Dog Day Afternoon

Fontana Village Lodge

Day 20.  Really? Seems like … 

I left Brown Fork Gap this morning at 7:15 a.m. because I was up at 5 a.m. (sleep still eluding me!)  11.4 miles later I arrived at Fontana 28 AT Crossing at Fontana Dam.  At this point, I was able to call for a shuttle into Fontana Village, NC where I planned a one night’s stay.

I was hiking off and on with Cabot and Hobbs. (We were shelter mates earlier in the month.)  We hiked some together and then we met up again at Cable Gap (mm 159.2) and two other guys were there.  These guys had a dog with them. The dog wasn’t theirs but started following them on the trail.  Apparently there had been two dogs but one dropped off (smart dog!).  The dog had a collar with a phone number on it.  Cabot and Hobbs decided they would take the dog with them and when they got a phone signal call the owner and let them know they had found their dog.

They left Cable Gap before I did and I caught up with them as they were still trying to get a phone signal.  My phone battery was dead, but that is a story for another time!  🙂   Later I came across the “other dog”  and that one started following me!  The tags showed the same owner as the dog with Cabot and Hobbs.

Fontana Village Lodge

When I arrived at the trailhead a woman was waiting for her dogs (actually, I think her “husband’s dogs”, but he is out-of-town!)   Cabot and Hobbs arrived shortly with the second dog.   She said I need to tag them “Don’t feed me, don’t give me water or try to find my owners and I will go home on my own!”  The dog owners live on the mountain not far from the trail.  The two dogs like to run in the woods and hikers are always constantly rounding them up, calling her saying “we found your dog”, when in fact, the dogs are never lost!  I didn’t get a picture of the dogs, but I wish I would have.

I did take a stumble today that has left my right ankle sore. I am waiting it out to see how serious it might be. Tomorrow morning will tell the story if I continue or head home to see my doctor. (Catherine, are you available tomorrow?)

Blisters continue to pop up and I am treating them by covering with moleskin as I hike. I am at Fontana Village Lodge tonight and thought you might enjoy a few pictures of tonight’s “hostel!”  I’ve met up with Pinky in the lobby and for a youngster he is hobbling around from the last mountain too!

Starting  MM 155.3 Brown Fork Gap at 7:15 a.m.
Arrived MM   164.7 Fontana Crossing  2:15 p.m.
11.4 miles to a hot meal, warm bed, and a soaking bathtub!

From The Trail,
Pilgrim