4/5

6;30 am

Never ceases to amaze me how early people will get up to start an attack on the trail. I am roused from slumber by the shuffling of bags and supplies, which at this point is nothing new to me at all. I am thoroughly excited myself as I know my dad and brother will be here to resupply me in a short while. Since there is no going back to sleep when a shelter begins to rouse I do the same. My bag is packed and teeth brushed. I skip breakfast knowing that my resupply will (hopefully) bring breakfast as well. 

I wait in the parking lot for them to show up and soon enough a white sedan is pulling into the lot. When I said I was hoping they would bring food, I didn't realize they were going going to bring so much. 3 grocery bags of just about everything I might eat on the trail is unloaded onto the sidewalk. My bag is completely unpacked and then  I begin sorting through what I will need and what I will eat right then. The glorious breakfast they have brought me is Hardee's cinnamon biscuits. I shovel 2 into my face while adding more ibuprofen and band aids to my first aid kit. My brother has brought his puppy, a pretty little pound pup that has to have some hound dog in her. She noses through the food as I rifle through it, just as excited to be out in the woods as I am to see all the food. There are a lot of things I can't take merely because I don't have enough space but I pack plenty. I am truer I have forgotten to mention but this trip to visit me is also the starting point for dad. He will be accompanying me for the next few days to newfound gap in the park. He will be picked up from there and I will get to assault all the supplies I couldn't take with me at Fontana.

After about an hour of unpacking and repacking with new supplies and dropping some I don't need, it is time for goodbye. Justin takes a picture of dad and I, two adventurers off to storm through the woods of the smokeys without trifle or worry about whatever it throws at us. As we set off, Justin proceeds to drive in the wrong direction and it is some time before he passes us again going the right way. Dad and I continue across Fontana dam and up to the head of the trail where the smokeys begin

It is at this point that I need to bring up a problem I have been having before I continue on with the tale of mine and dad's hiking. Since the approach into Nantahala, I have had some trouble with my feet, particularly my right foot. I am not sure how it has happened, whether boots or overall stress to them but I have been developing what may be a heel spur. Climbing hills can become a struggle, as the pain while somewhat dull at times can switch violently. Each step can become a strain and if not for my tracking poles it would be that much harder. I have looked up pads for the back for my heel and may need to replace my boots or insoles, but until further notice I have planned to muscle through it unless it becomes too painful. If it does I will take zero days and then go from there. 

As dad and I enter the park we drop my thru hiker permit into the entrance box and head on. Dad and I talk almost the duration of the day. Talk of Knoxville and what I will do once I get home envelops a fair amount of the conversation during our ascent. I bounce ideas for my blog off dad and he in turn provides some great insight to future posts as well. The day ends at Mollie's ridge shelter. We arrive early enough to get bunk space in the shelter and begin to relax and enjoy the rest of our day. Many eve people file into the shelter and surrounding area. By nightfall the shelter is not only full but at least 10 tents have been set up around it. It is a cold remainder of the day. Every gust of wind is  frigid. Anyone staying in the he shelter tries to seek comfort out of the wind inside as the front of the shelter has been covered with tarp. A fire is started inside the shelter which warms us up some, but not enough to make the shelter feel any warmer. We are all inside our bags and bedded down before the sun fades. It is far too cold to try and keep a fire going into the night so before you know it, not a single person is awake. I always tend to read and write about this time so I lay awake for another hour listening to the coming and going of heavy breathing and snores, and jut like that I too am out like a light.