T minus 7 days til we head back to the AT

Day 12, 9/1/23

Our last official hiking day in the Smokey’s🥲. We hiked the AT as it crosses the Fontana Dam in NC, and hits the gateway of the Smokey Mountains National Forest. This segment was so beautiful, and the hike was peaceful. Heading back to Wisco tomorrow. We enjoyed dinner and a cocktail at the Wildwood Restaurant at the Fontana Village, and were serenaded by an awesome bluegrass band called “Coddle Creek Band.” A relaxing way to end a great trip!

Day 9, 8/29

Left Franklin, NC and headed toward Nantahala Outdoor Center. We did the steep climb up to Wayah Bald lookout tower, located on the AT one mile above Franklin. The views were amazing, we were above the clouds at 5,500 ft. You can see GA, TN, NC and SC from the top. The drive into this place followed the Nantahala Gorge, and the views of the gorge and river were breathtaking. We rented an elevated tent site for a couple nights, will do day hikes while we’re here. Both the AT and the Bartram trail run through this area. The great Rocky Mtn railroad passed near our tent site as well! Even though Kelly beat me in 4 games of kings corner card game tonight, we’re still cousins, still love each other and still retired😁

Day 10, 8/30

Lots of rain overnight, glad to be on an elevated tent site so we stayed dry. Got on trail early and hiked 5.5 miles on the Bartram Trail. We got back to camp and I hiked down to the end of the Nantahala River where it dumps into Fontana Lake. We did a 3 hour whitewater rafting trip in the afternoon…kinda scary but so darn fun! Water temp was only 50 degrees. Finished the day with a fire…still cousins, still love each other, still retired.

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