Erwin, TN (USA)

Woke up at 0600, packed, ate breakfast at my hotel and then got gas in Elizabethton (0755). Needed to rescue another marooned section from 2014 so headed south on I-26 towards North Carolina. Returned to the trailhead I’d hiked on Friday (TN-107 at Iron Mountain Gap) and started NOBO at 0845. Saw what looked like a guys weekend group just as I left my car - they looked like they were finishing their overnight(s) and multiple cars were leaving. Soon, I was all alone and it stayed that way all day. It was overcast (rain was forecasted) and brisk (30s) - the three layers I wore were barely enough to withstand an icy breeze in the gap and it got colder as I climbed. I figured out later that the section was an “S” shape, meaning I could see almost the whole hike at a given moment. The AT actually followed the ridge (the NC-TN border) most of the day (rare) and I found myself headed south while going “north” on the trail (there was a warning in the AWOL guide). I only had to navigate 4-5 roller coasters of climbs and descents. The trail surface was decent and I made excellent time. Turned around at Clyde Smith Shelter and headed back immediately. I’d been dodging what felt like sleet throughout the outbound leg but it got much worse during the backtrack. The weather was coming from the south, so the left side of my body received 90% of the precipitation - the sleet didn’t bother me very much until I realized the temps had started to drop too (into the 20s). Soon, the whole left arm of my jacket was frozen solid! Everything on the left eventually froze and I walked as fast as I can ever remember because several questions crossed my mind: what are the signs of hypothermia, do I have enough dry clothes, how icy roads are the coming down off the mountain (and do the locals treat them). Made it to my car (it had icicles on it) at 1315 after 12 miles (could only count part of it) and, after scraping the windows, gingerly made my way back to Unicoi. Changed clothes and hit the road for home (1415). Used I-26 to get back on I-81 and continued north. Encountered intermittent rain until passing Marion. Stopped for gas in Troutville (1655) and continued on I-81. Found a lot more traffic north of Staunton (grr...). Didn't stop in Harrisonburg and that was a relief as it started to get dark before I reached I-66. Arrived home at 2015. While doing laundry in my apartment, it started to snow a LOT! Felt like I dodged another bullet - despite the weather, I lived to have another chance for a future AT hiking weekend! AT Today = 5.00 miles / G.T. AT = 1344.12 miles