Date: 2003-03-17
From: fontana hilton

To: mollies ridge shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

day 16got started somewhat late, but got to see one of the most gorgeous sunrises that morning that i'd see on the whole trail. the sky was just a-blaze with red. by the time i got going the two fellas that i'd spent the night with had already left. i had myself some breakfast, got packed and got going myself.crossed the dam and just couldn't stop staring at the lake. it was immense and absolulutely gorgeous. post-card perfect. made it to the smokies sign, took a photo, and walked to the trail head. a park ranger was there asking if hikers had a permit. he was real cool about it though, because when he asked me it wasn't really to catch me without one. when he asked, he immediately added that i didn't have to show it to him. i told him that i didn't have one and he said that it wasn't a problem. he had the form right there and gave me the permit right afterwards. very nice older gentelman. flick was there at the trail head as well. he's a hiker i'd met back at big spring shelter. very nice guy. he was having himself a snack before heading up the trail. so i joined him with a cigarette.i chilled for a bit and then got going. can't remember too much about the hike except that i did a decent little climb from the road. it started drizzling shortly after and since it also got a little chilly, i put on my rain gear. flick wasn't gonna go all the way to the shelter.   he was staying at birch spring campsite. i still had another 6 miles to go.got to the shelter after 6 drizzly, chilly, quiet miles. i didn't see a single person throughout those miles except maybe half a mile before the shelter. i was about to start climbing this hill when in front i see this guy with a huge external pack. the thing looks like it's loaded and it looks like he's struggling. he takes a few steps and then takes a break. i catch up to the guy and ask him if he's okay. he says that he is, he's just packed way too many things. he tells me that he's a spring breaker and is only out for a few days though. he too is headed to the shelter. i say bye and that i'll see him at the shelter then. i finish climbing the ridge and there's the shelter. i'm happy to be home.at the shelter are a couple of other folks including "dream chaser." nice guy who just got back on the trail after having gone home to his grandmothers for a week. dream chaser was carrying a mini-disc player and let me listen to it for a bit. not to long after the guy that i'd just met shortly before getting to the shelter showed up, as well as malkovich, poptart, and later flick and subman. flick had decided to join subman to the shelter.so we're all having dinner right outside the shelter. the springbreaker offered me some of his delicious mountain house lasagna which he latter topped off with a little crown royal whiskey. just another day on the trail, except that today is flick's birthday. so while flick is outside, subman gets us into the shelter and tells us this. he's also got a gift for flick--a package of peanut m&m's with a single candle. so we light the candle and walk out singing "happy birthday" to flick with subman holding out this packet of m&m's. it was pretty funny, but also very cool.flick loved the m&m's and so did all of us because he ended up giving us all some. it was great. one of the best b-day celebrations that i've participated in. and as they always say, it's not the gift but the thought that counts. and believe me, on the trail somebody could've handed me a stick of gum and i would've danced for them (no, not in that way ). seriously. my whole philosophy after a while became that if it wasn't already in my food bag, i wanted it.