Date: 2003-03-31
From: Fontana Dam Zero Day

To: Fontana Dam Zero Day #2
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 18 Another Zero DayWeather: Sunny but cold Highs in lower 40'sWell, let me see if I can explain this. I want to make it clear up front that I have not lost my enthusiasm for the Trail. I am anxious to hike. I love to hike. So, you ask why I'm taking another zero.It kind of started last night at dinner. As we ate, the snow was really coming down and reports from the night before had hikers awakening to 3 inches of snow on their tents. The feeling was the climb tomorrow would be on a sloppy trail. BTW, as I was eating, Skittles joins me at my table. He was the young man that I slept next to my first night out in Hawk Mtn Shelter...the one I suggested take the trail name of Mouseturd. We had a nice chat. Later in the evening everyone gathered in the fireplace lounge in front of a nice fire. Goldberry, Radio Shack, Tunnel Vision, Digger, Skittles, Scott and at least a half dozen more were there.Everyone was kind of undecided about whether to wait another day, but most wanted to get back on the Trail.This morning I got up around 6; showered and begin to pack up. My phone rings and it is my lost friend, Mule. They all took a zero at The Hike Inn yesterday. Mule tells me they may wait another day to hit the Trail, but wanted to get out of the Hike Inn. So, I told him I could hold off another day. He talks to his dad, Driver, calls back and says "we'll be over." I go to the breakfast buffet thinking they will be awhile. Before I get half way through my first plate in walks Mule. We put their gear in my room and all have breakfast together. Mule & Driver proceed to tell me how terrible their stay was at the Hike Inn. The rooms cost more and they had few services. Also, no TV. They made it sound like they were being held captive.   After breakfast, we get them registered and run into Goldberry, Radio Shack and Digger. Digger has his pack on and is ready to hit the Trail, but is waiting for a package. Goldberry, Radio Shack and I need to get our permits to enter SMNP so we all (with Mule & Driver) head for the registration box at the "Fontana Hilton" Shelter...about a 3 mile walk. About half way there we get picked up by a nice couple in a van. We do our registration then walk around the Dam and take some pictures enjoying the incredible views. It's sunny and we are cracking jokes and having a good time. We stop and talk to ATC Ridgerunner, Roger Dunton...a really nice older guy. He tells us 245 NOBO thru-hikers have hiked over the dam. 18 of those today... so we are at the "head of the pack." We get to talking and find out Roger is from my wife's hometown of Washington Court House, Ohio.Goldberry's parents are coming tonight and she has a cabin reserved. We are all invited over for a "party" as long as we are on good behavior. (Goldbery's 12 year old sister will be there.)Goldberry and I are trying to "get along." She couldn't always contain herself, and at one point started running to try and beat me to the shelter. Oh BTW, I out ran her and she gave up. She also acknowledged in front of whitnesses that she had threatened to glue my tent shut. I also am not 100% sure that she didn't pay Mule & Driver to hold me here another day.On the way back from the Dam some guy gives the 5 of us and 2 other hikers a ride back in his S-10. We all have a nice lunch and split up. Mule goes for a swim while I work on my journal and go to check on my e-mail.I have received e-mails asking how I like this pocketmail device. I am getting used to typing with my thumbs, but it is easy to miss spelling errors. It does provide for faster updates on Trailjournals and I don't know of anything better.BTW, heard today that Sleeping Beauty got homesick and went home. That's too bad, but if she wasn't enjoying it, that was the right thing to do.Thought for the Day: I feel guilty...but not that bad.I have invited Mule to make a guest entry into my journal. The following is his guest entry:The best thing about a "trail trance" is the trance itself. I could be counting steps, breaths, the number of huge rolling belches Driver has let out or I could just be thinking 305...305 over and over again. It doesn't matter. What is important is my mind was off the Trail. Because when you wake up out of a trance, it becomes very clear that you are still hiking the AT. The trail is a funny thing. It can go from hopeless to bearable to wonderful and back to hopeless all in an hour. But what really makes the days enjoyable and interesting is our trail companions. (When your're on the Trail you put the word trail by everything.) There's Dag, a walking dictionary of all the things on the AT. And his wife Mag who's very giving with her "overstuffed" mailbox. Both very nice. Then there's Border Riever, a Scottish Englishman with a milk drinking problem whose cursing can really be heard on steep grades. Can't forget Driver, a good cook who's quick with a comeback. And there's me, Mule, the guy whose got the Ohio clinic and the New York food pantry on his back. Oh Yeah, Skeemer. What to say about him....It's nice to see a man really enjoying himself; always looking out for others and entertaining us all. We're a strange bunch. All we need is a young blond and we'd have a sit com. (Sorry you couldn't keep up with us Goldberry) Yup, the whole thing can really feel like an adventure....sometimes romantic, envigorating, challenging the world. But let's face it, we're just a bunch of "hiker trash" that carries our dirty belongings into town now and then. Well, there you have it...trash talk and Trail drama straight from the Mule's mouth.Mule