The Akers AT Section Hike: Smokies!

Well we are back on the trail and loving it! We are very happy that we changed our minds, the weather has never been better in the GSMNP so we have seen a lot of views with many more to come! Our first night we had to stay at the Fontana Hilton...it is not really a hilton just a nicer shelter :) with showers and trash cans and can fit more people. We had to stay there because the campsite we were heading for was closed due to aggressive bear activity! So we got out the next morning for our real first day! A man brought the hikers at the hilton some fruit and brownies, that was so nice! We stayed at the Double Spring Shelter the other night and the shelter was full!! We were all sitting around eating dinner and 3 deer came around like we weren't even there. They walked around and ate the grass around the shelter and came and checked out the people..that was a pretty neat experience! That night we stayed with a Ridgerunner named Billy..trail name Baloo. He was so cool! I actually hula hooped with him, he was pretty good :). We are slowly starting to catch up to our old friends and making new friends along the way, this is such a great journey! We have hiked up Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT. There wasn't too much to see but we had a view off of one side which is more than either of us has ever seen! We have a friend, Suds, who the night before woke up at 4 to catch the sunrise there, his pictures and video were beautiful! Now we are going to find a good spot to catch a sunrise :). We hiked to Newfound Gap and caught a ride with a very nice couple, whose name I didn't get :/. They brought us down into Gatlinburg, where we are now! We originally planned on skipping out on Gatlinburg, but we were so hungry and BBQ was calling our names :). Well, still no bears, maybe soon though! We will be back on here in a few days when we get to Hot Springs, NC!