Date: 2005-03-18
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Village
Miles today: 12.0

The Hidden MileI remembered the 12 miles from Brown Fork Gap to Fontana Dam (marina) being horrible. I attributed it to the 18" of snow and blizzrd conditions in 2001 but after yesterday I have determined that snow or sun the section is just evil. It isn't particularly difficult, like the climbs out of NOC or Stecoah Gap. There are some beautiful vistas and nicely graded trail even. None the less the section is evil. Despite the cold I've been fighting the past few days, I woke up in a decent enough mood. The fog and freezing wet conditions had given way to clear skies. About a mile from Brown Fork Gap we came to one of my favorite types of view. We were above the clouds, and looking out from the ridge it seeked a while fluffy ocean with mountain tops as islands. The clouds convalescing with the ravines and ridges, licking like ocean waves at the sides of the islands-mountains. This type of view is not that common, and whenever I am lucky enough to see such a site, my heart usually goes into my throat and my skin tingles with the palpable sense of nature's majesty. Such an experience usually makes me light on my feet the rest of the day.But this evil section of trail overcame all that, and had it's way with both my emotions and my words all day. Naturally, poor Gravity was the target of the Trail Demon that possessed me. What should have been a simple discussion regarding yogiing, a sudden craving for noodles, a very loud shelter scene and a smidgen of insensitivity (or absence of awareness) turned into a 12 mile lambasting and self righteous diatribe. It was a long, hard, painful 12 miles for me, Gravity and the rest of the gang, who were not subjected to the lambasting or the diatribe, but none the less unanimously, agree about the evil nature of the section of trail. When we finally got to the marina I guess the demon had exorcised itself and the boundary of it's domain had been crossed out of. Cause, when I saw that road and grass, all of a sudden everything was fine.Having most of the Gang together again with the exception of the Wonder Twins, and with each of us experiencing some form of disrepair, we decided to all go in on a cottage and take a zero day today.Our experience here at the Fontana Village Resort has been a strange combination of a comedy of errors and a comedy of horrors. I use the term "comedy" loosely, and perhaps take some liberty with "horrors." None the less, we are far less than satisfied patrons. When you get past the layer of dead bugs on the window sills and floors, the live and seemingly swarming wasps, lady bugs and spiders ready to eat them. When you get past that, and the lack of hot water, broken pull out sofa, overly inflated rate, repair man spraying Raid all over our expensive Event rain gear. When you get over that, I guess you can overlook the abusive service and almost clear disdain for hikers enough to enjoy a quiet pleasant zero day here at the gateway to the Smokies. At least I have a warm dry place to rest my body before heading back to the hills...One very pleasant surprise though: when we picked up our mail drop, there was a second package there for us too! When we opened it up we discovered that it was our Easter "basket" from Tom's mom. Thank you Mrs. Delker! Chocolate bunny, jelly beans and M&M's yum! We all enjoyed that treat!Danger