Raise your hand if you're starting your thru in February!

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Anyone heard from Schlep?

[BrianLe]

Stayed at the same shelter (Cold Springs, mile 123.5) as Shlep the night of March 7th. Wild guess they might be into the Smokies by now if reports from Fontana Dam didn't put them off (I'm in Gatlinburg today taking a Zero).

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Good for you, Gadget... in Gatlinburg and it is only March 14th!

What were the conditions in the first half of the Smokies? How has the going been in general for you? I guess I wil go read your journal!

[ShelterLeopard]

I'm in GATLINBURG TOO!!!!!! (Not a zero, just a long, long nero. Long day...)

The conditions? SNOWY AND RAINY!!!!!!!! A couple waist deep areas of snow, especially after the snow last night...

[ShelterLeopard]

(First comment directed to Gadget)

[DrRichardCranium]

Crap. They're STILL getting more snow??

I plan on hitting the Approach Trail on March 26. I hope things will have somewhat melted by then.

[Tuney]

Crap. They're STILL getting more snow??

I plan on hitting the Approach Trail on March 26. I hope things will have somewhat melted by then.

It's been raining for the last 4 days, and it's above freezing. It should just be muddy by the time you get here. I'll be doing a shakedown from Woody Gap to Amicalola this week. I'll update the conditions when I can.

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It's been raining for the last 4 days, and it's above freezing. It should just be muddy by the time you get here. I'll be doing a shakedown from Woody Gap to Amicalola this week. I'll update the conditions when I can.

Great Tuney. I will look forward to reading your updates.

[ShelterLeopard]

Crap. They're STILL getting more snow??

I plan on hitting the Approach Trail on March 26. I hope things will have somewhat melted by then.

You'll be good, I think.

It's been raining for the last 4 days, and it's above freezing. It should just be muddy by the time you get here. I'll be doing a shakedown from Woody Gap to Amicalola this week. I'll update the conditions when I can.

Not in some areas (ie- the Smokies)- we had snow last night- enough to obscure all the footprints in the trail. (In the old snow)

I'll bet Woody to Amicalola is good though.

[ShelterLeopard]

And wet boots froze again. (:-P ) But I think that out of the Smokies, it isn't too bad. At the NOC, about 6 days ago (maybe more) it was warm enough that I was in shorts/t-shirt and got a little sunburn. But, NOC is a very low elevation.

Good luck to anyone starting soon or already on the trail!

[mweinstone]

big stubbley kiss for shlep from unshaven mathjewski.and may my god walk with you all. or not!lol.:banan

[mweinstone]

4th time i misspelled my name and its a doosy. sorry.

[Wolf - 23000]

And wet boots froze again. (:-P ) But I think that out of the Smokies, it isn't too bad. At the NOC, about 6 days ago (maybe more) it was warm enough that I was in shorts/t-shirt and got a little sunburn. But, NOC is a very low elevation.

Good luck to anyone starting soon or already on the trail!

ShelterLeopard,

Congradulations on making to Gatlinburg!!! I knew you could do it!!!

After you get out of the Smokies you are still going to be Roam Mt, Tenn. It is pretty expose. During the early March it is normal has a brist cold wind. Also to avoid your boots from freezing, you can place them in a trashbag and place them in your sleeping bag.

Wolf

[Heater]

4th time i misspelled my name and its a doosy. sorry.

Cyberpinkblazing FAIL...

[ShelterLeopard]

Thanks Wolf and Matthewski!

And Wolf, there's so much in the foot of my sleeping bag already, fuel, batteries, hiking clothing that got damp, I just deal with the frozen boots! (I try not to keep too much stuff in there...)

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You're are really doing great, ShLep. Especailly with all the snow you have had to deal with!

Best to you on your continued travels!

[sheepdog]

Way to go Shlep

keep on keepin on

[Wolf - 23000]

Thanks Wolf and Matthewski!

And Wolf, there's so much in the foot of my sleeping bag already, fuel, batteries, hiking clothing that got damp, I just deal with the frozen boots! (I try not to keep too much stuff in there...)

ShelterLeopard,

Frozen boots sound COLD!!! I hate stiff boots in the morning. You may be placing more in your sleeping bag than you have to. If your using either a white gas which has a freezing temperture of -22 or alcohol which freezes point is even lower you don't worry about either freeze. Energizer Lithium e2 batteries work great for winter hiking as they don't lose their change even in the extreme tempertures. I found that out winter hiking Maine.

Hopes this helps. Have fun playing in the white stuff!!! After Mount Rogers area you should be able to shed off some of your winter gear.

Hopes this helps,

Wolf

[BrianLe]

Lucky and Gadget in Damascus today, just as cold/wet is turning to nice sun. Will definitely keep cold gear until after Mt. Rogers, but word we had from a SOBO is that there are just a few miles of snow there now to deal with --- nice. Blowdowns not bad last couple of days either. Saw Cedar Tree on the trail again today, he seems to be doing fine, walking south.

Life is looking pretty good from here on out for us SNOBOS !

[JJJ]

You're makin' good time, Gadget. I'll be in DAM after while, maybe I'll bump into ya. Going to MRO for a light and few of us doing our mid-week loop after work.
Safe Journey,
jjj