200 down, 2000 to go.
Well, well, well. We meet again. Thanks for coming back. Or being here for the first time!
Not sure if you’ve looked at my new gallery. Sorry, I know the pictures are hi-res, so they take a little while to download. I took more pictures on the morning of the 15th than the rest of the hike so far. Before I explain how amazing that morning was, I feel like I should explain what a normal day on the trail is like.
To understand what the average day looks and feels like, try this little exercise. Bring a tv into the bathroom and turn on an episode of Bob Ross. Spray-paint the tv gray so you can barely see the shapes of trees. Then stand in the shower with your rain jacket on and turn on cold water sporadically. Now, how happy are those trees?
I know I’ve missed some great views from the tops of cloud-covered mountains so far, but a morning like the 15th makes many monotonous, foggy days worth the hike. It was tough to get out of my sleeping bag that morning because it was so cold, plus the sky looked like it would remain cloudy though we heard it was supposed to be clearing up. I sang Christmas carols for the first few miles because it seemed fitting. But it became magical soon enough. You hike along for a while then suddenly realize you can make out your shadow on the ground just ahead of you. The sun is finally doing its job and poking through the fog! “Into marvelous light I’m running…”
It was so windy and cold the night before that any moisture in the air turned to frost as the wind came up the east side of the mountain and down the west. Many of the pictures may look blurry, but that’s actually an inch or two of frost that hung from the branches and trees…parallel to the ground! It was the strangest thing.
So after 3 miles of hiking, I reached the highest point on the AT: Clingmans Dome which is at 6,643 feet. Not that it’s all down hill from here, there are still come big climbs ahead! It was so cold on top of the spaceship-of-an-observation tower that I could only stand it for a few seconds. There were some tourists there that saw our packs and started asking all the typical questions: “Where did you come from?” “Where are you going?” “Where’s Maine?”
Then after a few more miles of hiking, I hit the 200 mile mark. The sun started to heat up all those frosted flakes on the branches, which is ironic because when it would warm up for a second it would start to “snow” from the trees (see last picture).
What a morning. Sitting here in Gatlinburg now, packing and finishing some errands, again it’s hard to leave. But there are always things to look forward to on the trail, new people to meet, new challenges ahead. I’ll be out of the Smokeys within a few days and passing through cool hiker-friendly towns like Hot Springs, NC and Erwin, TN. I’m looking forward to warmer weather, hopefully I’ll be able to adjust to hiking in the heat of the day. My stomach issues have mostly subsided 
This week on the MP3 player I have 34 sermons from pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill - Seattle as well as Jim Gaffigan’s new comedy CD, King Baby. Oh man…I’ll be crying for two weeks straight, more highs and lows ahead!
My goal for the next update will be to update the FAQ section with your questions about the AT and World Vision. I miss being at my World Vision table at concerts and having people ask me sponsorship questions…send them my way! chris@2200miles.com
Thanks again for reading, I’ll be thinking about your comments until next time And now, the…
Trail Report
4/9 11 miles, took it easy. 2nd time sleeping in a shelter (as opposed to pitching my tent). Glad to have pump filter back, I had been using chemicals. It’s heavier but easier. Stomach still uneasy.
4/10 16.3 miles, most of the time it was like walking in a rainforest. Thought a lot about Good Friday during the day. Glad to be staying at a hostel as it’s raining/thunderstorms tonight.
4/11 16 miles, 3300 ft climb to start the day. No sun, some rain.
4/12 12.7 miles, hard, fast day. Easter. Listened to entire gospel of Luke, Sara Groves, and Andrew Petersen for my sunrise service. Saw some lizards! New pain when I twisted left foot. “Walked” it off. Largest shelter, sleeps 24, called the Fontana ‘Hilton’
4/13 16.7 miles, farthest distance so far. Entered the Great Smokey Mountain National Park this morning. Cold, windy, foggy day. Listened to music all day. Crowded shelter because of weather.
4/14 13.5 miles, more grass and pine trees than the rest of the entire hike combined. Mostly rain and fog, sun poked out momentarily.
4/15 10.8 miles, most beautiful morning, even though it was FREEZING. Sang Christmas carols. Took more pictures today than rest of the trip combined. Hit the highest point on the trail, Clingmans Dome @ 6,643 feet. Hit the 200 mile mark as well. Hitched a ride to Gatlinburg, saw bears from the road! Staying two nights at the Grand Prix with fellow hiker ‘Poptart’.
4/16 ZERO (actually, 4 miles of in-town walking). Went to outfitters to buy new shoes, no luck. Bought groceries. Blogging now! Miss friends and family.
Back to the trail in the AM! Next towns are Hot Springs, NC (70 miles) and Erwin, TN (140 miles). See you there!
Glad there was a wall between you and those bears when you saw them.
Did you take any photos of them? Thanks for the call yesterday. I think it made me miss you more though.
