Date: 2015-04-13
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 12.6

Last night was another restless night, mainly due to the fact that someone in the shelter snored the entire night within a foot of my face. I won't mention the name since they know who they are. No worries, though, for Burnsides and I made the best of the situation. Starting at around ~1:30am, I started a beautiful chorus of farts just for giggles. Giggles are what I got because it turns out Burnsides, who I didn't know was also awake, enjoys a good fart. For the next ~30 minutes we took turns exchanging them back and forth, feeling like kids trying to hold in our laughs so as not to wake the 4 other hikers sleeping nearby.We awoke just after 7am and Moosehead, Burnsides, and me were on the trail around ~8:15am. Burnsides was soon off so Moosehead and I passed the first several miles by exchanging personal stories and loincloth enjoying the scenery through places such as Hogback Gap, Cody Gap, Yellow Creek Gap, and Cable Gap Shelter. The highest point we reached was only ~3,700ft so the day was relatively easy going. I caught up with Burnsides with around ~3 miles to go and we made gold time descending down to Highway 28. From here we called a shuttle that brought us into nearby Fontana Village for $6 roundtrip. Moosehead managed to sneak up just as we were packing into the shuttle and traveled in with us. In town we hit up the general store to top off our food supplies with overpriced junk food and snacks. The trek through the Smokies will take 5-6 days depending on weather and mileage so it's important to be prepared unless you don't mind getting into Gatlinburg, 15 miles off the trail. We then went to Fontana Village Resort to use their computer to print off back country permits while in the Smokies ($20). Burnsides got a sweet care package from home stuffed with goods, including homemade cookies which he gladly shared with Moosehead, Etch-a-Sketch, and me.Moosehead and I left him there and quickly returned to the trail to finish the remaining 1 mile to our current location because we saw signs promising trail magic. We were not disappointed. Tracker, along with his family (the Stephenson's) had a tent set up with endless hot dogs, fruits, cake, brownies, chips, candies, snacks, and tons of soft drinks. I finished my session with 3 hot dogs, solid portions of everything else, and 7 Coke's. I'm an addict - oops. Also there to enjoy the magic were Tick Tock, Jeopardy, Macgyver, Hands & Mouth, Moose Legs, and several other new hikers that we have gradually gained on.After enjoying more than my share, I retired and enjoyed another special feature of the Fontana Hilton - a free shower. I started off with all my clothes on, stripped as I went, and then used the hand dryer to dry.I'm now in the shelter and will be spending the night tucked snuggly between Burnsides and Moosehead. Another ~20 hikers are crammed in here as well. Beer is flowing along with random banter. Tonight will most likely not be a solid night of rest. If not, I can only hope my early morning ammunition returns so I can have some fun.Tomorrow we enter the Smokies. We plan to put in ~12-15 miles each day in order to pass through the Smokies in under a week. A few milestones are approaching: reaching TN, hitting the 200-mile mark, and reaching the highest point on the AT - Clingman's Dome. They say if you can make it through the Smokies, you have what it takes "physically" to complete the trail.As the light continues to slowly fade on today, I leave you with a quote written on the shelter wall across from me: "The hardest people to love in life are usually the one's who need it the most."Thanks again, supporters.