Kuwohi Quest – The Walk

May 5, 2026

Perhaps one of the most rewarding days for an Appalachian Trail hiker is the day they reach the summit of Kuwohi, the highest point on the trail. I just have to find it first.

Women’s Laurel Top

W.With a revised itinerary for the Smokies, I allowed myself some sleep. I left the Pecks Corner shelter at 9:00 am and noticed that the scenery along the trail continued right where I left off yesterday. I followed a high hill lined with pine trees for several kilometers. The brown-tailed squirrels were clearly sleeping later than me. The birds, on the other hand, were busier than ever. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park continued to hold out for me in this dense forest with the occasional glimpse of the vast wilderness.

Shortly after crossing the Laurel Top viewpoint I ran into a woman on the trail. She said she was keeping an eye on two other hikers who were taking a bathroom break further along the trail. While I waited, I talked about my hike on the Appalachian Trail. He asked me if I had heard of the 900 mile club. This club is for anyone who hikes the 900 miles of trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When the other two hikers joined us, I mentioned that the first hiker was a «good lookout.» She thought he was going to say she was «pretty.» I said “well, that too!” and continued along the path.

The view from Laurel Top.

The view from Charles Bunion.

One of the many squirrels that like to hang out along the trail.

Where is Kuwohi?

So far I have taken several dozen photographs in the Smokies. I have had many wonderful views and seen hundreds of mountain tops from the south and north ends of the park. I know that Kuwohi is somewhere in the middle of the park. As such, I’ve been keeping an eye on the tallest mountain in the Smoky Mountains. But there are so many tall mountains that it is not as easy to identify the tallest one as it seems. And yet, I haven’t even caught a glimpse of the enormous mountain with its distinctive spiral observation tower. My planned route for today will take me across Newfound Gap and into Kuwohi today. The question is: how close will I be when I see it for the first time?

It turned into a beautiful day in the Smokies. It’s just late afternoon and I’m approaching Newfound Gap. Although it is Tuesday, the day for hikers is prohibited. I now passed two separate groups playing music on their Bluetooth speakers. I’ve noticed a strict adherence to two musical genres: The Lord of the Rings soundtrack and Ozzy Osbourne. I’ll update if I hear anything else.

Tuesday Trail Magic with Trippin’ and Deep Fried

After crossing Newfound Gap, the Appalachian Trail about halfway into the Smokies, I hiked about another mile and found a small parking area next to the trail. Some hikers were scattered among some chairs and blankets, and one vehicle had its tailgate open. It was that time again!

I got a pretty German meal including sausages and a can of hefeweizen beer. The trail angels were a couple in their 30s named Trippin’ and Deep Fried. Trippin’ earned his name for his remarkable grace on the trail, except when he caught his foot, which was actually quite common. Deep Fried is a lover of all foods of the fruity variety. Unfortunately the feeling is not mutual, I will not give you more details. I packed some cookies for the trail and went back to climbing.

Trippin’, See You Tomorrow and Deep Fried.

Arriving at Kuwohi

After climbing Mount Collins, I got my first glimpse of Kuwohi. The definitive landmark was the spiral observation tower. The crown jewel of the Smokies, the highest point on the Appalachian Trail, was just ahead. I went up the trail in a cookie-fueled torrent. Shortly after 5:00 pm I saw the giant tube holding up the viewing platform through the trees. I left my backpack and walked to the top of the tower.

There were a handful of people taking in the view, I proceeded to take pictures of the surrounding mountains from all angles. The wind was blowing and I couldn’t appreciate the achievement. He had already climbed thousands of feet. I had walked about 18 miles and was more looking forward to getting to a shelter and getting into bed. It was at least somewhat interesting to think that every inch of the 2,000 mile long trail was below this point.

Kuwohi Observation Tower, mile 200!

Looking back at the observation tower ramp.

Views from Kuwohi.

Views from Kuwohi.

Views from Kuwohi.

Having a good time at the top of the AT!

Mountains to Sea trailhead marker.

Spring Gap Double Shelter

I arrived at the shelter around 6:15 pm Some hikers were having dinner. I proceeded to start setting up my tent when one of them told me there was room in the shelter. He also mentioned that we were expecting rain. The last I could see, it wouldn’t rain until tomorrow afternoon. Fortunately, I had good enough service to check it out and sure enough, the rain came early. It would now begin in the early hours of the morning and continue for most of Wednesday.

I decided to stay at the shelter with the small group rather than having to pack up a wet tent in the rain. This would be my first night in a shelter. In fact, I think this can work well. Not dealing with the wet tent will save me time and help me stay on track to finish the Smokies sooner than expected. I’m looking forward to seeing what the shelter nights are like.

View from the trail north of Kuwohi.

What remains of an old pine tree after a lightning strike.

-See you tomorrow

Total: 21.0 miles, 46,615 steps

• Hike type: Backpacking
• Camp: Shelter, Double Spring Gap Shelter

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