There were a lot of rumors spreading down the trail leading up to the Smokies, many have chosen to skip them and try later, but myself and 11 others decided to give them a try. The trail definitely wasn’t easy, but was far better than we were lead to believe. We were rained on, snowed on, sunk to our knees step after step, but in the end we made it unharmed and still managed to laugh along the way.

‘Gray Beard’ is a Ridge Runner, working in the Smokies.

Cold, wet ‘Cowboy’.

‘Lumbar’

‘Gadget’

‘Lucky’

“Post holing” is not fun! (A post hole refers to the imprint you make when hiking through deep snow)

Another peak with NO view!



The sun made a very brief appearance.

Viewing tower at Clingman’s Dome.



Clingman’s Dome, one of the best views on the trail, so I’m told.

Snow White, not great at pool and not much better at darts! ;)

We get confused in towns. Where are all the white blazes?!

A packed shelter during Spring Break.



‘Snow White’ and I where forced to hang in the trees when we walked into a full shelter.

Making a hot dinner on a super cold night.

Warm and happy in her sleeping bag.

‘Roaring Lion’ attempted to make a fire for 4 hours in a cold, wet shelter.

‘Wanderer’



‘Blood Hound’

‘Snow White’ working hard in the snow.



Hoar frost.

A little sun and lots of fog.



Hoar frost.



‘Snow White’



‘Cowboy’, trying to dry his underwear in the sun!

‘Cowboy’ soaking up more sun.

The only peak I saw in the Smoky Mountains. It lasted about 30 seconds.



‘Branch’ and ‘Apple Seed’



‘Roaring Lion’