Brown Fork Gap Shelter to Fontana Dam Shelter (6/10/14

Today was a long day. Not long distance wise, only 12 miles. But long time wise.  My feet hurt today and my legs got very sore today. I think it might have been some of the hills, though I'm not for sure. Whatever it was, my feet and legs are not doing well.  I'm hoping that they do better tomorrow--which is going to be fun because is the climb up into the park.  We've dropped down to 1700 feet and will be climbing back up to 4500 feet, and eventually 6600 feet (roughly) for Clingman's Dome (tree highest point in the park).

We met Mary and Scott yesterday, and ended up staying at the same shelter with them last night. We also met Hallie last night, from Seattle, making a thru hike (she doesn't have a trail name yet).  While we were sleeping, around 3am-ish, the skies opened up and unleashes a fury of wind and rain. Fortunately the shelter's opening wasn't in the wind, so it didn't blow in on us. But it did sound like a jet engine! We were worried about Mary and Scott because they had hammocks in the trees, but they weathered it just fine.  We also had Coyote and Roadrunner with us, two brothers, who camped down below the shelter in the valley. They didn't have too much problem, though Roadrunner said he got water in his tent.

One piece of equipment has already failed on this trip. The water bladder in my pack sprung a leak. Yesterday's hike saw my back soaked with water as it slowly dripped out of the bladder, down the back of my pack, then down my back. Fortunately, another wonderful piece of trail magic, Mary and Scott were leaving the trail today, so she gave me her platypus water bladder for my pack! Talking about an awesome and amazing gift!  Mary and Scott, if you're reading this, thank you and God bless you for the amazing trail magic! Also, the potatoes you have me are going to be a meal in the Smokies, and I scarfed down most of the M&Ms and gave the rest to Hope for her trip around the park tomorrow. You guys are amazing, Thank You!

As we got to Fontana Dam and headed for the shelter, it decided to start raining. We didn't put our raincoats and pack covers on because we didn't think we had too much further to go to the shelter. Boy, did I misjudge that one! Remember my statement a few posts back concerning rain and your pack? Well, I didn't follow my own advice and got soaked! Fortunately everything in my pack was in waterproof containers. 

When we arrived, we decided it would be great to take showers because the 'Fontana Hilton', as it is called, has a shower facility.  Hope so graciously had me cut her microfiber towel in half so I would have a towel to dry off with. Again, the trail magic has restored my hope and faith in humanity. 

I could say more, but I need sleep...big day tomorrow!