Date: 2006-06-15
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Spence Field Shelter to Fontana Dam
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: clear sky

June 15, 2006 Spence Field Shelter to Fontana Dam Visitor¢s Center (16.4 miles)We were all up early and I left camp around 7:00 a.m. and the AT was only .2 miles away. I crossed Spence Field, enjoyed once again the flowers, headed on into the woods and down the Trail. An hour later, I arrived at Russell Field Shelter and there was the trio from last night and they were just then getting ready to leave the shelter. Like I said, they were having some difficulty maneuvering. We talked a few minutes, and then I continued on my way. After a long climb, I was heading downhill again. I was surprised to see a shelter. It was the Molly¢s Ridge Shelter. I was making better time than I thought. I had already walked 5-1/2 miles in just over two hours. At this shelter, I met another young couple and found out the girl¢s parents live in Fishers, Indiana. That¢s where my grandchildren live! They had met at and graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. All very familiar places to me. Small world for sure!From Molly¢s Ridge to Fontana Dam I hiked another 11 miles, which turned out to be a very lonely stretch of Trail. I did see a Trail sign that I thought interesting. The sign pointed toward Gregory¢s Bald and the Parson¢s Branch Road that used to go from Cade¢s Cove to Fontana Dam. However, there was a temporary notice attached stating that this area was closed due to aggressive bear activity. In the 1970¢s, I drove along the Parson¢s Branch Road with my family and my brother, Richard. He had talked about hiking to Gregory¢s Bald and then on to hike the AT with Boy Scouts and the church youth group. He passed away two years ago and these memories are now bittersweet. I trucked on through some very difficult and very long ups and downs until I came to the fire tower that overlooked Fontana Reservoir and my final destination. Here there was another group of Boy Scouts that were camping and hiking in the area. Their behavior, although not horrible, was less admirable than last night¢s group.My descent led me to the Fontana Dam Visitor¢s Center. This part of the Trail was a long¢¦steep¢¦downhill¢¦accentuated with acres of beautiful woods. There were noises in the woods nearby. Rather than investigate the source of said noises, I chose to move on with great haste. At the bottom of the hill, I stepped out onto a paved road without any clear indication of where to go next. I saw a single white blaze on a tree about a hundred yards down the road, so I headed in that direction. There was not a Trail anywhere near the white blaze, so I followed the road, which ended up being a good thing to do. Almost a half mile later, I came to the Fontana Dam. There was another blaze. I walked across the dam and arrived at the Visitor¢s Center on the other side to wait for Ris«.   The gift shop was still open so I had my first really cold drink in three days. They didn¢t have my Mountain Dew so I settled for Mello Yellow!I have now completed 205 miles and the Smokies are mine! As Brittany would say, ¢I rule!¢Since I¢m coming off the Trail for a few weeks, this is a good time to summarize some of my feelings about what I¢ve accomplished so far.I am very pleased with my total mileage at this point. Of the 2000 to 3000 thru-hiker wannabes that leave Springer Mountain each spring and head north, 10% quit in the first 30 miles; 20% have quit within 100 miles; and 40% have quit by the Smokies. So, I have done better than 40% already. My biggest disappointment has been that the Trail is frequently covered with rocks and roots.   Because the Trail is rough and hazardous, I literally must watch every step instead of looking around as I hike.The people along the Trail have been the highlights.   We all have an appreciation for the Trail and the woods and welcome this opportunity to experience solitude and break from the pressures of daily life in the outside world. We are all of the same spirit.I will always believe that the 500 miles I hiked in Florida helped condition me and toughen my feet, BUT I was not prepared for the uphill climbs. Before I try to hike through the White Mountains or climb Mt. Katahdin, I think I will try to use a ¢stair climber¢ or ¢stepper¢ type exerciser to help build my leg strength.I have learned that I prefer to spend longer hours on the Trail rather than long evenings in camp. I know that some times I reached my day¢s goal and that I was too tired to hike more, but I just didn¢t like sitting around camp with little to do.Regardless of where this journey takes me, I am well pleased with the entire experience and I have truly been on the right path.