ascended out of the Gap, the weather became nasty. Freezing rain was blowing the windward side of the mountain hard. I estimate 35 mph. The wind was cold. Between the rain and the sweat from climbing, I was soaked. Not a good position to be in. How Bout and I both battled the trail today in adverse conditions. We made it 6.7 miles to Stecoah Gap NC Hwy 143, where we hitched a ride into the Fontana Lodge for the night. I feel the decision was the right one. I prefer not to die from hypothermia.

Once at the Lodge I had a nice hot shower and had a hot meal. The weather is not looking good for tomorrow. I plan to enter the Smoky Mountain National Park by Thursday. Thursday through Sunday looks good weather wise.

Today I thought long about why I have a hard time sticking with things in my life. I believe I found the answer... Never quit on a hard or bad day, do it on a nice day. It's easy to throw in the towel when things are getting tough. Here on the trail you just cannot do that... It ultimately could cost you your life...

" Unless you're the lead dog, the view will never change"

So far I have hiked 150.7 miles!!!! I will be posting video updates shortly....