Day 2

Aug 24th Icewater Springs Shelter to Tri-corner Shelter 13 miles Weather: mostly cloudy and muggy After having slept badly for about a week now, I was hoping to be able to sleep into the morning. Evidently the other hikers were pretty adamant about me being awake at 6:30am. Wearily, I get up, make breakfast, and realize there is a peacock following me around. After chatting with some new friends, James and I head out to Charlie's Bunion. About a mile down the trail, I hear some noise behind me, looking to find the peacock still following us. We came closer for further inspection when she jumped into the woods never to be seen again. Charlie's Bunion is still my favorite spot in the Smokies, although 50 years later, Charlie claims he never had a bunion. Leaving there we hiked 6miles to the turn-off for Peck's Corner Shelter by 2pm. Deciding we had to fill-up on water, I hiked an extra mile to get to the shelter and back and didn't get started hiking again until 4. The last 5 miles to the next shelter hurt pretty bad. After dinner and clean-up, I'm in bed by 9. Hopefully, I can sleep a little better for the trek awaiting me tomorrow. High: views of never ending peaks and valleys Low: springs being almost dried up