Date: 2017-04-16
From: Walker Gap

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 3.9
Weather: scattered clouds

We had decided to get up early to make it to Fontana Lodge before their restaurant closed at 11 for Easter brunch, so we hit the trail at 630 in the predawn light. We passed a couple tents, their occupants still slumbering, and watched as the sun rose over mountains of clouds which dotted the eastern sky. Our hike this morning was a short jaunt down the ridge and to the dam, which was still lit up below us. The trail wove through several patches of mountain flowers in bloom, their white, yellow, maroon, and camo colored petals brightening up the hillside which was a pleasant green, all and all much better scenery than the charred hillsides of Mordor.... I mean southern NC. We took the miles slowly because the downhill aggravated the blisters on Liz's heels, but still arrived at the road by 8am. Though we could've gotten a shuttle from there, we elected to hike to the shelter, the "Fontana Hilton", another 1.1mi, so that we wouldn't have to backtrack and hike this section later. We pulled into the Hilton, so named because of the amenities it offers hikers including hot showers, a solar charging station for electronics, a firepit and seating, a spicot of potable water, flush toilets, and space to accommodate at least 20 hikers in the shelter. We immediately availed ourselves of the showers, a glorious feeling after 4 days of hiking in the sun, and then collected our laundry to do at the lodge.We called for a shuttle and headed up to the lodge, heading for the restaurant first. Though we did make it in time for breakfast, after comparing the breakfast and Easter brunch menus, we opted to go with the brunch, which although a bit pricier, was all-you-can-eat. In the meantime until the brunch started we headed down to the general store and did our laundry with a number of other hikers, most of whom were wearing their rain gear (which is the only thing that doesn't usually need to be washed). I treated myself to a banana and chocolate milk from the store, two things you don't usually find on trail, while our laundry ran, and then we headed up to the lodge again for brunch.We had asked and there was no dress code for the brunch (although it looked like all the hikers were put in a separate room), so we could attend in what we were wearing, which for me was running shorts and a black long john top, and for Liz was her black town dress. We devoured the brunch, starting with a salad and broccoli cheddar soup, moving on to roasted chicken, pineapple ham, mashed potatoes, grilled cheese, green beans, corn casserole, and beef brisket, and finishing with a mini strawberry cheesecake and a mini coconut macaroon cake. Soooo good.We rolled ourselves out of the restaurant and successfully retrieved our food packages, but I hadn't received either of the letters I was expecting. The post office didn't open until 1145am Monday, so with nothing to do about the letters we headed back to the shelter. By the time we got back most of our pocket of hikers had arrived and were setting up camp. I took the opportunity to open my boxes and sort my food. The bulk of my food was as expected, since I had mailed it to myself, but the support box contained a number of goodies from friends.I got a small bottle of Makers Mark whiskey, a couple of hard apple ciders, an easter egg filled with candy, several letters from friends, a chocolate rabbit, some blueberry bread, some trader joe's trail mix cookies, and some home baked cookies. I didn't want to pack most of this out, so it all had to be eaten! Liz graciously offered to help with the food and drink, but it was still going to be a challenge to finish.I took a break from sorting to take a dip in the lake in the rain with Fireproof, Left foot, and a couple others while Liz took pictures because she "couldn't swim in her dress". Laaame.After the dip and back to the eating food... thankfully, an old friend (well... as old as they get at this point on the trail) chose that moment to show up... Lookout! He had taken an extra day in Franklin and was back to full health and had been doing a couple of longer days to catch up. Our little tramily hung out throughout the evening and caught up on the happenings on the trail. A couple of hikers got a shuttle to bring them to town, pickup pizza, and bring it back, since there weren't any delivery places open.