Appalachian Trail (day 11) - Derrick Knob Shelter to Icewater Spring Shelter / mile 211

Today the trail was going over it's highest point, measuring 6612 feet above ground Kuwohi mountain.

Morning was cloudy and it started to rain at about 5 am, it wasn't strong but enough to make everyone's tents wet. It carried on raining for most of the morning, then the wind chased away the clouds but kept blowing making temperature cold even with the shining sun.

I've reached Kuwohi at about midday, it was quite an easy climb, especially compared to the other highest points on the previous thru hikes I've done. On top of the mountain was an observation tower, built in 1950s, very "brutalist" looking building. Wind was strong up here so I've taken few pictures and carried on.
A lot of hikers were leaving the trail at this point to resupply and spend the night at the tourist trap town called Gatlinburg. My initial plan when resupplying at the NOC few days ago was to skip it and it worked fine, so I hiked pass the carpark where the shuttle was picking people up.

A woman with a dog stopped me here and asked if I was hiking AT, we started talking and it turned out she walked the trail in 2022. She wasn't even living in the area (she was from Ohio) but visited here today with her mum. She offered me few apples and gummi bears for the way which I gladly accepted.

All the way down from Kuwohi I was hiking with a German student, he didn't have a trail name yet, his actual name was Nils. He was planning to hike the AT before starting university in September. He was carrying a little sheep bell with him which he believed was scaring the bears. I was trying to explain to him that black bears have zero interest in attacking him, but I guess the bell was making him feel more secure. Nils went to Gatlinburg for the night and to resupply his "snacks" as that was the only thing he ran out of. I recommended him purchasing a trail mix as well, which had a more efficient "snack to calorie" ratio.
I've arrived at the campsite at 5 pm, it was pretty full already but I've managed to find good, sheltered from the wind camp spot, tonight was meant to be quite cold. I had quick dinner, hanged the food and put my clean socks on to keep my feet just that little bit warmer. My leg was still not doing great, so I went to bed early.

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