We were on the road by 8:15 again this morning. It was a damp, misty and frosty morning. Our first challenge today was 'Jacobs' Ladder' - a half mile, 600 ft very steep climb, the steepest so far on the trail, our calves were burning! Still climbing but easier we reached Brown Fork Gap Shelter where we resupplied with drinking water. We met two young lads there, both thru hiking, about to set off for the day. We passed them on and off for the rest of the day plus one other thru hiker called Flame.
It was absolutely beautiful in the woods today. A real winter wonderland, hoar frost had enveloped the forest, it felt like we were in a scene from Narnia. It stayed cold and misty until midday, then it started to slowly thaw. We were bombarded with ice crystals dropping from the trees for about 2 hours. Some of them were quite large. It felt like the trees were just waiting for us to walk by then drop their ice crystals on us. The ground looked like it had been snowing but it was just fallen ice crystals on the path. For the first time we noticed how many cobwebs there were on the trail. We'd not noticed them before, but now they were frozen they were visible everywhere.
There were lots of smaller ups and downs, the trail did get easier though after Brown Fork Gap shelter. It was a long descent down to Fontana highway, it seemed to take forever to get down. We finally arrived at the bottom for 3:15pm, the frost all gone now.
There was a free phone at the crossing to call for a shuttle to Fontana Village Resort, $3 per person. We checked in at Fontana Lodge for two nights - we are taking our first zero day tomorrow. We feel ready for a rest day now and want to feel refreshed ready to hit The Smokies (Great Smokey Mountain National Park) the highest section of the AT in two days time.
Our room is fantastic, we'll be very happy and comfy here for two nights. Amazing shower! The lodge offers a reduced rate for thru hikers at $59 instead of $99, bargain! It's low season still so not everything is open including their restaurant but they sell breakfast snacks at reception and have free tea and coffee. There is also 'The Pitstop' just down the road, a gas station/shop/bar that has food supplies and serves hot dogs, nachos and beer.
We stopped there for bite to eat and buy some snacks to take back to our room.
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