Fontana Dam
April 13, 1981 -Cable Gap Shelter to
Fontana Hilton at Fontana Dam
Shelter
I left Cable Gap lean-to at 6:30 a.m. and
made it to Fontana Dam at 9:30. I went
over to post office to get mail and
groceries. I read letter from my barber
and a letter from parents. The Fontana
Dam area is a nice place but is not too
friendly to hikers. It is too much tourist
oriented. I took shower at dam area
which is free to anyone who wants them.
I sure needed one. I Made 5 more miles
to Birch Springs shelter. It was a steady
climb up to Shuckstack. I did a total of 15
miles today and am really tired. There are
a lot of people here. It is getting dark
here at 7:30 p.m. and it is time to go to
bed. I am staying at Birch Spring Shelter
tonight. I didn’t go up to the fire tower
since it was socked in with no view.
April 14, 1981 -Fontana Shelter to
Birch Spring Shelter-
I made nine miles to Spence Field
shelter. I washed clothes and fixed
lentils and rice. Ate a full seven ounces
of M&M's and just now I fell sick. It started
to rain at 5:00 p.m. It sure feels good
inside shelter. We got a good fire going
and it is comfortable. Roger and I are
traveling the Smokys together. Yes, I’m
fifteen miles into the Smokys, fifty five
more to go. The Smokys are really
pretty. We’re at 4800 feet here tonight.
Plane to go up to the highest point on
whole Appalachian Trail by Thursday.
April 15, 1981 -Birch Spring
Shelter to Spence Field Shelter-
I left Spence Field shelter at 6:00 a.m.
and made it to Thunderhead by 9:00.
What a view. We walked over grassy
knolls that you could see for years!! I
took 5 or 6 pictures of me standing on a
rock looking toward Clingmans Dome. It
is very c1ear. You could see 100 miles in
all directions. I made it to Silers Bald
Shelter. A did a total of 12 miles today.
Saw two deer after dark. They came right
up to shelter. It got down to 35 degrees
last night.
Fontana Hilton at Fontana Dam
Shelter
I left Cable Gap lean-to at 6:30 a.m. and
made it to Fontana Dam at 9:30. I went
over to post office to get mail and
groceries. I read letter from my barber
and a letter from parents. The Fontana
Dam area is a nice place but is not too
friendly to hikers. It is too much tourist
oriented. I took shower at dam area
which is free to anyone who wants them.
I sure needed one. I Made 5 more miles
to Birch Springs shelter. It was a steady
climb up to Shuckstack. I did a total of 15
miles today and am really tired. There are
a lot of people here. It is getting dark
here at 7:30 p.m. and it is time to go to
bed. I am staying at Birch Spring Shelter
tonight. I didn’t go up to the fire tower
since it was socked in with no view.
April 14, 1981 -Fontana Shelter to
Birch Spring Shelter-
I made nine miles to Spence Field
shelter. I washed clothes and fixed
lentils and rice. Ate a full seven ounces
of M&M's and just now I fell sick. It started
to rain at 5:00 p.m. It sure feels good
inside shelter. We got a good fire going
and it is comfortable. Roger and I are
traveling the Smokys together. Yes, I’m
fifteen miles into the Smokys, fifty five
more to go. The Smokys are really
pretty. We’re at 4800 feet here tonight.
Plane to go up to the highest point on
whole Appalachian Trail by Thursday.
April 15, 1981 -Birch Spring
Shelter to Spence Field Shelter-
I left Spence Field shelter at 6:00 a.m.
and made it to Thunderhead by 9:00.
What a view. We walked over grassy
knolls that you could see for years!! I
took 5 or 6 pictures of me standing on a
rock looking toward Clingmans Dome. It
is very c1ear. You could see 100 miles in
all directions. I made it to Silers Bald
Shelter. A did a total of 12 miles today.
Saw two deer after dark. They came right
up to shelter. It got down to 35 degrees
last night.
Thunderhead in the Smokys
7