14 May: Entered the Great Smoky Mountains. Hiked 14.1 from Fontana Dam to Russell Field Shelter.
15 May: Hiked 16.3 miles to Double Spring Gap Shelter. Spotted a turkey along the way that was actively calling. A deer visited our campsite in the evening and grazed.
16 May: Hiked 20.7 miles to The ,4 mile trail leading down to Peck’s Corner Shelter. A beautiful day of hiking, the best on the trail so far. Climbed up to Clingman’s Dome the highest point on the AT, at 6611 feet. Scrambler fell ill the night before so John “Redbull”and I continued on that day.
17 May: Hiked 21 miles from intersection of Peck’s trail with AT to stream crossing 1.8 miles short of Standing Bear Farm. Scrambler caught up to Red bull and I half-way into our hike today, but stayed at the shelter we were lunching at; he’ll join us again in the next few days. Right before the end of the hike, I exited the Great Smoky Mountains. A long day of hiking and I was rewarded at the end as we camped several feet from a stream. I took advantage of the stream and bathed in it at night.
Peace on the Peninsula 