Cosby Knob Shelter to Standing Bear Farm

Appalachian Trail, 10.4 miles

It rained all night, but at least the rain noise covered up the cacophony of snoring from all those men. We were up, fed, packed, and hiking out a little before 7, a new record for us. It wasn't a moment too soon. That was probably the most unpleasant shelter experience I've ever had. I will confess to taking a little bit of guilty pleasure in making a small ruckus this morning as we packed up. I didn't feel at all bad that we might be disturbing the sleep of the steak-eating snorers. Way I saw it, it was paybacks for the previous 10 hours.

By 8 it started clearing up and turned into a really beautiful day -- a great way to end a great week. The sun streaming in through the trees was such a beautiful sight. It felt and looked like we were walking through a rainforest, only without the muggy heat.

Summitting Mt. Cammerer this morning was a little bittersweet, as it was the last big climb we'd experience in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Here's a really great view from the side of that mountain -- aren't those clouds amazing?


We took the remaining downhill miles pretty quickly, enjoying the mountain laurel blooming along the way, and lunching at Davenport Gap Shelter. After that it was only one more mile till we finished the park, and four miles to our car. Here we are at Davenport Gap, which is the end of the GSMNP section of the AT:

Of the remaining few miles, about two of them followed an amazing riverside trail along the Pigeon River.

The big surprise of the day was that we had another climb to get back to Standing Bear Farm -- I hadn't really planned on that! My topo map only took us through Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and all I knew was that Standing Bear was three miles past the park border. Who knew it was uphill!? But we took it on the chin and muscled through to the end. It sure was a beautiful sight when we finally came to the intersection of the AT and Waterville School Road...
...and an even more beautiful sight when Cindy's Trailblazer came into view. We are now on our way to a hot shower, a huge dinner, and real beds with real sheets and real pillows.