[at-l] Bristlecone is in the Smokies

[Debbie_Smith@Millipore.com]

I got a call from Bristlecone last night from Fontana Dam.  It seems after
his day off he did a 22-mile day out of NOC on Wed. and got to Fontana
yesterday around 10AM.  I think he's lost his mind, since the hike out of
NOC includes the climb up Cheoah Bald, and the climbs out of Stecoah Gap
and Sweetwater Gap (my personal biggest challenge in the south!)  Anyone
who has hiked in that area knows what these climbs are like.  And he did
these as part of a 22-mile day!  But he said he's feeling good, doing well
and having lots of fun.

But another point... he passed 3 separate groups of Boy Scouts in that
22-mile section and said the Trail is just jammed (it's spring break).  He
has also heard along the Trail that all of the spots in the shelters in the
Smokies are now on a reservation basis... in the past they have set aside 3
spots for thruhikers but he heard that's not the case this year.  Anyone
out there know whether it's true?  So he (and everyone else he's around)
plans to try to push through the Smokies as fast as possible - too bad in
my opinion since I loved them even in the ice and snow!

He also saw Mara Factor in Fontana yesterday.  They talked for a while, and
she was hiking out in the afternoon to the first shelter.  She's still
nursing some ankle problems she's been having, and going easy on them, so
she'll probably be in Davenport gap in 5 days or so.  He was hiking out
this morning at 5, planning to do the Smokies in 4 days if the weather
cooperates.  No other lister sightings to report.

Have a great weekend everyone, and get out there and hike!  Luckily for me
those are my plans for the weekend :-)

Twilight
GA>ME '98


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