207.7 miles.
We've been on the trail 18 days, and this is the 8th day we've woken up to rain. Cold, hard rain. So it goes in the spring time I suppose. Yesterday we summited Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT at 6,643 feet, in the midst of a thrashing storm. We hear the views from up here in the Smokies are splendid, but it's been pure rain and wind for days, and we haven't seen much but the muddy, slippery trail under our feet. We'll have to come back another time to see all there is to see.
Yesterday and today the trail has been a flowing creek, ankle deep sometimes. No one's feet are dry. No one's anything is dry.
And yet we're all still laughin and sharing stories and communing in the fulness of a great adventure.
In the Smokies you're not permitted to camp, everyone must stay in the Shelters, which are old three walled, metal roofed stone buildings. They're simple but beautiful dirt floored structures with an upper and a lower wooden platform for sleeping. About twelve to sixteen could sleep inside comfortably, but in the rain there's always room for one or two more. Inside there's you find an assortment of AT thru-hikers of all ages, a couple locals out for a night or two, maybe some kids on spring break. We'd heard that the AT is a social trail, and it couldn't be truer. So many interesting characters to meet and get to know out here.
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