Day 11-15 Part 2 (165.9-241.8)

A night in Gatlinburg well spent. Dozer, 109 and I emerged from the hotel early in the morning and wandered into town for a quick bite to eat. We had planned on stopping at the outfitter for a few items and a shuttle out of town but we arrived entirely too early for that. Sitting on the stoop to the NOC, dialing shuttle numbers appeared to be unsuccessful. Meanwhile a man in an old pickup truck pulled into the parking lot, eyeing us down he knew for sure that he found a handful of hikertrash. “Y’all heading up to Newfound Gap?”, we certainly were. A brief conversation and we were all piling in and on our way. Dozer, thinking quick made sure to snap a picture of the license plate before we left. 

We arrived at Newfound Gap 15 miles later and what felt like an hour long car ride up the mountain. The man provided some sodas and snacks as trail magic and we set off to complete the second half of the Smokys. 

The weather for the next few days looked promising, no rain or heavy winds like the 3 days prior. Clear views of the mountains around us and the temperatures were tolerable, warm actually despite it being February. 

The first scenic overlook “Charlie’s Bunion” - an incredible rock formation that peered over the Gatlinburg area, and a hotspot of most day hikers as it was only 3 miles up the trail, not many people ventured past this point. The rest of the day felt like continuous ascent to the destination, tri-corner knob. 

The following day and final day through the smokys, another clear day, all downhill. I was told to stop at the last fire tower as it’s a “must see” and the “best fire tower on the whole AT” - Of course the people who gave me this information didn’t bother making the extra 1.2 mile side trail to see it for themselves… but am I sure glad I made the extra effort. 

They say progressed and downhill I continued, reaching the last shelter in the park, I knew this was were Dozer and 109 had intended on stopping. I wrote my trail name “Ope” in the dirt I front of the shelter to signal that I had passed through and continued on. 

Reaching the end of the Smokys I submitted the second half of my permit to inform the park rangers that I in fact did not die in the park and had exited safely. I continued on and made my way to Standing Bear hostel for the night. After booking my bunk and settling in around the fire pit I notice an exhausted Dozer rolling up dirt road towards the hostel. Completely surprised that he decided to push on and stay at the hostel as well. Hiker 109 strolling in shortly after. 

What a great surprise to end the day. 















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