5/3/99 Russell Field Shelter   Miles Today : 13.8 Miles from Springer : 176.8

Ouch. I was sore waking up today, with a long day yesterday. Fontana Damn Shelter kicks ass, let me just say that again. The picnic tables, the lights, the well water and the view of the lake were all spectacular. A bunch of us all woke up and took the $1 shuttle from the shelter to the town. Most of the hikers in our group were getting mail drops and I took the opportunity to send some stuff home. Also the visitors center at the Dam had free showers so I was all nice and clean this morning. Of course this meant a late start to the day...around 11:30 or so.

But what a great day today was! The sun was shining, the clouds were sparse, and the wind kept me fairly comfortable.

The initial climb in was difficult, totaling 2000+ elevation in the first 4 miles. I was rewarded though, with a firetower on op of Shuck Shack Mountain that offered views of all the Smokies. These were by far the best views of the trip so far. To the south I could see the lake and the damn (which the AT goes over the top of).; to the Nor, the Smokies rose above the tower. I sat there for a few minutes and watched a single hawk soar above it all on the air currents.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful just climbs and descents along a ridgeline. I bumped into Trailhead today, but he was out of gas and stopped at the last shelter.

Here at Russell field shelter are some old friends, Rob, Drive-By, and Monk. Also, 3 other from the shelter last night: Stop and Go Bill, Mark and Joe. Joe is a really gruff, really funny bloke from England. Tomorrow, Rick, D-B, Monk and myself are shooting for a 20 miler to the highest point on the AT, Clingman's Dome.

Word has also come up the trail that our group of just afew days ago has fallen back even more. Breathe Easy, Uphill, Bulletproof, Fah-Queen and Trail Princess all were staying in Fontana Dam tonight...putting them a full day behind now. I hope to run into them all again, but if not, I wish them all luck.

Oh yea, I have an addition to my trail name now : Red Chomp. I got dubbed a commie for my cynical attitudes and the rest is history.

Well, its off to bed since I have a long day tomorrow. Word id snow may be coming on Wednesday, WHOO-HOO!!!

-Chomp

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