Video: Brother Bones on the Appalachian Trail: 2015 Part 4: Enter the Smokies

[FireInMyBones]

Spring Break 2015, I headed back out on the Appalachian Trail, yet again making it to Fontana Dam. I hadn't been feeling too well, but had high hopes. The weather turned way colder than I expected it to be and I learn another hard lesson. If it hadn't been for my Igneous socks and the tarp/sock that HNO made for me, I would have been in even more trouble. Next time, I'll be reconsidering my footwear for these conditions (not what I was planning for higher up), and make sure that I clip off my mitts/gloves to my pack when I film or get water.

[TrailSlug]

Good video and thanks for taking the time to do this and sharing it. That weather did look a bit miserable to me. I have ice cold feet and they do not make a shoe/boot that will keep my feet warm. I want to try that hike in April or May when the weather is a bit nicer.

[georgecarr]

Great video! Glad you got out OK.

[FireInMyBones]

Good video and thanks for taking the time to do this and sharing it. That weather did look a bit miserable to me. I have ice cold feet and they do not make a shoe/boot that will keep my feet warm. I want to try that hike in April or May when the weather is a bit nicer.

Yeah, I was in very breathable trail runners and thin wool socks. My shoes were frozen from the icy mud in the morning. I tore through my VBL socks earlier on day one so they didn't help at all, plus with wet socks, they would have only helped a little. My new VBL socks are thicker cuben and tapped rather than sewn silnylon which still allowed some moisture transfer.

Great video! Glad you got out OK.

Me too. I still don't have full feeling in my fingers and almost none in my pinkies a year later. My next set of mitts will have mitten hooks on them. They are worth the two gram penalty.

[BigRed77]

Hate you had such hard time. Was the shelter full so you could hang? Wanting to do this section again. What is policy about permit/shelter and hammocking? BigRed77

[Rick68]

Brother Bones ty for taking us with you on your trip. It did look like a very cold nite, good thing you were prepared..

[FireInMyBones]

Hate you had such hard time. Was the shelter full so you could hang? Wanting to do this section again. What is policy about permit/shelter and hammocking? BigRed77

No, there were only two people and a ridgerunner. I told him, after seeing the temperature was lower than I had planned for, that I would be safer hanging. He was interested in my setup, and was curious about tree damage. I was prepared to hang, not stay in the shelter (assumption that the Smokies would be packed with all of the warm weather the week before). I was surprised at the low numbers of people in the shelter. I was prepared to accept the consequence if I was reported.

Brother Bones ty for taking us with you on your trip. It did look like a very cold nite, good thing you were prepared..

Prepared enough not to die. I'm hoping that my preparedness will only continue to grow.

[TallPaul]

Wow.. love the snowy vistas but tough price to pay with the cold fingers and toes. Hope your next section goes smooth as butter.. all down hill from the gap (ok not really).

[country hang]

Nice video, thanks for sharing. hopefully your next section trip will be smoother.

[FireInMyBones]

Wow.. love the snowy vistas but tough price to pay with the cold fingers and toes. Hope your next section goes smooth as butter.. all down hill from the gap (ok not really).

It was certainly bittersweet. Beautiful, and bitting. I've already done to Hot Springs, so I'm working on those videos too.

Nice video, thanks for sharing. hopefully your next section trip will be smoother.

Thanks. The next two were, except for a surprise on the Hot Springs one. I'm heading out in March again to try to make it to 19E and finish NC.