April 25, 2005

Sunday/Monday 4/24/05-4/25
Start -Newfound Gap
Stop - Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles travelled 10.4

This is a combined entry because it was too cold to write last night. I was afraid that the extreme cold would damage the PDA if I tried to use it. I couldn't get out of Gatlinburg till late Sunday because the park service closed the roads into the park till late afternoon.

I had planned to just stay in Gatlinburg until I heard the trail and weather report. Powder snow and slush freezing to ice overnight.

I figured I'd rather climb out of the gap in snow than ice and worry about ice on today's relatively easy section. Plan worked great for Sunday but Monday's walk in the park was a real ordeal. I am mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. The promised freeze developed and everything was under a thick coating of ice.

Posted by at April 25, 2005 12:51 AM