Comment by mandy — April 17, 2009 @ 9:26 pm
I’ve seen a few “bear Jams” myself when the cars pull over in a wilflife area you know something is up! acouple of years ago we saw a mother with four cubs in Shenandoah, Big Meadows area. She was just meandering along the sidewalks as the cubs played around in the trees. they started in the campground- really cool. I’ve been reading some of the trail journals on line and I’ve heard a of “a hiker with a big camera doing a documentery,” could this be you? The mileage they posted sounded like it could be, and I have heard someone mention poptart, so what did you decide on a trail name, and it seems you are making very good time to be in the Smokies already. enjoy the view and look forward to hearing from you. gail
Comment by gail — April 17, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
Wow–200 miles. That’s great. You seem to be keeping your wits about you. I like the Christmas carols because I’ve been whistling one too as I work. Can’t get it out of my head. I have been worrying about you every time we have a bad weather day thinking it will be hitting you in a day or two. Keep up the good work, stay dry and I really believe this will be an experience of a life time. My favorite poptart is Cinnamon. Maybe your trail name could be Pizza Man. HAHAHA!!!! We miss you.
Comment by Cheryl Rutherford — April 18, 2009 @ 12:06 am
Yo! I’ll be passing over the AT at route 40 just west of Asheville, NC on Monday. Looks like there’s a chance you’ll be in the area. Any chance for a random meeting? I know you’ve got to be dying for a connection from home! Email or call if you can. -Scott
Comment by Scotty P. — April 18, 2009 @ 12:17 am
After reading your blog, I want to ‘climb every mountain’. It looks so beautiful. It seems so adventurous. Maybe I will put it on my list of things to do before I die.
Comment by Catherine Braganza — April 18, 2009 @ 8:00 am
Do you know how hard it is to type with tears in your eyes, my son? I love reading your blog.I truly hope you will never be closer to a bear than the ones you’ve already seen.
I love reading others’ comments to you, too. It’s a comfort that so many others are praying for you. Thank you, Jesus. Your Easter morning listening sounds wonderful. I hope your ankle is better. Your pictures are wonderful. I have shared some with my students at school. To most of them the idea is so foreign I might be talking about your trip to Mars. Ha. Please be careful. I love you dearly and miss you as much. BTW, me voy a Mexico el 20 de junio hasta el 11 de julio.Y me voy a Guatemala con TYler el 23 hasta el 31 de julio. Climb every mountain……… XXOO
Comment by Mamá — April 18, 2009 @ 8:49 am
Great Pic’s.
Comment by gail — April 19, 2009 @ 4:19 pm
Hey Chris!
so I was thinking about you and your journey and thought I would sit and type some thoughts…
with all the walking you are doing, do you think of the Israelites and the incredible walking trip they endured on their way to the Promised land? or how many miles the disciples walked with JC, or the apostles and how the gospel was spread by the feet of them? and that was without neoprene and goretex!
You are indeed in the prayers of many and I am praying for strength and endurance of your mind, body and soul; I raise a glass - nay - an iced Venti Americana w/ 3 raw sugars- to you my friend. Here’s to watertight and breathable, fireproof and stain resistant faith!
we will miss you terribly in the Bahamas and hope to see you soon-
Sally
Comment by Sally Martin — April 19, 2009 @ 11:33 pm
Just learned about your trip from a couple in our small group at church (Trevor & Sarah). I’m looking forward to following you on the trail (technologically speaking).
Comment by Ryan — April 20, 2009 @ 8:21 am
Here’s a question for ya: Just how long is your beard going to be by the time you are finished hiking?! Hope you are doing well. Miss you!
Comment by Megan Lloyd — April 24, 2009 @ 9:11 am
Hey man. I’ve been reading The Hole in our Gospel by Rich Stearns - CEO of WV. He says 26,000 kids die worldwide each DAY. I did some math…
- roughly 15 kids for each step that you take
- on day 28 that means roughly 728,000 kids have died since you’ve been on the trail.
Some crazy crap, eh? Appreciate the work you are doing to raise awareness for these friends. Keep up the great work dude!
Comment by crossn81 — April 25, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
Growing up in East TN, I have had my many visits to Clingman’s Dome. It’s always a fun hike up, though I’ve never bumped into any ATers … unfortunate.
Erwin, also, is only 45 min from my hometown. An interesting place to say the least. haha… Glad God is keeping things interesting with the vast seasonal changes.
Praying for more endurance,
Brittany
Comment by Brittany Howerton — April 27, 2009 @ 1:05 pm
Hey Christopher,
Just found out you were doing the hike from your mom Sunday 4/26. I’m envious. Tommy and I were just in the Smokies April 1-6. We just missed you. And we stayed at the Gran Prix too! We hiked about 35 miles of trails in five days. Andrews Bald and Clingmans Dome were clear weather. 80 one day and snowing the next. I’m sure you’ll see all weather possible during your extended hike. Enjoy the diversity.
Tom
Comment by Tom Webb — April 27, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
That’s awesome you’re doing this, Chris. About a week before you were there, I stood on the trail at Newfound Gap. That’s about as far as I got. May God bless your time on the trail. Buena suerte! Espero que un oso no te coma!!
David Metzger
Comment by Metzger — April 28, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!
Comment by AndrewBoldman — June 4, 2009 @ 7:59 am