Date: 2013-03-18
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Fontana Lodge
Miles today: 17.0

"Can I move the shoe? I need the sink to brush my teeth." - DumbledoreI wake up at the sound of raindrops on my hammock. The rain was forecast to start at 0300, but it is 0630 now. It is only a few drops before it stops. After a couple bouts of this, I get out of bed to start packing up. I get everything organized and ready to be packed for when I take down my hammock. I agree to split a room at Fontana with Dozer and Dumbledore, locking me in to a 17-mile day. It looks like a fairly tame day, considering yesterday's ten miles had all been walked starting at 1500. There are a couple notable climbs - Jacobs Ladder even being being assigned its own name.I head out of camp at 0830 and climb out of the gap. I am tired from yesterday's climb, and this small climb is harder on me than it looks. I have another little pointless climb before dropping into Simp Gap. The ascent out of this gap is harder and steeper than the earlier one, but after this the Trail runs mostly downhill to Stecoah Gap and a paved road. Dumbledore and Dozer are here, and are about to move on. Trail magic has been left here in the form of bottled water. I finish the water I have on hand and refill my bottle. There is a steady climb out of the gap, but I have put on music and am using that to hold a steady pace.I don't realize I have reached Jacobs Ladder until I am climbing it. There is nothing remarkable in its appearance - the Trail drops into a gap and climbs steeply to the north. There have been several short climbs that were this steep, but this one holds the sharp grade for a half mile and at least 800 feet of elevation gain. Steep climbs do not bother me much when I am listening to music, and right now I am using Great Bear Trio to help me keep pace. I can control my pace most easily when climbing, and on steep hill I simply cut my pace to half of what the music suggests and take very slow, deliberate steps. I pass Sole Sister and Dumbledore while climbing this section, and find Dozer taking a break at the top.There is supposed to be a view from a cliff here, but that is overgrown or otherwise obscured. Brown Fork Gap Shelter comes after a short steep climb and a longer steep descent. I stop at this shelter to use the privy, filter water, and eat lunch. When I return from the privy I find Sole Sister has stopped at the shelter. The shelter itself is a curious structure, with large gaps in the floor near the open side. I eat a large lunch, as I want to get rid of some more stuff that had been covered in honey and I need lots of energy to get to Fontana. It is 11.5 miles from here to Route 28.The Trail launches up a series of pointless ups and downs - PUDS - while heading north from the shelter. I am looking for a USGS marker that the guide says is on top of the third PUD. Maybe I didn't count my PUDS correctly as I climbed away from the shelter. I keep looking for the marker and expecting it after the next climb, but never find it. This winds up being a great way to pass the time, and I give up the hunting when I reach Cody Gap. Shortly after this gap it finally starts raining. I put on my jacket but the rain is short-lived and it turns back to very light rain soon. I continue to Cable Gap Shelter up and down slight slopes for a few miles.On approaching the shelter I am met by a call of, "It's raining." Stating the obvious is Smooth Sailing, a Georgia thru-hiker. This is a small shelter and I am glad I have committed to pushing on to Fontana tonight. I filter some more water, during which time Dan shows up. He had been at the crowded Sassafras Gap Shelter the prior night, and I am surprised he is the first one from that shelter to overtake me. I don't stay too long, as I still have to walk five miles. The climb away from this shelter is the longest of the day, and after walking hard yesterday afternoon and this morning I can really feel it. I have stowed my phone and headphones at the start of the rain, so I have a tougher time on this climb than I did on Jacobs Ladder.A couple little climbs and descents later, I reach Walker Gap. From here on down, there is only descending to Route 28. Here, the weather also finally commits to rain. I stay dry until about a mile before Route 28. The weather upgrades from rain to deluge here, and my shoes and socks finally give up on being dry. My feet are sitting in puddles when I reach the road. Fontana Lodge is two miles to the west, but in practice it winds up being a difficult road walk. I gain plenty of the elevation I lost on the final descent, and when I reach the village I discover the lodge is far from Route 28 at the highest possible point in town. I reach the lodge completely soaked, and I have no cell service to see where Dozer and Dumbledore are.Inside the lodge I find Roosta, Chickadee, Chris, Cassandra, and others. Roosta points me to my party's room, which I confirm before hauling in my wet gear. One shower and some dry clothing later, my spirits are improved. The three of us join the others, who also include Kenzie and Biscuits & Gravy for dinner. There is some slight mingling later, but I retire to bed after walking over 20 miles in total today.Peace,