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Cutting my Smokies trip from 4 days to 3 by skipping the shelter at Icewater Spring
My knees were wrecked last time doing the full 4 day loop out of Newfound Gap, so I tried pushing straight to Pecks Corner on day one instead of stopping early. That extra 7 miles on tired legs was rough, but skipping the shelter crowd and one full camp setup got me out a day early and my knees felt way better without that short second day. Anyone else mess with the standard shelter spacing on that stretch or am I the only one doing it backwards?
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evaadams24d ago
Honestly pushing to Pecks Corner on day one is brutal but you are NOT doing it backwards. The shelter spacing on that stretch is weird anyway, Icewater to Pecks is a long haul and most people underestimate it. My knees thank me when I skip the short days too, it is the stopping and starting that kills them more than the miles. Plus dodging the shelter crowd is worth its own weight in gold, those places get LOUD. You saved a whole day of packing up wet gear so I call that a win. Just watch your water on that push because the sources between there are spotty.
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