A mid January one night gettaway to the Smoky Mountains.

Heading up the West Prong Trail around Fodderstack Mountain.





Upon hitting the Bote Mountain Trail the snow thickens.





And the trail begins to enter the cloud layer.





The world becomes white.





At the top of the ridge I climb out of the clouds and onto the AT.





And walk just a short distance more to the Spence Field shelter.





The sunset bursts through the ice coated trees.





And the fireplace whiles away the evening.

Andrew- Awesome, thanks for sharing. Those of us stuck inside really appreciate the moment.
Also, how did you size your picture to fit so slick?

DA

HI Mark here I met you south of lower jean lake late last summer in the wind river range Thanks for honerable mention in that trip report. You made a nice trip out there and I enjoyed your report looks like we stayed about the same place at upper cook also. How was it getting over that pass? I will have to get that guide book you have. Of the four books I have nobody mentions crossing there but the topo looks very doable. You need that lady to cluck at you about getting you boots to close to the fire but glad to see you got out for a overnighter. take care and hope to see a lot more trip reports from you. Mark

Pretty cool with the three different climates...before clouds, in the clouds and on top of the clouds. The view at Spence Field is very cool too. I have only been there in the summer with a bunch of leaves so I couldn't see too much. Thanks for sharing. Did you have the shelter to yourself?

This is just up the ridge from Spence Field this past August not long after the morning sun crested over the mountains:

Nice, thanks for sharing!

Thanks guys.

David, the pictures are just as I downloaded them, I wouldn't know how to size them if I wanted too, I'm not cool like that:)

Mark, I certainly remember meeting you nice to hear from you again. After making camp and eating at Upper Jean I strolled back down the lake in the twilight to see if you had camped anywhere nearby but you must have made some more miles. I assume you mean Cook Pass? It is very doable, the west side is a short, steep but non technical scramble up a grassy ramp. It is reasonably obvious from the bottom. From the top you bear north east over a fairly long and not too steep talus/snow field to the unnamed lakes which you can see in the distance after a couple of hundred yards of making the crest. I imagine the east to west route finding might be a little trickier.

Trevor, yes there are some very nice views around there and I did have the shelter to myself, had the whole trail to myself actually except for a couple dayhikers by the trailhead.

Thanks Brad, we need to organise a Cohutta group trip sometime here.