Mile 241. I survived the Smokeys.

I survived Great Smokey National Park! I feel like I need a bumper sticker. Or maybe a tattoo on my forehead. Or - at the very least - a glass of champagne.

That park is a beast. All the warnings of “Promise yourself you won’t quit in the Smokies” rang true. It’s an 80-mile lesson in fortitude. The only way out is through.

The morning started at 6300-6500 feet altitude - and damn it was cold! Once again, I was hiking with every piece of warm gear and rain gear; and the bitter wind found a way to pierce my skin nevertheless.

As the trail finally descended, my mood ascended in inverse proportion. It was worth the extra 18-mile push to get down to a much more comfortable 1800 feet.

Happily, I am now thawed and warm. Bring on more miles!