Date: 2003-06-05
From: Fontana Inn, Fontana Village NC

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

First day out and all the first day stuff happened ¢ I thought I was further along than I really was, legs felt like mush half way through the day, and the usual aches and pains as I got everything adjusted. Marlene and I awoke before sunrise at the Fontana Inn and quickly got ready to go. I ate pop tarts and a few crackers to avoid cooking or waiting for a restaurant to open. We took everything to the van and Marlene drove me to Fontana Dam Visitor¢s Center, right where I left off last year. We got a few pictures and then I walked across the dam while she drove across. I knew this was going to be hard for both of us, and as I approached the north end of the dam she was standing there looking like tears were about to come. We got a picture of me at the Smoky Mountain National Park sign, and then we could avoid goodbye no longer. It¢s hard for us to be apart since we rarely find a need for it other than a few business trips for a day or two each. We finally had to turn and go ¢ me to the trail and Marlene to the van. I walked about 100 yards and turned to see her standing at the open door of the van looking my direction. I had not heard the engine start. We waved goodbye again and went our separate ways. It was 6:55 a.m. I turned to watch the van slowly moving across the dam in the mist, and then turn out of sight in the thick fog on the south end. So she was gone. I was alone. The whole hike was ahead of me. 175 miles to go. I turned away and hit my stride, walking along the narrow paved road taking me to the remote trail entrance to the park, thinking about the fact that I was finally out here hiking again. Six tenths of a mile ahead I came to the trailhead sign, entered the woods and was swallowed up in the thick, early June vegetation. I prayed that God would protect me, and that Marlene would be safe on the very long and winding road out of the mountains. She was crying as she drove, I knew. Climbing Shuckstack on your first day is a real gut check. We had seen the tower on the summit from several miles away on the road last evening, and it looked like a long way up. Other than hard work, the climb was uneventful. Except for two things ¢ first, my thoughts were on Marlene continuously, wondering how she was doing, and second, after hiking about two miles, I realized that I had forgotten to give her the card and letter I had written to her. My heart sank. When I came to the side trail to the fire lookout tower, I hurried the 1/10 mile route up to the knob where it stood. I quickly shed my gear, climbed to the top and tried my cell phone. I got service and called to tell her that I had a card and letter, but I was trying so hard to hold myself together as we parted that I forgot to give it to her. I gave her a card and letter last year, as we parted at Springer Mountain, and I was afraid she would have been disappointed if she had guessed I might give her one this year too. It was good to hear her voice and talk one more short time. I¢ll mail the card from Standing Bear Farm, seventy-some miles up the trail. She was fine with that and will wait for it to come. I guess I¢m just an old softy. Oh well. It was a long hard climb up to the main ridge of the Smokies. I reached the ridge and Doe Knob around noon. I stopped there to cook lunch ¢ freeze dried spaghetti. It was great. And I took an hour and 15 minutes to eat and rest. Then it was off to Mollies Ridge Shelter ¢ my original destination for the day. There I met four men from around Knoxville. They were very friendly and were interested in my pack weight and especially my Pepsi can stove. They had not seen one before and were quite impressed. It was early, around 3:30, so I decided to head for Russell Field Shelter. I took it easy and stopped several times to rest and just sit quietly. I arrived around 5:15. I am here with Allen (Deacon) Jones from Roswell, Georgia ¢ a 1993 Georgia to Maine thru hiker. He is retired, and we seem pretty compatible, so it should be a pleasant evening. I was surprised at how few people I met today, expecting it to be more crowded with school being out. We shall see. It is now around 7:00 and starting to get cool. I expect it to be pretty cold overnight. Looks like we will have daylight for a couple of hours yet. Later two young thru hikers came into the shelter. I recognized them as guests at the restaurant down in Fontana Village from last night. As we ate, I mentioned to Marlene that they look like hikers, and sure enough, they are trying to hike all the way to Maine. Their names are Kris and E-psi with the psi being the Greek letter ¢ his trail name. They are pleasant company and interesting to talk with. So the first day¢s hike is complete. I feel pretty good ¢ no blisters or other major aches and pains. I wonder how I will feel in the morning. I had a good time singing some of our choir songs and thinking about God¢s faithfulness as I walked along. I remembered Psalm 121 again as I did last year, ¢I will lift my eyes to the mountains. From whence will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth.¢ It has been a good start. I could use a good night¢s sleep. I hope Marlene is doing ok. Good night my dearest one. dp