Date: 2005-04-06
From: Microtel, Robbinsville, NC

To: Hike Inn, Fontana Dam
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The knee is still not great, but it's definitely less painful, so the decision at this point is to give the Smokeys a try beginning as early as possible tomorrow morning. With hope in my heart, and anti-inflammatory coursing through my veins, I will head up from Fontana Dam - my stopping point a week ago tomorrow.I have various scenarios for how long it may take me to reach the north end of the Park - from 7-11 days. If the knee is still viable after that, it will be another 4 days into Hot springs. At the other extreme, I may end up hiking 5 miles in tomorrow, to the first place for an over-night, and hike back on Friday, at which point I will head home for an MRI.Hiker Profiles - Con't:In the first week of my hike I got to know two younger guys from Kentucky, "Raz" and Jake. Both are great fun to be around, and pretty strong hikers. Jake¢s dad showed up a shelter one afternoon sporting cold soft drinks he'd packed in from a nearby trailhead, my first trail magic (thanks, Skip!). In subsequent days of continued magic, Jake - who still doesn¢t have a trail name, was at risk of becoming "Jake's Dad's kid".I have to mention my pre-hike mentor and friend, Scholar, a very strong hiker and a really warm person. We haven't managed to meet up again since hiking into Hiawassee together, but if I can find a way to keep going, I suspect we will. She is able to hike fast enough that she can take lots of zero days and still keep up. Last I knew she was a day behind, still traveling with Cuppa Joe and Breakaleg. Break, or the divine Ms. B, is one of my most special friends and we have maintained an ongoing and good-natured rivalry since we first met through our respective journals. Please be aware, assembled eyes that any references I make to Ms. B must be taken strictly tongue-in-cheek! (Which reminds me, Break - I've had two requests from MY readers so far to ask you to please be more diligent in updating YOUR journal. Personally, I'd like that as well, since I'm afraid otherwise I may develop such an insurmountable lead in the number of journal hits that you may give up journal entries altogether just out of despair of ever catching up with me....! Others in the cast of characters I was hiking with before my knee blew out include Phoenix, Butterfly Moon, and Hopeful Hiker. Phoenix has two bad knees, so we have shared a common bond. He has got to be one of the nicest guys out here, and is hiking as smart a hike as anyone I know. He is one of the reasons I felt so badly when "my guys" all left me behind on Monday.Butterfly Moon is also a special friend, and was an ideal hiking partner while it lasted. Like my hiking buddy from home ("Spook"), we had a perfectly matched hiking pace. And, like Spook, the personalities were compatible, in the sense that we could hike together for an hour or two at a time without having to say a word - other than to point out a hazard or to note something worth stopping for, usually a "photo op". I can't stand hiking with someone who has to jabber away non-stop while I am trying to concentrate on my footing or enjoy some quiet time for reflection as I hike.Since she is an ER nurse, and her significant other is a fireman/EMT who is working on his paramedic certification, we also had that in common. Her cheerfulness, sense of humor, and general determination also matched mine, and just made her a delight to hike with for the week or so we spent together on the trail. Of all the hikers I've met out here, she is one that I would put money on making it to Katahdin.Finally, there's Hopeful Hiker. I don't think there is anyone out here who is more generous in sharing what he has, whether it's gear, food, or advice, than him. He does, however, suffer from an uncontrollable urge to talk (and occasionally to sing - whatever you do, do NOT ask him to sing the song he made up about Ibuprofen), which seems to be as distracting for him as it is for others. One result is that he is constantly 'misplacing' things. Lots of things. Constantly.... As he reported to us after a recent phone call home, during which he told his wife about loosing half of his favorite French foreign legion hat, she became rather agitated: "Henry," she said, "if you would just stop talking, and pay attention to what you are doing, you wouldn't keep losing all your stuff!!" He is so earnest, and has such a kind heart, that we all cut him as much slack as we can. We just can't help it sometimes if we slip up on his trail name and call him something other than HopeFULL Hiker....Today's "hike" is dedicated to all the trail friends noted above. Godspeed, guys! And may I eventually catch up with each of you somewhere on the trail.Stay tuned, Longhaul