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| March 28 Carolina In My Mind Greetings. After a week of not hearing from Paul, he made his third phone call yesterday. I was not home to take the call, but he spoke with Kim, and then called Mom. I am sad to have missed him, but he plans to call again on Friday, when he reaches Fontana Dam, North Carolina. Paul has hiked about 140 miles, which brings him to the Nantahla River, located in the Nantahala National Forest, NC. From what I gathered, he phoned from a whitewater rafting outfitter. This is most likely the Nantahala Outdoor Center, since he said he had the chance to take a shower and eat a cheeseburger. Just off US 19, this outdoor adventure center offers many services for thru-hikers, such as a restaurant and a hostel with showers. Apparently Paul is moving along quite well. He is almost ready for his first mail drop. He is going to give the specifics when he reaches Fontana. He is going faster than he thought, but thinks he will slow down a little. I heard about some minor blisters from stiff, frozen boots in the start of each day. It has been colder than usual for early spring, but it sounds like he is really enjoying the experience. A large percentage of hikers quit in the first two weeks, before they obtain "trail shape", but it looks as if our thru-hiker will make it through this first crucial stage. The Fontana Dam marks the southern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, home of the most diverse forest in North America. According to the Tru-Hikers Companion, the park hosts more than 100 species of trees, with about 1,500 flowering plant species. I really hope to hear from Paul when he gets there, and I will let you know more details about his adventures when I do. I wonder if he has a thru-hikers nickname? I'll be sure to find out. Todd |
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