Tricorner Knob Shelter, April 26
M=12.6; C=210.2
J: Haven't written in a couple of days! Did the night hike day before yesterday after Clingmans Dome. What a day to cruise -- flew up to the dome. Blew 4 hours hanging out, then off to Mt. Collins. Left Skip, Permagrin and Stomper, who stayed behind to play at the Dome. Ate some grub at Collins and met up with Babbles and Tired Dogs. We started out just at sunset as the near full moon began its rise. As night descended, visibility dropped too, just like night hiking on John's Creek.
Everyone held up well, 'though Tired Dogs went down hard on her ankle once. Numb toes probably helps, what with all the root kicking and that blackened nail. No flashlights for most of it. Crossed a birch sanctuary just before Newfound Gap, where fencing had been put up to prevent wild hogs from rooting up the ground cover. We came upon the gap just after midnight where a dozen bicyclists were going around the parking lot! They were followed by a motorcycle -- really strange for a Sunday night. After a breather, we headed up toward Icewater S. We made the shelter about 1:30 a.m.
Next day (4/25), woke up cold and wet. No room in the shelter so had burritoed it outside under the shelter eaves. Dripped on all a.m. Ate, took a nap and left about 10:30. Great weather as it was all week -- but the hike to Pecks and here was horrible. No energy all day. This a.m., feel a bit better -- still not hot shit. A couple small blisters on toes; R ankle and knee rough. We'll take it slow. Clouds coming today.