Slept fairly well at Derrick Knob Shelter. Low temp reported 34 degrees so boots didn’t freeze. Heard next few days were going to be very cold down to 7 degrees windy with snow possible. I hike in the winter in NH all the time sometimes temps below zero but have cold weather equipment including insulated hiking boots. I am using trail runners now. Not safe conditions. It was 22 degrees and my wet trail runners froze. Impossible to put frozen shoes on your feet. So I spoke to Michele who already in the area with Piper and her sister Barbara. They had an appointment to visit the Biltmore Estate in Ashland, NC so I thought it was safest to get to Newfound Gap ASAP which I did and they had time to go to the Biltmore. Cold start to the day, Some ice near the top of Clingman’s Dome, At Newfound Gap it was a zoo with literally hundreds of people. Went to the condo in Maggie’s Valley and passed out. Great to see my sister-in-law Barbara and Piper.

Took a zero day. Went to Uncle Wilfred’s and Cindy’s house in Waynesville, NC. They have 30 plus beautiful acres horses a miniature donkey and like 6 dogs. Nice place, ate dinner late and ate too much food and felt terrible and bloated. Got back to the condo and crashed. Sad that my sister-in-law Barbara is going back to Florida tomorrow. She is a wonderful person. Weather was cold. Need to get back on the trail. Hiked 207.7 miles on the AT out of the total of 2,193 miles. Humbling!!