trail fact: A.T. Completions by Year: As of February 2000, 5,323 hikers had reported to the ATC that they completed the entire Appalachian Trail, whether in one season or over a period of many years. Section hikers represent about 20% of the total, northbound thru-hikers account for 70%, and the remaining 10% are southbound thru-hikers, flip-floppers, and other variations.

North Carolina / Tennessee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because the people who mind do not matter, and the people who matter do not mind."

  Journal Entry 3.22.00
"4:30pm at the Birch Spring Shelter in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We left (or escaped) the Fontana Inn after our last nasty meal of stale waffles and bad OJ. We caught a ride back to the trail from Jason at the Adventure Center and started hiking around 11am. We crossed the dam (no damn tour guide!), entered the park, and hiked up, up, up to the shelter. Right foot feeling ok, left ankle still sore but better, body getting used to the heavy pack with seven days worth of food. The shelters here are majorly bear-proof with a chain-link fence in front and cable wires in the trees to hang food. We've decided to take a risk and tent out, so we'll either have a great view for the bear-attack show on the shelter or we'll be the show - hah! Sarge from New Orleans seems to be more worried about the wild hogs."

  Journal Entry 3.23.00
"It's 6:15pm at the Spence Field Shelter and the sun is still up! It's so nice to have more and more sunlight every day. Our mileage seems to be limited in the Smokies because we have to stay at shelters (park rules). At this rate we will be here for an additional 1.5 days - we'll just have to ration some food for that..."

Journal Entry 3.25.00
"11:30pm inside my tent at the Icewater Springs Shelter. It's been raining for awhile now and I can't sleep... Well the historic moments of the day include reaching the summit of Clingman's Dome (at 6643 feet, the highest point on the trail), and reaching the 200-mile mark (only 2,000 more to go). Less historic moments of the day - losing the trail on the north side of Clingman's Dome due to blow-downs, crawling under, over, and in-between the 100+ colossal trees blown down all over the trail, and being rained on by an overhead leak as I presently write. Mental Note: Seam-seal this tent on next day off. Highlight of the day - Trail Magic - meeting a former thru-hiker in the parking lot at Newfound Gap who had a car full of goodies - soda, fruit, snacks, candy. Thank you Ox! Oh yes, and in the spirit of ditching as much pack weight as possible, I threw out my deodorant in the trash can at Clingman's Dome today."

previous | next