Date: 2004-03-14
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Hiker Inn Motel, Fontana Dam, NC
Miles today: 0.3
Weather: few clouds

Day 15, March 14, 2004Ok, so today was an easy day. Hiked to the dam and waited for the shuttle to take us to the motel. That was it for hiking. Once LWOP and I got to the motel, we got all cleaned up and then they shuttled us to lunch. I had an entire 12-inch sub, chips and a drink. Could have eaten more easily. Before this hike 6 inches would be easy to handle ;-)   (that¢s for you Moonpie). It was overwhelming just looking at the entire wall of drinks in the cooler at the gas station. So many choices, it was something that that was normal before going on the trail. But after being away from the conveniences for even just a short while is amazing. Went back to the motel and went thru gear. LWOP was throwing stuff out and decided to mail some things home. His pack is already around 35 pounds with food and water, which is not bad. We made food lists and headed off to an excellent Mexican restaurant for dinner. Indeed it was good. Again this is one of the few times I managed to eat everything on my plate. If people were not around, I would have licked the plate clean without hesitation. It was very satisfying to say the least! After dinner LWOP, Northern Harrier and I were taken to the grocery store to get food. It was nice to pay .89 cents for a box of macaroni instead of $3 for a box at places along the trail. It¢s as bad as buying gas - some prices are outrageous. But realistically the meals are still cheap, so there is nothing really to whine about. Again the choices for food were so large. Rows and rows and rows containing foods of all kinds. I¢ve got a general idea what I want for lunch, but with all the choices at hand it was a difficult choice. Will tell ya about my food choices later, nothing out of the ordinary. Think the craziest meal this trip was a lunch that consisted of thinly sliced cheese with pepperoni rolled up in the middle. It was interesting, tasted fine, very filling, got lots of calories for that meal! After shopping we got back to the motel and talked with the owners for a while. These are great people. They were in the restaurant biz, but got out of it to provide a motel & shuttle service package for hikers for a great price. The shuttle service was a great option because the town with the grocery store was a good 15 min away, a bit too far to hitch a ride. So $45 for a double room turned out to be quite a bargain. We were talking to the owners about BIG cats that are here in the Smokies. They say that these are the smart ones and are very rarely seen by humans. Then they were saying the best way to scare off a black bear is to bark like a dog. I guess that dogs are often followed by hunters and the bear can make that association. It makes sense. With a black bear you are supposed to stand your ground and make all the noise possible to scare it off. If you play dead for a black bear it will kill you. It¢s the other way around with a grizzly bear. It¢s best to play dead with a grizzly.   It might beat you around a little but will not go much further than that. Then they were talking about the large population of wild boar in the Smokies. They said that they hunt for food at night. At night and early morning is when they are most dangerous. According to Jeff there are more incidents with wild boar than there are with bear. But he also said it¢s most always in the morning and night. If you¢re in a tent or shelter they will not disturb you. The only defense is to climb a tree. The owners have a picture of a boar in the back of a pickup truck. That boar filled the entire bed. Just something to give me nightmares tonight. Better now then tomorrow when I will be spending my first night in the Smokies. I¢ve heard some horror stories about very experienced hikers stranded on top of a mountain due to snow, and how they got hypothermia and went crazy. One must have respect for the Smokies, and for all the wilderness along the AT. The first moment you stick your nose up at it, mother nature will be sure to throw a big snowball in your face to remind you who is boss out here. I¢m ready for it, and I know what I¢m capable off. I am very aware of my limits and capabilities. This will be a fun experience. Kinda feels like going into Jurassic Park - a place where the wild animals are. Don¢t worry I will be fine and singing all the way :-) It¢s all down hill from here. Well not really. It¢s just a saying we have been saying since day 1. It keeps our morale up and can always bring a smile when climbing a steep, never ending hill. The sun will always rise, and all will be well.