Total trail mileage: 204.7
Starting location: Mt Collins Shelter
Ending location: Gatlinburg, TN
Weather: Partly cloudy in the morning, raining in the afternoon
I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=35.711601,+-83.517068
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Today was another short day. We got up and hiked down to Newfound
Gap. The trail was still deep snow for a bit but then it got easier
as we went along. The rain held off until right when we arrived at
Newfound Gap.
My dad was stopping at Newfound Gap, and he offered to take me into
town after picking up his car and then return me to the trail in the
morning. So, we had to wait for the shuttler (A Walk In The Woods),
and waited a bit in the dry bathroom at the parking lot. We got
picked up, went back to Fontana Village to pick up my dad's car, and
returned to Gatlinburg for the night.
Apparently there are 1200 year old trees in the Smokys and so many
diverse species of plants, salamanders, worms, etc... We passed over
an area today that was protected by a fence. The fence keeps out the
boars to protect a species of trees that only exists in the Smokys.
Unfortunately, because of the season, most of the flowers are not yet
in bloom and most of the wildlife is not out and about, but it is nice
to see the Smokys in the snow.
So, we are at the Grand Prix Motel, took showers, did laundry, and had
dinner. Wow, Gatlinburg is kinda a shock for someone who has been on
the trail. There are all sorts of attractions and Disney-World-like
places.
Back to the trail tomorrow...
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