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This section of Lakeshore trail passes beside several old cemeteries
and I've camped within 1/2 mile of the old Scott Anthony Cemetery but I elect to not climb the 250' high ridge
where it is located. I'll pass near at least five old cemeteries today enroute to the old Proctor community at Hazel
Creek. This area is ripe with stories from the time prior to 1944 when Fontana dam was closed to fill
the lake. Fontana Lake now covers the old community of Bushnell (I passed that area yesterday) as well as
Chambers, Ecola, Dorsey, Japan, Hubbard, Tuskeegee, Marcus and Ritter--all of which I'll walk past today but won't
see any sign of them--they are deep beneath the cold waters of Fontana Lake. Old NC Hwy 288 periodically emerges
out of the lake to widen my path as I spend even more time today walking within sight of the lake. I again have the
trail all to myself. There isn't even a boat on the lake. In fact, I've not heard any man-made sound other than
that airliner right after breakfast today.
I'm seeing lots of side trails, some old ruins plus parts from abandoned 1930's vintage automobiles.
A ruffed grouse treats me to several bouts of drumming as
I make my way toward the  big climb on today's route: Welch Ridge. Janice had warned me about Welch Ridge and she had it right. Whew!
Relative to the rest of this trail that sucker is steep. Just as I near the top of "heart thumper ridge" I
see two black bears about 5 minutes apart. Both see me about the same time and show me their backsides as they gallop
over the ridge away from me. This gets my adrenaline going enough to cause me to forget steep Welch Ridge. Soon
I'm at the top and enjoy a mostly downhill walk all the way into Proctor at Hazel Creek. Lakeshore trail is now in my
"been there, hiked that" column.
Note: Roughly 75% of NC Highway 288 was submerged when Fontana Lake was filled in
1944. This winding gravel road had been the principal access to what is now known as the "Northshore" area where I've
been hiking along Lakeshore trail. There has been a lot of public debate regarding whether or not the U.S. government
should make good on a 1943 agreement among TVA, local county governments and the National Park Service to build a road between
Bryson City and Fontana Dam after WW-II was over.
A monetary settlement paying $6 million to Swain County in lieu of building the road between Bryson City
and Fontana was reached in late 2007. You can read more about this issue by visiting this website.
Those of you with reasonably fast internet connections might like to see a map showing the old NC
Hwy 288 route as it compares with the current hiking trail, lake and shoreline locations. Here is a link to the map (big pdf file).
I hiked the entire Lakeshore trail in three segments. A hike journal for each segment is posted on this website
in Hike Archives for you to read.
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