Memories of hiking the Appalachian Trail
One of the first towns you get to after Springer is Fontana Dam--typically around day 8 if you're making any time. We hit the National Square Dancing Championship in that town, and spent a night with hundreds of couples in hooped skirts...weird first stop. It's also a place for a logical first mail drop, if you're doing that, so after the first stint on the trail it has the effect of bringing you back to reality. Then, you've got the long graded uphill going into the Smokies (Federal Park land is always easier hiking because they try to comply with some version of ADA rules, meaning that trails can't be more than a certain grade)...beautiful, though. The trails are hugely rutted in the Park...overhiked and a lot of erosion. We hiked one day in running water up to our thighs. This is also one of the places where leantos are more or less required, as a way to keep the bears and hikers separated. Generally, though, leantos on the AT suck. Stay out of the lean...