alison young | alison young • blissful hiker

Appalachian Trail: Birch Spring to Spence Field

It’s a wet day with thunderstorms expected in the Smokies, so we hike from shelter to shelter and see a bear and cub.

At Fontana Dam where I decide to take advantage of good weather and enter Smoky Mountain National Park.

It’s a monster climb to Cheoah Bald, then down and another biggie in gorgeous sunshine with a new pal.

It’s a long hard day with mist clearing, a huge descent to the Nantahala and back up again.

Big climbs and views plus a mountainside of woodland flowers end with a zero day.

The day is cloudy which adds to the drama atop Albert Mountain lookout with new friends.

A spectacular arrival in North Carolina ends with sunset/moonrise camp atop a 5,000-foot peak.

The day after spitting rain and a town rest is glorious with views to Lake Burton and camping alone.

As forecasted, it rains all day, but even in mist, the forest is magical – as is the wee German town of Helen where we get dry.

It’s a five mountain day through Neels Gap and into a spectacular spring day.