Date: 2003-03-19
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Visitors Center
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Ahhhh...another milestone today, two actually: We reached another 10 miles up to 160 miles; and we reached the southern end of the Smokies! Once again, these goals seemed so far off, and are here already! Woo-hoo!Last night, rather early this morning, around 4am, thunder rumbled around the shelter, and less than an hour later, the rain began. I didn't sleep well last night. I couldn't get comfortable at all. I think that made me more susceptible to Hotdog's snoring, so since I wasn't sleeping, I made sure he wasn't either, by a shoulder shove or quick exclamation "Hotdog!" I'm not sure he appreciated the extra attention he got, but at least I feel better about making someone else miserable. :-)Once again, God must be smiling upon me, because the rain ended by the time we were ready to hike. I was dreading hiking in heavy rain, especially with my longest day yet planned. I had to get to Fontana today because I was about out of food. The skies cleared enough to get a good fiew of the dam. It was a tease though. We were still 10 miles from that destination. The hiking today was tough, ups and downs. The downs are worse than the ups. They wear on the knees, and today we dropped nearly 2000ft. Even with the poles, by the end of the day, my knees said "Wench, how about a day off tomorrow?" They win.For the last 3 or so miles, Dog, Kat and I were joined by two puppies and a dog. The puppies were quite happy trying to get as close to our heels or toes as possible, and it made the slick downhills even more fun. The dogs are someone's hunting dogs, I think, and it seems the owners just let them run the hills. We told the Fontana Village Shuttle driver about them, and he called the owner, but the owner apparently was out fishing or something. Strange to let puppies run around like that too. Perhaps it's training, but the puppies thought it was playtime, and we were their toys.Hotdog and I hiked the extra 1.6 miles(to make 13 miles total) to go from NC28 to the Fontana Dam Visitors Center. There weren't many people visiting today, and I forget it's not prime season around here like it is at home. The dam is closed to vehicle traffic, and if national security is raised one level, it'll be closed to pedestrian traffic too. If that happens, hikers will be required to take a blue blaze trail that adds additional descent and ascent and about 2 miles. We'll see what happens in the next couple of days.I'm taking a zero tomorrow, as is Dog and Kat. Once again, a shower and buffet were in order, and both were yummy! The food was anyway. The shower was just plain AAAAHHHHHHHH. Tomorrow, the other chores get done: laundry, some shopping. I got several packages at the PO today! Thanks Ma&Pa, Bryan, Winnie, & Josh, Amy, and Michelle and kids! I appreciate it!Tonight I get a hotel bed, but tomorrow, I'm staying in the shelter, called the Fontana Hilton. It is rather large, holding 20 hikers. Today when Dog and I hiked past, no one was there. It offers a great view of the water, and has restrooms (running water!) very near and showers within 0.3 mile at Visitors Center. After my chores get done in the Village tomorrow, I'll check into the Hilton. High class now. Awww yeah.