Starting location: Fontana Dam Shelter
Ending location: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Miles total: 177.5
Today we officially entered in the Great Smoky Mountains. The AT runs right through the top of Fontana Dam. Fontana dam is actually the largest concrete dam east of the Rockies. As we were passing over the dam, a bass boat was fishing along the bank. We were told that there was actually a bass fishing tournament going on this weekend.
The Smokies actually have some new rules since it is actually a national park. First, if there is room in the shelter you must stay in the shelter. Kristen and and I aren't very happy about that. Not only that, if the shelter is full, a thru hiker must give up his or her spot to a non-thru hiker.
It may seem that the Smokies are a bit stuck up, but they have the right to be because the Smokies are truly "Great." The mountains are very lush, almost rain forest like. I have been waiting for a monkey to swing down from the treetops and pull Kristen's ponytail, but it hasn't happened yet. Hey Bridget, what does a monkey do?
There is a good chance that we may see a black bear here. We saw a ton of poop on the trail, but we are not quite good enough to judge what type it was. I'll try to get a picture.
BTW, there are truly no monkeys in the Smokies
Kristen doing the BS Mulligan game day point
Entering the Smokies
Conan + Backwards
1 comment:
I think it's terrible that a thru hiker should have to give up their shelter spot to a non-thru hiker. What moron made that rule?
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