Date: 2016-04-14
From: Fontana Dam

To: Birch Spring Gap
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Today it was time to hit the trail again. We caught a $3/person shuttle down to the trail from the lodge. We noticed that several of the hikers didn't pay. Around the fire later we found out that one of the guys (Mr Fabulous) had reserved a hotel room. He lamented that three others had joined him in his room (and they committed to helping cover the room) and then none of them paid him! Not sure if there is a moral to that story or not. Not even sure if it is a reflection on hikers or just a reflection of our generation. In either case, the shuttle driver told us that lots of people were quitting at the dam, which confirmed rumors we had heard earlier from people along the trail. We caught the shuttle about 11:30 which spelled a late start for the day. The hike was a tough climb from a low starting elevation all the way to the top of the Smokies. We (he) carried 7 days of food for 2 people which translated into a 60lb pack, so we moved slow and got to a camp site close to dark. Along the way, we caught a few spots with decent cell phone service. Knowing it was spotty in the mountains, we called a few places and arranged to purchase some lighter weight gear. Neither of us knew enough about long distance hiking to buy ultra light gear without seeing some of it in action. We also knew that for the winter our gear was going to be heavier regardless just to keep us warm. Our plan was to optimize our gear as we went along. After being on the trail for several weeks, we have seen some of the pitfalls of people who thought they didnt need a warm sleeping bag, decided they didn't need pants, etc. We didn't meet him, but we heard about the guy who failed his BAR exam and showed up at the trailhead in only dress clothes. That's the extreme example, we suppose he could have used his tie to hang food (if he had any). We also saw some really cool packs, tents, etc that aren't carried in outfitters like REI. We landed on hyperlite 3400 backpacks (waterproof, 2 lbs) and a tarp tent (uses hiking poles instead of its own tent poles to save weight (2 lbs).At camp, we saw a moose! Normally they are only in the NorthEastern sections of the trail, but we saw one. Well actually that was just someone's trail name. Seemed appropriate though. He was a former truck driver of 22 years. Tough on the outside but really a gentle type once you got to know him. We talked to him on and off as we climbed the mountains because he took lots of breaks and we made lots of calls. The Smokies have a rule that you have to stay in shelters. If the shelters are full, then you have to camp near them. We have until now avoided these areas because it's our honeymoon (and there is something called Noro virus that is easily spread in those areas but makes your life miserable several days with vomiting and diarrhrea). The campsite we stopped at did not have a shelter, which guarantees we could use our tent. Another thing we have been trying to avoid which is common at the shelters is the pot smoker crowd. As we gathered around the nearby fire ring for dinner with fellow campers, there was no avoiding it. Strange how careful people are to not share foods, not shake hands, etc. to avoid catching Noro, but then they pass around their smokes! Our guess is that this is the primary mode of transmitting the virus along the trail.