SHE DID IT!!!! Finished the last of the all the trails in the Smoky Mountains. This last trail was hard on her. With the wildland fire which closed the trail down for quite some time, snow closing the road down, it was wonderful to actually be able to get to the trail. Thunderstorms were forecast for this hike, but the morning was hopeful. As we drove to Clingmans Dome Road it rained, and then sprinkled, then rained. We put our rain gear on at the trailhead hoping for sunshine. There was a lot of water on the trail. Didn't take long for the socks and boots to get soaked. We saw some wildflowers that looked similar to Solomon's Seal but had pink bell shaped flowers. (After checking the wildflower book, I'm sure it's Rosy Twisted Stalk, listed as rare. DIDN'T get a picture.) We looked for the man-way that used to go to the Chimney Tops and saw a path but it was too wet to try it. 4.8 miles was all Lora needed to finish her map and when the trail junction came in sight she got so excited. I got out the camera and the battery was dead! Cell phone to the rescue, filmed the happy dance. Now to print off the spreadsheet, fill out the application and send it in and wait patiently for my 900 miler sticker.........YES!
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