Day 14 – Entering the Smokies

Mile hike today 13.1. Total miles 177.

The lodge shuttle dropped us back on the trail and once again it was time to hike. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day.

I came over a hill and saw our first view of Fontana lake. Got to hike with it in our view for about 40 minutes.

It was simply a gorgeous morning.

We finally came upon the Fontana Dam shelter. It’s called the Fontana Hilton because it supposed to be so nice. I didn’t see anything that much different than any other shelter. I think it’s called the Hilton because it has flushable toilets nearby.

From the Hilton we followed the white blazes to the dam. They put the blazes on anything. Signs, walls, the street itself.

The man on the sign needs a backpack!

After walking on the road for just a little bit we hit the dam. It was pretty cool to see. The Appalachian Trail goes right over the dam. We stopped at the visitor center for about five minutes and looked around, then headed across the dam.

It was a very interesting walk across the dam. People that have a problem with heights probably would not like it – but I loved it – kept leaning over to see more.

Almost immediately after the dam you enter the great Smoky Mountains National Park. The 1st mile was a road and then we went back to dirt trails. The Smoky Mountain National Park has a lot of rules you have to follow. You cannot camp just anywhere. You must camp at a shelter. You must camp in the shelter if it’s not full. So you have to adjust your walking to make sure you end up at a shelter.

Our first major goal was the fire look out tower at the top of Shuckstack Mountain. And let me tell you it was quite the climb. If you look really close you’ll see the fire lookout tower on the top of the mountain from below.

When we made it up to the tower, it was then time to climb the tower. Let me tell you, Jenga blocks were probably more steady than this tower. I am surprised they let people climb it… But climb it I did.

From the top the views were amazing. Looking one way you could see Fontana Lake and the dam.

It was very very windy! I was chilly even with my puffy coat on.

But oh my! The views!

Then it was time to head back down to the ground and make it to a shelter. There’s 1 million things to take pictures of along the way, but I loved this tree.

Made it to the shelter around 4:30 PM. Set up my tent, did dinner and now the blog.

Because everyone has to camp at a shelter, it’s a small city up here right now. There has to be over 30 hikers here. Here are all the food bags hanging by cables that the park has for us hikers specifically to keep the food away from the bears.

And finally for my son-in-law Scott – this one’s for you! Carried it all the way up the mountain so I could have it this evening Yum Yum.

Until tomorrow,