Mile 165.9
Elevation 1,853
Miles Hiked 0
This was a zero day ( no hiking), which was planned due to rain. It was a day to relax and lick wounds. All the hikers left the Fontana Dam Shelter, better known as the Fontana Hilton because of the available facilities, and headed for Fontana Village where there are restaurants, stores and rooms to rent.
After downing a good meal at a restaurant, I went to the general store to stock up on Ibuprofen and buy an ankle brace and some ice. The ankle is swollen, and so I sit here at the Fontana Dam general store in the ambulatory section on the porch with other hikers and their ice packs. We had a whole group of hikers applying ice to knees, ankles etc. It was quite the scene. Misery loves company. Pass the ibuprofen.
Everyone is telling me I should tape my ankle. Even the people following me on Facebook are recommending it. Problem is I have never “taped” an ankle before, and I understand it is a very precise procedure. Well, another hiker tells me he knows how to do it and away we go. It looks good. Let’s see how it does on the trail.
