Top: Peter standing by the Beech Gap/Hyatt Ridge trail signs after a night of heavy early spring snow. We rolled into Cherokee that morning under warm sunny skies, but as we climbed Hyatt Ridge, we started walking into deeper and deeper snow. By the time that we reached the ridgeline, the wind was screaming and the temperature must have dropped at least 25 degrees. At the MeGee Springs campsite, #44, the snow was nearly knee-deep in places. We took a quick snack break, decided that it would probably be best if we postponed our plans to climb down to Three Forks via Breakneck Ridge, until dryer conditions arrived in the high country. Only 3 days after this storm, I hiked back up the mountain on a bushwhacking trip down to Right Fork and found only a few scattered snowbanks remaining. Two weeks later, spring had sprung and I was able to enjoy the warm days and wildflower displays.