Date: 2008-01-17
From: N.C. 28, Fontana Village, NC

To: So. End of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC
Miles today: 1.8
Weather: overcast clouds

We never got the ice storm last night as predicted....and that was a good thing!We did have about 4" of snow by midnight, but then it changed over to rain and made it very slushy and wet. There wasn't a lot of snow left by morning....maybe 2".I didn¢t have any cell service at Fontana Village, so I didn't write my journal entry till I woke up at 6am....and I didn't get to send it in till early afternoon.I knocked on Chief's door at 8am. That's when the restaurant opened for breakfast.He opened the door and was standing there in his tighty-whities....what a horrible thing to see to start off my day. :-)He said he needed 15 minutes because he was just getting in the shower.He knocked on my door when he was....presentable to the world and we walked down to breakfast.Chief's friend, Ed, was there with us. We sat in there, the only people in the restaurant, for about 90 minutes having breakfast and coffee.We weren't in any hurry because we wanted to make sure the roads were all clear before we started making our way to the cabins at Goose Creek in Georgia.I went back to the room and packed my stuff, then we checked out and Chief drove me to N.C. 28 and dropped me off at the Trailhead.I wanted to walk the short distance to actually enter Smoky Mtn National Park, so when I get back after the SoRuck, all I have to do is start climbing towards Shuckstack.Chief took Ed on a tour of the area, and I walked through the wet slushy trail towards the Smokies.It was a mild morning for walking and I knew I only had a couple miles.I walked slowly because I didn't want to slide and fall in the slush. I knew I would have to hear about that all weekend from ol' Chief. :-)I really took it slow on the short but steep downhill parts....and I did slide part of the way, but I managed to stay upright. :-)I got over to the side trail to Fontana Dam Shelter and walked down there to sign the register.This shelter is called the Fontana Hilton because it's so nice and has great views of Fontana Lake.I walked on and passed by the closed Visitor's Center, then walked across the dam.I read that this is the highest elevation of any dam in the eastern US. It is huge!I got across and soon came to the sign that says: ¢Entering Great Smoky Mountains National Park¢.....and I took a self portrait in front of that sign. :-)I walked a bit farther to a parking area. Chief picked me up and we headed for Georgia.I finally got good cell reception after about 15 minutes and I sent in my journal entry.I also checked my email and can't believe how many guestbook entries and emails I'm getting.....THANKS!!! :-)I will find time this weekend to answer all of them.We stopped by NOC as we were passing by.I walked into the outfitter and two of the guys in there said, ¢Hey Stumpknocker, there were two hikers here asking about you.¢I found out one was Trek and I found him in the bunkroom.I hadn't seen him since Vermont last year. He started walking north on the 9th and has almost caught up to me already. :-)We talked about 30 minutes before I figured I'd better get going.I never did find out who the other hiker was.I also forgot to pick up my bounce box, but I'll be back there Saturday for the SoRuck.We headed on towards Georgia and stopped to get groceries before we got to the cabins.There are five of us here at the cabins for a long weekend and four of us are already feeling no pain. :-)I'm not much of a drinker, but I did end up having three drinks while I listened to Xmas playing the harmonica and the other three talking about what men talk about when they've been drinking too much. Ha!Ed's wife made some taco soup and sent along which was very good and Xmas brought some nice fat rib eyes to grill tomorrow, and then on to the SoRuck on Saturday and Sunday is too far off to plan for at this time. :-)I should be walking into the Smokies on Monday. I'm sure I'll be ready to walk into the Smokies come Monday! :-)I ended up renting my own cabin to sleep in because I could tell I wouldn't get much in Cabin #1. :-)Another great day on the Appalachian Trail! :-)