Fontana

It has been awhile since we have had cell signal, so briefly here are the days leading up to the Smokies:

4/2 Tuesday
We left NOC and had a 3000' climb up to the top of the ridgeline. Several good views today. Camped at Locust Cove Gap with about 8 other thrus. We caught up with Bulldog here.

4/3 Wednesday
Previously while at NOC we had arranged a shuttle for our friend Mudpuppy to come and join us on the trail for two days and one night. It was his idea. Really. We had been planning on staying at The Hike Inn, anyway, so arranged the shuttle through them. We had stayed there in 2005 and were looking forward to going there again. Anyway, Mudpuppy was due to get dropped off at Stecoah Gap at Noon this day, and we were 3 miles away. Which meant we could have a slow morning. We arrived early to find him waiting on us, along with his gargantuan pack. The plan was for Mudpuppy to accompany us for the next 14 miles, which would bring us to Fontana Dam. Somehow he managed to hoist his pack onto his back and off we went. There was a campsite earlier but it was windy there, so we made it 9 miles to Cable Gap Shelter. This left 5 miles for the next day with rain expected.

4/4 Thursday
The rain began before we were out of bed. It was a light rain but cold and none of us wanted to walk through it but we did. The heavy pack was taking its toll on Mudpuppy and along with the slippery wet trail we went slow the last few miles. We arrived at the marina where I called Jeff from the Hike Inn to come and get us. An hour later we were warm and dry in our room planning on what food to eat in town. Midpuppy took us to town for a late lunch, and then coincidentally we were visited that evening by another friend, Dan McDowell, who happened to be vacationing in Gatlinburg. He took us to town for dinner. Thanks Dan!

4/5 Friday
This was a planned zero day at the Hike Inn. We made it to town twice to eat, got our resupply box from home, and bought our remaining food from the grocery store. After we left here we entered the Smokies and wanted to get through without stopping in Gatlinburg, so that meant at least 7 days worth of food. There was no cell coverage here, and even with the preparations for the upcoming week we generally had a lazy day.