AT Journal Day 15

March 19th - Day 15 - Fontana Hiton to Russell Field Shelter
Fresh Grounds cooks bacon early, and only a fixed amount. I make it for a slice or too. Live, Wrong Leg, Midnight Sparkle, and I get a shuttle into the village to print out our Smokies permits. Handsome Dan is here and he shuttles back out to the shelter with us.

The Great Smoky Mountains have an aura about them. The only things I've heard has been words of warning. This time of year the Smokies are cold and unpredictable. After a week below zero in Montana I feel confident that I can handle whatever weather is thrown at me.

Its all uphill 13.8 miles to Russel Field where we stay the night. Same crowd as last night with the addition of Happy Feller, Pooh Bear, a kilt-clad father son team of sectioners from Florida, soon to be married repeat thru-hikers Tree Frog and Squirrel, and Motor and Spaghetti show up late.

The water source is a little dodgy here. Dorothy lets me borrow his Katadyn filter to pump out of the puddle since I have the Sawyer and no scoop. (Tip: scoops may sometimes be necessary, think about it.)

A view from Shuckstack firetower