Day 62 – Sat 4/21/18

Day 62 went from Icewater Spring Shelter to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter – 12.6 miles.

The morning began with Charlie’s Bunion!

Later in the day, I was knocked out by a tree. I was wearing a ball cap, and the tree was just out of my view. I hit the tree so hard that my head bounced back off the tree and I landed on my back.

These are some pictures post run in with the tree.

Thanks for joining me on Expedition Elizabeth!

Day 61 – Fri 4/20/18

Day 61 Newfound Gap to Icewater Spring Shelter – 3.1 miles.

This morning, we got ready and started to head towards the trail. I was going back to Newfound Gap and Nooner was going back to Clingman’s Dome. We planned to meet up at Icewater Spring Shelter tonight.

We decided to hitch hike up to the trail, so we walked just past the Gatlinburg city limit and I stuck out my thumb. It didn’t take long for us to get a ride from a guy coming into Gatlinburg from Cherokee. (He wasn’t going our direction, but was willing to get us farther up the mountain.)

He told us to put our packs in the trunk of his SUV, so Nooner loaded our packs and we pulled off. However, as we took off, so did our packs… out the back of the SUV!… and nearly into traffic!

Either Nooner forgot to close the trunk door or he didn’t latch it well. I’m pretty positive it was the latter.

Anyway, we had to turn around and get our packs back.

After the incident, the guy giving us a hitch decided he was only going to take us a couple of miles… as opposed to the entire way as before… I can’t blame him, haha!

After he dropped us off, two men (I want to say we’re brothers) picked up us and took us all the way. As they were taking us up, we even got to see a bear and her 2 cubs!

They dropped us off, and I set northbound!

I got some nice pictures today from the views at the Jumpoff.

Nooner did not end up catching up with me tonight (as I later found out he only hiked Clingman’s to Newfound Gap and hitched a ride back to Cherokee for the night).

Thanks for joining me on Expedition Elizabeth!

Day 60 – Thur 4/19/18

Day 60 Zero’d in Gatlinburg WITH NOONER!

This morning, I got up early to go to the laundry mat to get my clothes clean from yesterday’s mud pit and then I was going to get back on trail, but on my way back, I got a phone call from Nooner!! 😊

He hitched from Cherokee where he had been for about 7 days to Gatlinburg for me!

This was a complete surprise for me! I was so happy to be with him again!

I can’t even remember what we did today because I just remember how happy I was to see him.

Thanks for joining me on Expedition Elizabeth!