Date: 2009-03-01
From: Stecoah Gap Nc ( robbinsville)

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 15 Boots on the ground ..completed 15 miles to give me a total of 164 miles to date.I woke up and the snow was now predicted to start around 3 pm. If I got to the trail and did 15 miles I could be to Fontana Dam before the storm. It took me about an hour to get a ride this morning. Not many people out on Sunday morning at 7 am... Finally got a ride by an 18-20 year old who had an uncontrollable urge to sniff and scratch ( Drug addiction?) It was pretty foggy so please just get me to the trail (about 11 miles). After some very unconsiquential conversation I ended up at the trailhead where I had stopped yesterday. I really should not be judgemental as the poorer folks are the ones who pick you up, don't see too many ESCALADES stopping to give this bearded old man a ride.The first 2 miles are up and then it settled in to a nice hike across the tops of the mountains. Again a day without much of a view. I met Gearfreak on the trail again but he is slower than me so I only saw him when I stopped for lunch and again AT THE END OF THE DAY. He was going to split a room with me but decided to stay at the shelter at Fontana Dam instead. This was a great walking day, cold so you keep moving, and downhill for an extended 5 miles at the end of the day. Unfortunately I missed the directions to FONTANA VILLAGE and ended up walking an extra 2 miles uphill to get to the Inn. Thanks to the Tennesse Valley Authority police officer who told me that the hotel was 2 miles in the other direction and then went back to watching sports on the TV. The last hour I hiked the snow finally hit and by the time I found the Lodge I was covered in my best Dr Zhivago impersonation. I walked in to the Inn, which I think is run by the park service, frozen, tired and impatient to find out the desk clerk doesn't know how to check me in. Fifteen minutes, 2 cups of coffee and one call to her boss later I get a room and a key. I don't think it should have been very difficult since I am one of 3 people staying in this gorgeous 200 room resort, but hey what do I know about customer service. I am actually thankful they are open before the season starts and that the clerk who couldn't check me in does brew a very good cup of coffee.I found out that NOMAD was here so we sat and talked for a couple of hours. We talked about what was good and bad on the trail and about all the things that have happened to us. NOMAD is a hammock camper and told me about the night he set up everything perfectly with his hamnmock level between two trees. He stopped to eat supper and then got in his hammock. By this time it was dark and as soon as he sat back in the hammock he heard a noise. The tree he was tied to came crashing down on him. He just had enough time to put his hands up and protect his face. Next time pick a bigger tree, another lesson learned.This lodge is magnificent and is like the lodges you would find at the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone sans customers. Apparently it sells out in the summer but isn't used much in the winter. This town, Fontana village is really just a resort. Total population is probably less than 50. It was built to house the workers who built the TVA dam in 1943,1944. Fontana Dam is the 2nd largest dam in the Eastern part of the US. I get to walk across it tommorrow.Thanks to everyone for their concerns about my safety in this storm. I plan on staying here tommorrow also so the snow can melt a bit before I hit the trail on tuesday. Besides it is so much nicer here than in a tent in the cold ( did I say that?). My next steps will take me into the Smoky Mountain National Park for 5 to 7 days.O.M. River