#014 Section Two: A.T. Fontana Crossings to Davenport Gap Hike, ATMM 164.7 to ATMM 238.0 Day #8 Fontana Crossings to Fontana Shelter
Fontana Crossings to Fontana Shelter
I missed Mosey’s second and third section hikes, but decide to join her for the fourth in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Princess picks me up at around four in the morning. She’s accustomed to early morning exercise routines followed by a day of teaching elementary school children. She usually rounds out her day with a long bike ride, or kayaking, or running, or climbing, or….
I on the other hand enjoy staying up late, waking well after the sun has risen, begin work around nine a.m., then meet her and a few others in the evening for a long bike ride, or kayaking, or running, or climbing, or….
Waking up five minutes before her four a.m. arrival was early enough.
She and I pick Lody up on our way to meet Mosey and a few other friends at a parking lot well before daybreak on this cool spring morning. Lody and I teasingly say that we need to take care of our princess. But the joke’s on us, she’s tougher than we are and usually keeps the two of us in line. Somewhere along the way the name stuck with her.
We pile into two vehicles then begin our seven-hour drive to meet our shuttle driver near the northern end of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Our driver transports us from Davenport Gap to the southern end of the Smoky Mountains at Fontana Crossings. She shares useful information with us about the area we are hiking through.
We hike about a mile on the Appalachian Trail then spend the night at the coveted Fontana Dam Shelter, a.k.a. The Fontana Hilton. Not only does this simple wooden dual-opening structure have a great view of mountains rising over the lake but there is running water, picnic tables, a shower house, real toilets, and a recharging station for electronic devices.
Lody and I become restless just hanging around the shelter. We explore the dam before deciding have a pizza delivered to the shelter. We unfortunately don’t realize the gate to the access road was locked and our delivery driver turns back. Realizing the problem we decide to rescue our dinner from Fontana Village Resort. It’s too far to walk but we hitch a ride with a lady and her over-sized dog who were camping near the shelter.
Others from our group go down to the lake to wade in the water. Problem Child injures the bottom of her foot, an injury that would ultimately change the outcome of her hike. The rest hang out around the shelter.Â
A month prior to our A.T. hike through the Smoky Mountains each of us had to register online for permits with the park’s office. The Park wants to know in which shelters people intend to stay and on which nights they intend to stay in them. Only through hikers are allowed tent camp. Section-hikers, as we are classified, must stick to a strict pre-planned itinerary. A hefty fine is placed on those who are caught outside of their itinerary without legitimate justification. For this reason, I will most likely never backpack the Smoky Mountains section of the A.T. again.
There are legitimate reasons behind the registration; there are too many people visiting this area each year, foot traffic needs to be controlled to protect wildlife and vegetation, too many people who have zero respect for the outdoors tend to migrate to the Smoky Mountains, people get lost so itineraries give the rescue team an idea as to where to look for you, etc.
I understand the reasoning behind registering and when I’m in the park I abide by their rules, but it’s not a good match for me. Real life is regulated enough. Time spent in the wilderness is best experienced beyond the restraints of time, with time to take our time, time to forget about time, then go farther than we ever thought we could.
Many of us followed Mosey’s suggested hiking and shelter itinerary, therefore ending up at the same shelters most nights. The mileage between the chosen shelters is perfect.
Anticipating the strenuous climb up Shuckstack Mountain early in the morning we all head to the shelter soon after sunset.
