Pro tip: I skipped the Smoky Mountains shelter reservations for 2 trips, then got turned away at Icewater Springs at 6pm | Backpacking Routes - Talk Freely
Pro tip: I skipped the Smoky Mountains shelter reservations for 2 trips, then got turned away at Icewater Springs at 6pm
I thought first-come first-served shelters on the AT through the Smokies would be fine if I just showed up early, but after hiking 11 miles to Icewater Springs and finding it full, I had to keep going 4 more miles to Pecks Corner in the dark, so now I want to know if anyone else has gotten burned by this or if there's a better way to plan the timing.