Day 15 of AT in TN/NC NOBO

Mt. Collins Shelter (mile marker 202.8) to Newfound Gap parking lot (#207.8) for shuttle ride down into Gatlinburg TN for a zero day tomorrow.

We all woke up this am to sunnier skies and calmer weather. The privy was a good one and the spring for water was close by. All was right with the world!

Mid evening last night, a hiker named Swiss Chris (Chris from the German area of northern Switzerland) got to the shelter in time to set up shop inside the shelter with me. A really nice guy. His intent is to thru hike to Katahdin by mid September. So it was me and Swiss Chris in the shelter, Chipmunk was out in his hammock, Chris & Maxine in their tent, and another nice couple from Wisconsin (both UW grads!!) in their tent. The bear came again last night and roamed around, but Chris & I were safe inside the shelter. (Btw, one of the attached pics is of me, Chipmunk & Swiss Chris).

We all (except for the UW couple… they are section hiking Southbound) headed out Northbound the 5.0 miles to Newfound Gap for our 15 mile shuttle rides down into Gatlinburg TN. We just needed to get there by Noon, and it was mostly downhill. Got there in plenty of time and were welcomed by @ 75 cars/tour buses, and 100+ people. What a melting pot of humans. 🤓 You can imagine the look on Elmer & Ada’s faces when we came walking out of the woods!

Chris, Maxine & I shared a shuttle I had reserved down into G with driver Nate. He is a newly minted triple crowner (when you have successfully thru-hiked the big 3: AT, PCT & CDT). A great guy and incredibly knowledgeable and loyal to the hiking community. He comes all the way from Asheville NC each day to shuttle hikers all over a wide geographic area on both sides of the Smokies.

Got into the Fairfield Inn & Suites in G by 1:00 and started laundry, catching up on things now that I had WiFi, and best of all, 2 large pizzas & beer delivered to the room! Nothing better than that! 😋Read more