One step at a time
How do I begin to explain the Smokies. First, I don’t know if I have the enough adjectives to describe the vast beauty. The picturesque views do not only last for a minute, it last for approximately 70 miles. With every summit, I would mumble the same words, “Are you kidding me?” “Wow!”
Getting Ready
In the beginning, I thought it would take 6 days to get thru it. Many former hikers suggested that I should prepare for the worst which consisted of snow, sleet, ice and wind. I knew they where much more knowledgeable than me, so that is what I planned for, the worse!
Beef up the Gear
I knew I needed to carry extra food. As I would be climbing mountains that would be over 5500 feet I knew I would be exerting a lot of energy, and food is energy. Food is also weight, and pounds is pain when it’s on my back. I bought extra snacks and of course, coffee.
I also needed to carry extra warm gear. Therefore, at Fontana Dam I bought a shirt and many hand warmers. I distinctly remember some guy in the store saying, “You from Maine? You want need hand warmers”. Anyway, I decided to continue with my plan and I bought six packages. I am well aware that when my hands get too cold they become dead weight, it’s hard for me to do the smallest tasks. I didn’t want this to happen so hand-warmer weight was worth it.
Respect for the Elements
The first night I was extremely tired. I was actually too tired to even cook therefore, I opened up my good ole, yet might I add delicious “dry tuna”. 
I really just needed something to give me calories to keep warm through the night. Fail! I froze, the Smokies decided to dish out a nice little cold snap. The temperature had dropped to 15 degrees which was followed by the mountain winds. I thought to myself, “Shoot, this is only the first night”. As I shivered in my tent, I decided to revise my six day Smokies plan.
Plan of Attack
The only way to get out of bad weather when I am on the AT is to go thru it and get out of it. After waking up every morning to my water purification lines frozen, I kept thinking, “Tomorrow it will be warmer!”
Unfortunately, the Smokies decided to share another storm that consisted of high wind gusts and ice covered trails. I decided to just hike, I knew if I moved two things would happen; I’d be warmer and closer to the end, so that is what I did.
Clingmans highest point of the AT and sun?
Tough Love
I wanted to stay in the Smokies because of its beauty, but I had to say “Goodbye”. After hiking in the pitch dark, stumbling into blow downs and trying to thaw my fingers it was time to bolt. I prayed that God would sustain my body to push through the 70 miles in 3 1/2 days, and He did. Thank you, Jesus!
Though I will not forget what these mountains taught me, I am happy to be on the other side. I now know when I think I am maxed beyond limits, Gods super natural strength will always get me through. 
This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek’s ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!
To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.
