Day 16

Swim Bald- campsite before Cody Gap

Today was really tough. After a climb up Cheoh Bald, and a nice break looking at the Smokys and Fontana Lake in the distance, we were once again cooked alive by the sun and shown no mercy by the decidious forests of the South which still have no leaves to offer any protection. Although nothing was really different about the terrain, everything just seemed harder to do. We sat for a late lunch (around 5pm) on a ridge before Stecoah Gap (?) then crossed the road like scared deer up into the mountains again. Passed the shelter, enjoyed the cool rocks and eastern tree beards on the narrow ridgeline past it, the found a spot just before Cody Gap as it was getting dark.