Date: 2014-04-27
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up about 5:45, packed up as quietly as I could, and started hiking at 6:30. No one else had even started getting up. I reckon we old folks don't need as much sleep! :-)A little ways down the trail I found a nice spot to sit and grab a bite to eat while I looked back and watched the sun finish coming up behind the ridge. I then passed Celeste, whom I had met yesterday, as she was breaking camp on a great tent site on a small knoll with a view both east and west. It reminded me that I want to use the shelters for the privy and water source, but not for camping. I'll have ro wait until after the Smokies, since there everyone is required to stay in shelters or tent next to one if it's full.About 8:00, I passed Bart and Chosen One at their campsite, getting ready to start their morning campfire. They were in no hurry and didn't catch up with me before I got to Fontana. Fontana DamAfter minor ups and downs, it was a long descent down, mostly on good trail. Nearly two hours away I could periodically see the lake below me through the trees. For these two days, I've been going in and out of early spring as the trail descends and ascends. Coming down this last descent I started hearing a lot more birds - it's definitely spring here! I got to the Rt 28 crossing about noon where there's a restroom building with a phone I could use to dial 0 to get a shuttle into the village for 3 bucks. My AT Guide said I could also get the shuttle from the shelter a mile further along the trail. I wanted to check out the shelter, nicknamed the Fontana Hilton, so I pressed on. When I got to the shelter, there's a sign with a phone number to call for the shuttle, but no phone. There's also no cell phone coverage anywhere in the area! So I continued on another quarter mile to the visitors' center next to the dam, although the center is not scheduled to open 'til next week. As I approached the parking lot, an older couple were coming toward me after walking out over the dam and back. Turns out their daughter is thru hiking the AT with her boyfriend and stayed at the same shelter as I last night - they're the couple I mentioned in yesterday's post! The dad then drove me down to the Fontana Lodge, waited for me to check in, then drove me to the general store further down the hill. Cool! Good folks who retired recently and travel around the country buying and selling antiques as an avocation. They planned to camp in the campground tonight with their daughter and her boyfriend. My first "trail angels" not counting fellow hikers and, of course, my wonderful trail angels Linda and Sarah. :-)After checking out the store and buying an apple and banana, I hiked halfway back up the hill to the grill where I had a grilled chicken sandwich with fries. Then back up to the lodge to see if my room was ready. Walking into the lobby, I'm greeted by Bart! He and Chosen One were picking up food packages they had mailed to themselves at the lodge. So I sat on the veranda with them while they sorted through it all and loaded it into their packs. They have a LOT of food! They laughed that they had way more than they needed to get through the Smokies, but they packed it all in anyway. Ah, the strength of youth! I'd be crawling... They're staying in the campground tonight.The complex has wifi but no cell coverage, so I talked with Linda and my brother using Viber. I did decide to take a zero tomorrow to both rest and catch up a bit with some things I meant to do before I left home - like telling some old friends I'm doing this!