Tuesday September 26, 2017
Tri Corner Knob Shelter 15.1
Total mileage 1963.8
I entered the Smoky Mountains today. I took a shuttle from Standing Bear Farm to Newfound Gap, which is in the middle of the Smokies and I will hike north back to Standing Bear Farm. This way I don’t have to climb up the 3000-4000 feet up from Davenport Gap. I will hike down it. 
Then Jim will pick me up a Standing Bear Farm tomorrow and we will go to a cabin that he rented near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I will take a much needed zero there with him. I am so excited about it!😊 
After my zero Jim will drop me back off at Newfound Gap and I will continue my hike south. Hopefully with feet that feel much better. 
I slept great last night. I even slept through a mouse eating my dinner for tonight. He had to eat a big hole in my pack to get to it. I had an extra breakfast meal so that will be my dinner for tonight. And… He also got into chocolate supply! 😯
I had forgotten how beautiful the views from the Smokies were. There are so many mountains in the views. It is so much cooler up here to. Our high today was in the upper 60’s. We passed by Charlie’s Bunion early this morning with its amazing views and narrow ledges.
Just about the whole trail today was covered in roots or rocks. My feet started to bother me at the end of the day, but they still felt better than yesterday. Maybe the shorter day yesterday and the time off them helped. I spent a good amount of time massaging them yesterday and did the same thing today at the shelter. 
There are 4 other guys here that spend a week section hiking each year. They started at springer and have made it this far. 
Today I’m grateful for the cooler temperatures and the beauty of the trail.
The Smokies are gorgeous!!! YAY for the upcoming zero!!!! Lady, my feet are hurting FOR you! I’m so glad we’re taking a zero! LOL. 🙂
I’m also sorry about the mouse getting your dinner….AND your chocolate. 😦 Losing chocolate that you were counting on is always a traumatic event!
ULA does ‘tune-up’s on their packs for free…sometimes for a minimal charge if it’s extensive. They were going to repair both my side pockets and my hip belt pocket for a minimal fee. The material was peeling on the inside and they ended up giving me a new pack since it was under warranty. It was apparently a defect in the material they made my particular pack out of. My point, is that ULA is a very good company. They stand by their products, so not-to-worry about the damage to your pack. They will fix it for little to no cost to you.
I hope you enjoy your cabin getaway with Jim to the fullest! What a nice thing to look forward to!
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Unfortunately my pack is Zpack not ULA and it is a few years old, but I could still probably get it fixed. I just don’t think it is totally necessary. They just ate through some mesh that I sewed back together. I plan to cover the area up with my Long Trail patch or my AT patch if I can finish this thing.
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It looks so much like mine, I just assumed it was ULA.
You WILL get your patch!
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I’m gonna need it now to cover-up a mouse hole. So I can’t quit.
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These pictures are great. I had freezing rain and tons of snow as I came north through the Smokies this spring. It is interesting how different the same place can look based on weather. Enjoy your break with your husband. Go into downtown Gatlinburg if you have time. It’s a true tourist town with lots of fun stuff that can all be seen in a day.
Have fun!!
Rayanne Kelly Sent from my iPhone Please excuse typos as much of my correspondence is dictated for safety. 267-218-0782
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I can’t believe you made it through the Smokies in those conditions. That had to be really rough.
I’m not leaving this cabin. I just want to lay in bed and do nothing.
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HORRORS! A mouse in your chocolate stash! That’s just plain wrong. And I’m sorry you now have a hole in your backpack, which has stood by you through many an adventure.
That’s smart of you to go down instead up tomorrow. I do hope your feet feel better. The end is so very near!
-Chocoholic (hence, the agony over the chocolate incident)
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You make me smile.
How is your ankle?
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The tendinitis in the right shin is practically gone. The plantar fasciitis (yuck!) in the left foot is still a problem. I hate it when folks tell me they had it for two years. I’m doing all I can to make it go away.
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I didn’t have any foot problems before the trail but now is a different story. Glad to hear you are getting better. Hopefully you can beat this.
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I’m home right now dealing with an infection, very temporary though, I’ll be back on the trail. Wish I was in the Smokies, it looks like the perfect time to be there. I hope your feet are feeling better soon – you will have your patch! Say hi to Hootie for me, we overlapped paths in CT & southern MA.
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I told HOOTIE that you said hi and he remembers you and your gaters.
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