Wednesday, April 20, 2011

30 in 60 - The Great Smoky Mountains - Day 53 thru 57

Day 53 thru 57 - summary

Note: This is my 3rd hiking trip with friends, where we rent a cabin in Townsend, TN. for 3 nights and hike for 3 or 4 days...my eating is a little more at night than at home because I burn alot of calories hiking, and I ate very little in morning and during the day hikes....had plenty of energy... I do not weight myself or measure myself. Below is a quick summary of each day:

Day 53- Thursday

6am-4.5M on bike path w/ gregg, fastest in long time for me 1.7M in 18:12 & 16:05
ARMW= 218 lb
breakfast-2 toast,1.5c milk,1 egg, 1/2 banana
lunch-cliff bar
supper- chicken sandwich
5pm- no run, leave for smoky mountains via sisters house in KY

Day 54 - Friday

up at 4:30am- leave on the road at 5am, drive 570 miles to Townsend then straight to Clingmans Dome.
Eat at cracker barrel
1:30pm - Clingmans Dome, parking lot almost empty, 43 deg, 40-60mph winds, hiked up to dome observation tower, could not see anything, in a cloud, high wind warning tonight for 70 mph winds, hiked down then 3 miles on AT going west to double springs shelter, 6 or so thru hikers, gregg gave them homemade cookies and they loved it, hiked back in extreme winds, a little sleet, no rain.

About 7.2 miles total, approx 1200' elevation gain.
started in hiking boots but top of foot hurt, so changed to merrell barefoot shoes, foot hurt alot less but was slow walking over some sharp rocks but was fun.

5PM- eat pizza hut in Townsend
Night- winds and heavy rains

Day 55 - Saturday

9am- day hike to Gregory Bald - 4949', rain stopped, drive to cades cove loop at back to visitor center parking lot, had to start at lot as gate to gravel road closed, walked gravel road to TH, up to the bald, a huge grass field, sunny, windy w/ great views of Cades Cove, then hiked over to AT, met 2 thru - hikers, also met 2 ultra runners, one of which was record holder for the fastest 72miles of AT in GSM. Hiked back down to parking lot. nice hike, cool, dry. drive back on loop road, saw 1 bear.

ate peanut butter sandwich for lunch
good energy all day
tough trail, steep 10-15% grade, parts 600'/mile up

total time of 8h 37 min (includes all stops and lunch breaks)
est of 18 miles
total est of elevation gain of 3600'
burned 3670 calories
NB 790

PM- ate steak, bread, chips, nutty bars, peanut butter

Day 56 - Sunday

8:30am - drove to gatlinsburg, roaring fork road, hike up to Mt LeConte 6600' via trillium gap, start at Rainbow Falls,2600', then down rainbow trail, perfect day, sunny, cool, no wind, bonus hike to Brushy Mt. summit, nice views...easier hike then yesterday.

lunch - p-nut butter sandwich on cliff top, great view of clingmans dome

total time of 8h 21 min (includes all stops and lunch breaks)
est of 16.5 miles
total est of elevation gain of 4600'
burned 3327 calories
NB trail minimus

PM - ate in gatlinsburg at texas roadhouse..bbq chicken and fries + nutty bars/peanut butter back at cabin.

Day 57 - Monday

up at 5:30am- clear morning
7am- chestnut top trail- hiked up 15 mins to big rock then run uphill for 30 mins then up/down to end at 4.3M, then back..great run in NB trail minimus

total elevation gain 1700'
8.6 miles in 2h5mins at 126/143 HR

9:15am leave for home , driving 9 hours home, (550 miles) ate 2 big BK triple burgers, donuts , choc milk
exit 87 in richmond KY had LA soda that gregg/ chris wanted so bad.

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