Date: 2013-03-20
From: Fontanta AT Crossing (Fontana Village)

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

3/20Started at: Fontana Crossing (Fontana Lodge)The morning started off faster and perkier than expected. I was rearing to go. Chickadee got our bags packed and down to breakfast, savored our last real meal for a while and discussed our plans. I guess our plans could be more complicated, but basically we hope to get through pretty quick, quick resupply in Gatlinburg but we don't want to stay in Gatlinburg. It too reminiscent of a Las Vegas with all the big sales tactics, tourists... only thing it lacks are the casino's. It'll provided a good reminder of what we don't want to see on the trail. We're excited for Clingman's Dome which is the highest point on the trail at 6655 feet (there's a tower on top which puts you over the highest land elevation, for instance Mt. Buckley is 6685). Eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy are a great way to start just about every day if I could. We caught the shuttle and off we went!After taking a zero, our legs were reluctant to start moving again, but once our shoes hit the rocks, dirt and roots that made up the AT we knew we both had smiles on our faces. First stop was the Hilton. The Hilton is an AT shelter not long before you walk across the actual Fontana Dam that fits 20 people. We followed the nice paved road (paved roads are almost irritating at this point on the trail, give me a mountain!) down and found a whole flock of hikers staying there another night to "miss" the bad weather. It's suppose to get really cold, heck, it is really cold. But it's not going to get better fast, I hoped to stay just ahead of the REALLY cold weather. Chickadee's ankle still hurt a little bit so I gave her a last chance out of the Smokies (she's a tough chick, I knew she wouldn't take it) to get her ankle another day. Once we warmed up, our muscles and joints knew what they were doing again. We met up with Gyro at the Southern Border of The Great Smoky Mountains, and we all put in the bottom half of our permits as it stated in the instructions. Gyro is an interesting character, a lot of heart and character but he had to get off for about 6 days at one point due to issues with his hip. Whenever it starts to bother him you'll find him gyrating his hips in around-a-bout fashion. We all hiked together at our own individual speeds meeting up at the first shelter. Dumbledore(Molly) and her crew were moving at more impressive speeds pushing on to the next. We shared the shelter with a Ridge-Runner, we all picked his brain quite a bit. I never knew it was a paid position of the park or area when I heard the term Ridge-Runner. He works 5 days a week hiking the Smokies and then he has 2 days off. He's not a ranger. He's not necessarily a first responder (unless he comes upon a situation). He doesn't carry a chainsaw and a mule on his back to clear trails. He just hikes and reports, making sure the the area is clean, clear, safe. He has to listen to his radio 8am-9am and 8pm-9pm. And he started off in this career field by hiking the Appalachian trail just like I am doing today. I guess there's always jobs like this that are opening up, and the interview process is relatively simple and as long as you're available to move to where the job is. It's cold tonight.The Rooster Sleeps... in a Shelter (my back hurts already)Slept in: Mollies Ridge Shelter