Date: 2008-03-28
From: Cable Gap 

To: Fontana Dam, Rt. 28 
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: light rain

The tent felt stuffy and close when I woke up, and the air had definitely changed. We were camped high up hill from the shelter, a classic log 6-person structure by a babbling brook. Every available flattish place had a tent, and the shelter was also full. A wave of hikers who began around March 10 were catching up to us, so there were new names and faces all around.    Around 10 at night, when most of us were sleeping, my reading was interrupted by male voices yelling from way up the trail. The campsite being nestled in a bowl-like ravine, it echoed and carried considerably. All I could imagine, when the erratic hollering continued was that a group of revelers were arriving, hoping to roust the hikers and start partying early for the weekend.Soon lights were sweeping across the tents, and a bit of a commotion ushered up from the fire ring area. I was torn between the urge try to protect the hiker group, and the urge to not draw attention to myself. Before long it sounded like the voices and lights were fading into the distance.    Later the next day we found out that a mock Search and Rescue drill was taking place, part of a state sponsored Search and Rescue training centered in Fontana Village. Wish I could have known that last night.    Hiking was warm today, I started out in just two thin wool jerseys, tights and hiking skirt. We descended through areas where new wildflowers were beginning to appear, which was truly exciting. We were shooting pictures of everything to document the progress of spring, both relative to altitude and latitude. How very powerful it is to see a deep maroon petal formation on the leaf triads that we had been seeing for miles.   At Fontana Dam marina area, where we arrived around 12, a thru hiker from '07 named Ox ferried 5 of us into the village in his pickup. His caring nature really came through, as he also had felt he needed to help out hikers for awhile this season, after his own hike last year.   We spent several lazy hours on the veranda at the general store after we were dropped off. To all of us, that was a luxury. I had only had a Poptart that morning, so I feasted on a sausage egg and cheese biscuit, then a Heath Bar, then a cup of coffee. We did all the laundry we could muster without stripping down, and by 3pm were able to get to the condo we had arranged for. Barley and Rain, Bananas, V8 and I took advantage of the March special: all cottage type units were $95 per night. Split by 5 people, we did well.   That night we had dinner at the only restaurant open in the complex. The front person sat us at a big round table for 8, which gradually grew to a feasting group of 9 within the hour. Six hikers ordered the NY strip steak dinner, which was just delicious,and satisfied the desire for meat or protein or fat, or maybe all three. The funny thing was, first thing the next morning V8 was up getting ready to head back up there for breakfast. "I'm starving!" she said, as she pulled on her raincoat and headed up the hill.    I am beginning to experience the feeling of hunger in a new way. At the same time, I am losing weight. Most all I've met are noticing the same effects of relentless, day long physical activity.Bye for now, more later. Marcia Jamrog