| Mile | 241.8 |
| Miles Since Last Update | 10.4 + 1.2 bonus miles |
| Day | 25 |
I didn’t hear it happen but apparently Preacher got up at 1am and pushed forward out of the smokies. Sounded like he had been bit by something on his finger and was concerned it was getting infected. Hoping the best for him.
Tried to get up early enough to catch the sunrise at Mt Cammerer. The guys from TN a few days back had recommended it and I figured today was going to be a relatively easy day so I’d go for it. Ended up sleeping in a bit and the headlamp hike of 3 miles was slower than I thought so I didn’t make sunrise but I made it there and it was pretty cool and I had it to myself. Sat there for almost an hour taking pictures and just sitting listening to music. Added 1.2 miles to the day but was well worth.
Could probably have just camped inside the night before.
Rest of the day sucked hard because “smokies”. 3000 ft descent and it was beyond hot as hell (HOTTEST DAY ON RECORD). In the end though I was able to finally escape the smokies. About 1000 ft before the exit I saw a scout troop of about 12 kids starting to walk up what I just walked down. 3000 ft ascent for them, their packs looked insanely heavy, it was about to be noon and peak heat. RIP.
Ate shit walking across I40 of all places, and finally made it to standing bear farm, where the schedule has me spending the night. The people here are kind of bizarre, but it is a neat place and fairly empty so I’m not complaining.
Tomorrow is very easy day because they closed down the max patch campsite, meaning it’s either a 17 mile day to a shelter, or it’s a 7 mile day to a shelter, so it’s a 7 mile day. Weather looks kinda wild, might get below freezing. Thank God.
Big man and thunder came in fairly late in the day here too. They had a dog the last time I saw them but SMNP doesn’t allow dogs so it sounds like they got it kenneled and are picking him up tomorrow. They came with a person I hadn’t met before named Junkfood. She was trying to convince me to do the PCT after this. Doubt that is in the cards.
Standing Bear staff are a bunch of characters. One of them works at Dollywood during the day, one has a big Sasquatch costume that he tries to scare guests with but it mostly just drives the dogs and chickens here insane. Sat around the fire and chatted with them a bit and then went to my private cabin right next to the chicken coop to sleep.
When you leave the smokies you are supposed to drop your permit here so they know you didn’t die in their stupid crappy park
Standing bear farm hostel