Day 22 (updated)

Day 22- Newfound Gap to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter - 15.6 miles (220.3 total)

We both woke up early without the assistance of an alarm as we were both really anxious to get back on the trail. Laura packed up while Mike updated our journal on the computer in the motel's lobby. After some free coffee & doughnuts we walked back over to the NOC store to catch the free hiker shuttle back up to the gap, about 15 miles away. Brian, the driver who dropped us off, took our picture at the TN/NC state line sign, and then we set off north again weaving through tourists by 1pm. We stopped at Charlies Bunion, and our camera finally decided that it was gonna stop working for good, but we were lucky that a few guys from SC were photographing the landmark and Mt. LaConte and they offered to take our picture and email it to us later. The landscape was now looking more dramatic as the clouds in the valleys were lifting and swirling around the peaks of the Smokies and we couldn't help but feel nervious about climbing out on the rock(s) for the photo- very very steep drop to the valley floor below. We had a great afternoon taking in the best views (and most clear) that we've seen yet in GSMNP, and we both agreed that it was only fitting that today would be the day that the camera broke... haha! This was a paricularlly neat section of the trail because most all of it was on the high ridgeline. We hiked into the night and arrived at Tri-Corner Knob shelter after 9pm. As we approached there were scary signs about bear activity all over, and standing there in the darkness with our headlamps illuminating the signs, we hoped our decision to keep hiking wouldn't be something we regreted later. The shelter was full, and everyone was asleep (or trying to be) so we pitched our tent next door on the flatest spot we could find (which was still on an incline), hung the food, and went right to bed (Mike fell asleep right away, while it took Laura almost an hour....)