Date: 2006-03-18
From: Fontana Dam

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Took a zero day today after yesterday's 22 mile push. The 21 mile day was long and over tough terrain, but it was also fun and ended in success. I left the Sassafras Gap Shelter at 6:45 and hiked alone for most of the day. I knew Bush Whacker had stayed further up the trail and was ahead of me. The folks behind had talked about a 19 mile day. I wasn't committed to my number. I said if we separated I would see everone at the dam.When I run, I'll set a goal in the back of my head that, even if reluctant, I'll see through. After I left camp I decided that maybe I'd try the 21 miles all the way to Fontana Dam. Once considered, I knew I'd do it.After a long day of some serious climbs and descents, I hit the campsite at the 18 mile mark. It was the end of the day and cooling fast. Over the last peak and ridge I was feeling cold and very tired. Getting all the way to the dam didn't seem the smartest thing to do, especially all alone. No problem later in the hike with a little more experince, I'd done some serious work including climbing Ass Kicker Mountain, an unnamed peak with a 900' ascent over 2 miles. Many more miles followed.I pulled into camp outside with 3 people already there. Thinking of safety and trhe setting sun I decided to stay. Bush Whacker showed up 30 minutes later. As he set up camp he kept the others rolling with his stories from the day. I'd met Kim and Dave the night before and Ozzie that night. None of them knew Bush Whacker who is becoming a Trail character.He set up his tent. We figured the others were staying behind. JP and Roadrunner came down the trail and out of the shadows. They were headed through so we quickly packed up to join them.I'd stopped because of waning daylight. I didn't want to get stuck on a steep cliff in the dark. Turned out I could have made it most of the way in the light and that the descent was gradual.When the 4 of us left it was dark. We night hiked by head lamp and the moon. Great hiking. Bush Whacker kept us laughing even as he complained that he was really flagging and should have stayed behind.Good trail magic at the end. We came out of the woods, lost the trail, and couldn't find the shelter. We flagged a passing van only to find Little Brother, No Worries et. al. waving the back. The camp was another 200 yards. A half hour later the last 4 showed up. The entire clan, now 15, made it through.It was late by hiker standards, but we had a big fire and celebrated the way hikers do. The simplest things out here are a reason to party.Nice zero day in the little village. Fontana Dam is a small resort village with houses and an inn gathered around a post office and set of shops. In summer there are games and activities. The also cater to hikers. My goals were coffee, post office, laundry, food. Found free coffee at the reception desk. Post ofice opens for 2 hours on Saturdays. The woman running it had plenty to do.I had 3 boxes and a couple of letters. There was my drop box from andre, the box I'd sent from Franklin and a surprise box. For the past 5 or 6 months I've been emailing another hiker, Nira Duvon. I think she started the trail on the 15th. She took the time to send a care package with malt balls, spicy peanut mix and gummy bears.About mid-day 20 or so people were sitting outside the laundry, all wearing rain gear or long johns as their clothes dried. Being hikers, the beer was flowing. Any reason to celebrate... I passed around the candy box.The party moved out to a field and escalated a bit. By dinner time it was a pretty happy crowd, 5 tables of four. The waitress, first day on the job, earned her stripes.The group got louder, yelling from table to table. Thumper introduced a drink called an Irish Car Bomb. After 6 people downed one at once things escalated 1 more notch. I didn't want to put a damper on the fun, but it was time for me to leave. Monk, Milk Dud and I quietly paid our checks and took the shuttle back out to the dam.There are free hot hiker showers at the dam visitor center. I showered, made some calls and headed back to a small fire. I was asleep a few minutes later.Earlier in the evening lots of people were talking about another zero day. I'm not taking one. I'm heading out in the morning with a few others. I didn't want another day of hanging around, but I didn't feel like heading into the Smokies completely alone. As usual, my fears were unfounded. Learning as I go.