Hiking the Appalachian Trail / Davenport Gap Tenn.to Fontana Dam
Weather in the high country can change in just Minutes
Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains this time year can be tricky along
the Appalachian Trail, weather can change very rapidly. On one occasion
hiking from Davenport Gap to Clingmans Dome via New Found Gap,
A few friends and I had stopped just a few miles up from Davenport
Gap eating lunch on a grassy knoll.
I recall we were all in our shorts and having a very pleasant 65 degree
picnic. Later that nite when we were at our shelter fixing supper while a
female hiker was washing her hair in the stream, It began to snow and the
weather started changing for the worst, a cold front was coming in. Having
some novice hikers with us that morning , we decided not to continue
up into the high country due to 5" of snow on the ground and it steadily falling.
The year before,a hiker was lost on that very trail and his companion
lived but suffered from severe frost bite. The one hiker had finally gotten
so cold that he had spread out his tent and put his sleeping bag inside, and
managed to live until park personnel got to him for evacuation.The other
hiker saw car lights that night from the ridge running parallel to copperhead
road and went straight off, down the side of the mountain.Seeing the car
lights traveling down the winding road of the other mountain believing that
the car was closer to him than continuing down
so cold that he had spread out his tent and put his sleeping bag inside, and
managed to live until park personnel got to him for evacuation.The other
hiker saw car lights that night from the ridge running parallel to copperhead
road and went straight off, down the side of the mountain.Seeing the car
lights traveling down the winding road of the other mountain believing that
the car was closer to him than continuing down
to the trail head, when in all actuality,they were at least 4 to 5 miles away.
In deep snow with no trail,it was a deadly decision.They found him a
couple of days later sitting next to a tree with his head in hands frozen to
death.What a painful death that must have been.
So, We decided to return to Davenport Gap which was a struggle
without snow shoes. As we came down the ridge, I realized from foliage
In deep snow with no trail,it was a deadly decision.They found him a
couple of days later sitting next to a tree with his head in hands frozen to
death.What a painful death that must have been.
So, We decided to return to Davenport Gap which was a struggle
without snow shoes. As we came down the ridge, I realized from foliage
and some rock formations, that this was the spot where we had our picnic
in short pants and t-shirt's the day before. what a drastic change in weather
and climate.The rest of our trip was hard but uneventful.
From that day forward, I had a much greater respect for Mother Nature.
in short pants and t-shirt's the day before. what a drastic change in weather
and climate.The rest of our trip was hard but uneventful.
From that day forward, I had a much greater respect for Mother Nature.
