Date: 2008-06-22
From: SNP

To: All the Way!
Miles today: 0.0

We have finally reached the Smoky National Park and more importantly, we have 200 miles left to the half way point. By the way, I checked, Smoky is the correct spelling for the National park....there is no "e".We departed Hot Spring with no injuries or illness. That was an incredible accomplishment in a "trail town". Just south of Hot Springs was a 20-mile section with significant BEAR problems. The bear was becoming so comfortable around people that it was trying to join them in the shelter and it wanted to stay for dinner...some would even say it was like an unwanted relative who showed up at dinner time and eats everything in sight, and doesn't help with the dishes. They even named the bear: Boomer. We decided to catch a ride and slack pack through that section. Our second day brought us to Max Patch a beautiful bald. It used to be a working ranch about 100 years ago. On the way up to the summit, I stopped at a blue bird house....it was occupied with two blue and white birds. Maybe more, but only the parents went in and out. I stood very still and waited until they were very comfortable with my presence. I took some great photos! I just need to find a town with internet connection and up load them to my album.We stopped at a shelter and got up early the next morning to reach Davenport Gap.   Tammy's family picked us up and provided showers and a home cooked meal with cornbread and milk for dessert. It was wonderful.We are on the trail from New Found Gap back to Davenport Gap. Since the SNP incourages you to use the shelters, due to bears, we lighten our packs and went tentless and stoveless. After two days we completed the northern section of the Smoky National Park. Again, we were picked up by Rabbit's family. The following day was a NERO slack pack day of 4 miles. We then swam in a pool, enjoyed some ice cream and relaxed.I saw a bear on the drive up to the trail today. I have not seen any on the Trail. We hiked 6-miles whan it started to pour. It is a short day so we are hiding in a siles's shelter waiting for a lull to finish up an easy 8-mile day.We were up early and hiked 14.6 miles with 3500 plus feet of elevation. We stopped at Russell Field Shelter. Soaring and I saw a huge wild turkey today. It was not happy with us and flaired it's feathers at us.For the last 6-weeks we have been hearing a bird call that sounds like a computer game. We asked the ranger about it and even attempted to mimic the call in a crowded visitors center. You should have seen the look on his face. But inspite of our best efforts, the ranger had no clue of the type of bird. But an elderly gentleman, who was at the shelter identified it as a "Wood Thrush" or a "Verry Thrush". I like my name....the "computer game calling bird".On the 16th of June we reached Fontana Dam. We climb only 2000 feet in elevation...but that will change as we enter N. C Mountains.The big news is we saw a bear! I seem to be a bear repleant...but maybe that has changed.We stayed at Fontana Village which had an ice cream shop. We are heading to the Natahala Outdoor Center now...about two days worth of hiking. KEEP BOUNCING......TIGGER