Weather Update For The Smokies!

imported
#1

Hey everyone, this is Lil Rebel for those who don’t know me. I live about 30 minutes from the SMNP. I am aware of Bono and Rocket being in Gatlinburg and I was just wondering if anyone knows if the left Gatlinburg for the trail yet. I sincerely hope not. I just got up and have been watching the news and they claim that there is 8-11 inches of snow along the where the appalachian trail runs. I am aware that the two of them have snow shoes but I am worrying about their winter gear. This storm has brought temps down under 0 degrees right now. Plus there is a call for 40-50 mph winds along the ridges. I am just posting here to find out how things are going and to warn any who are planning to hit this area.

-Lil Rebel

Lil Rebel

#2

I got an e-mail from his co-worker Judy. Nothing new, but I told her it would take a while. He has snow shoes at my advice but with Rocket on his back it might be a long trip.

Bushwhack

#3

Reb, if you want you might give the Trail Runners a heads on on who is out there right now. I also just heard from NPR that tonights lows are at a minimum -20 tonight for the ridge…without the windchill. Water will hbe tough and they may be out of fuel. He has snow shoes thanks to me. Bono has a 0* bag and enough junk food for a month but I don’t know about Rocket. Bono told me Rocket foods on the heavy side. You might call Mountain Mamas and see if they stopped in. Mildly nervous in Ohio. And its only -11 here.

Bushwhack

#4

None of the #'s for the Park work, do they close everything in the winter?

BW

#5

i’m thinking i might hit the smokies from the north end and start heading south, until i meet up with bono and crew. just to make sure they’re getting through it okay. just to have a little fun in the smokies. just because i am tough as nails and have been in this kind of craziness. i don’t know to what extent they have winter backpacking experience, but hope they’re doing okay. and hope they know their limits. if you don’t hear from me in a week, send out the search party.

grizzly adam

grizzly adam

#6

Thanks Boss, contact me when you know or don’t know anything will ya? His co-workers etc are anxiuos. Moderate experience but prob not like us who were born in a 9’ snow back in Nh. (that story gets better every time I tell it) He’s covered for gear and food, maybe fuel but common sense, dunno. Take 'Lil Reb with you.

Bushwhack

#7

Be safe Grizzly Adam. Pack for the worst.

Winter storm sweeps across the eastern United States

Deep freeze in the Deep South

Leif

#8

It’s cold and icy and windy and nasty. So be careful!!!

hippie hiker chic

#9

i just got a message from my roommate that bono called my house yesterday (wednesday) and said that they are hitting the trail tomorrow (friday). i am guessing that means they have been laying low in gatlinburg all week. so, now i’ll probably give them a day or two before i head in to check on them.

grizzly adam

#10

No doubt. Even Friday will we cold as hell. Cool, thanks.

BW

#11

So is Bono safe? I can reach the park service if you need me to.

Also Grizzly, where are you from? Do you live near the Smokies? If so, we need to go hiking sometime.

Otherwise, keep me informed on whats going on.

Lil Rebel

#12

He’s fine I guess by what Grizz says. It would appear he’s not a real thru hiker if he ditched the weather. BAM! I think he’s hot tubbing with those mountain manly men. Don’t you hate it when the beard hair clogs the jets? He posts journals without letting us know. Sometimes he e-mails them to us and other times he does it, so we’ve found out, as I just read the last two an hour ago and didn’t know they were there. Notice the new picture of him on the first journal? His co-worker busted him and sent it to me to swap.

Bushwhack

#13

Crazy, it must be pretty brutal up there. The outer banks got 10" which is unheard of; a side of me wishes I was out there. Grizzly, let me know if there’s interest in the smokies challenge in March. I will be making a go of it if weather permits.

Sweeper

#14

We just posted the snow job.

BW

#15

just so you have the facts straight. Bono is using a -10 marmot bag. He is geared to -20 before windchill. He is experienced at sub zero temps along the trail, waist deep snow in many areas and -29 with windchill so far. He is in Gatlinburg because he was offered a comfy suite free of charge. He is intentionally running on a budget of $200-$300 a month and stays like this are too good to pass up. He has turned down several house stays but will stay with Grizz in Hot Springs if the invitation is still open. Bono fasts from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday and this has been very hard as he cannot seem to eat enough anyway now. The days he has been off the trail for the most part, the weather has been nice and with some of the coldest temps in recent history he will depart into colder temps than in his stay in Gatlinburg. Hope this info helps. P.S. He is a madman.

insider

#16

Never realized what a hoopla would result from one e-mail inquiring into the welfare of a friend. You guys can be merciless! I’m sure Bono appreciates the humor behind the harrassing…we’ve gotten a few laughs here in Nashville. Bottom line, I am impressed and greatly reassured at the concern shown for his welfare by virtual strangers. Another kudo for the hiking community at large…keep the faith! And “insider”…we all know how tough you are! (Couldn’t resist…hee-hee)

Breezy

#17

Part of the fun is that long hiking is a learning curve in a dark closet. Sometimes what you might think we know everything and its okay, but sometimes what we do is REEEaly pushes the saftey margin. That’s what we’re for, to pull his leash. Down boy, sit. Good dog, go chase! This also shows the amount of support thats out there for a hiker. From the hiker’s perspective, your dirt alone, cold and wet. We pulled two winshield tourists off Madison in '01 that were in shorts and little plastic K-Mart pnchos, soaked, his boots were full, below freezing windchill. It was messed up. He was blue, she was babbling about pretty rocks. We had to yell over the gale and sleet. They made it down and we, the several other hikers at Pinkham yanked their leash but good.
Bono’s off the leash for now but we’re watching him closely to see if he needs a swat with a rolled paper. :>)
I got an e-mail from him last night. He said he’s better and eating more. Even to him the snow and cold was a bit much. Now if he can only pass on Mountain Mama’s burgers…any one close know the Heimlich?

Bushwhack, transcriber

#18

I told my mom about this possible “incident” with Bono and about ya’ll’s(I’m from the south, I’m allowed to say it!) response, concern, and ready-to-go-ness(does that make sense?)
Anyway, needless to say that Mama Bear ;)(don’t tell her I told you her nickname) was thrilled and is now more excited than ever for me, now that she knows someone will rescue me when I do something stupid(notice I say when, not if :wink: ) Thanks for putting faith in her! Now she’ll lay of the whole finding a partner thing! :slight_smile:
Have a good snowy day! I’m making my big adventure to REI in Raleigh tomorrow, the big scary world awaits :slight_smile:

hippie hiker chic

#19

MSR Supafly, Bonzii! http://www.joecartoon.com/pages/santafly/
And get a 1 ltr titanium pot also. And the aluminum chops stix…really they have those. Let us know what you get.

Bushwhacky

#20

lil rebel…i’m living in weaverville,nc (about 30 miles from hot springs). we should go hiking sometime.

probably heading to davenport gap on sunday or monday. should be a good time. of course, they’re calling for snow again on monday.

sweeper…i might be up for the smoky mountain challenge in march. did i ever tell you the story of when my friend and i attempted it this past august? we failed gloriously.

grizzly adam