As I leave Smokey Mountain National Park, I’ve been thinking about how the experience compared to everything I heard beforehand:
“Be prepared to climb.”
“There are bears everywhere.”
“The weather changes fast.”
And most of all:
“Don’t forget earplugs.”
In the Smokies, it’s a requirement that thru-hikers camp not just at shelters, but within them. Thru-hikers are only allowed to camp outside if the shelter is already full. Which means two things:
A) You’re sleeping on a hard, …
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