Franklin, 100mi, 200mi, Gatlinburg
Sorry Long overdue update….having too much fun I guess! Hit the 100mile mark on 3/22 was on top of Mt Albert, near the watchtower. We also crossed into NC!, showed no mercy immediately lol with a straight up climb but nothing new. On 3/23,24,25 the crew rolled/stayed into the town of Franklin. Great days exploring or taking over another trail town! Getting milkshakes,food, going to the local breweries Curahee and Lazy Hiker. Wasn’t the plan but, we ended up surprising some other hiker friends at the Lazy Hiker. Followed by karaoke which was crazy….I tried it for first time might as well go big so did Aerosmith’s Dream On. The nightclub we all hanged out at said they haven’t had a night like that ever, Franklin was a great time!
Days past after Franklin, durning then I get through Nantahala National Forest, Nantahala Outdoor Center or NOC, Fontana Village. If we were to 0 at the NOC prolly would of went on whitewater rafting. Fontana Village was a awesome place that I would definitely return to! Just arrived at the best time when there was a Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini rally going on lol.
On a side note I didn’t realize it’s been that long lol…that I was still carrying/eating hotdogs that I bought at my food resupply in Franklin, which was 100MILES AGO!! I can’t believe I made it to the Smokies!, highest points of elevation climbing over mountains, wind is almost blowing me off great views. We made it past the 200mile mark, below 2,189.8miles to Katadhin, and into another state Tennessee! 4/3 was one of the worst days ever since Blood Mountain snowstorm, it was a rain downpour/thunderstorm/windstorm the trail literally turned into a river, uphills were waterfalls! Our hiking boots/trail-runners turned into water shoes,clothes were drenched. Thanks to the good people at Newfound Gap, mile marker 206!, letting us hitch a ride with them into Gatlinburg! The next town is better than the last Blairsville, Franklin, and now Gatlinburg. Here for 4/3,4, and now 5 rain/thunderstorms worse than 4/3 is in the forecast followed by freezing temps chances are our clothes will be drenched again then freeze. Snow thurs and fri I’d take that over rain any day. That’s All I have for now!… Stay tuned, next stop Hot Springs, NC. Just may get to Damascus, Virginia by my birthday on the 27th….
