Above, the view from Hwy. 28, on the south side of Fontana Lake, not far from the Fontana Marina and the Fontana Dam. That's the Eagle Creek arm of the lake running off to the north into the Great Smokies near the center of the photo. In this photo, the lake is about 20 feet below full pond. In a normal year, the lake varies about 50 feet in elevation as water is stored and then released by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Fontana Lake provides 238 miles of shoreline and 10,230 acres of water surface for recreation activities.

The highest peak in the background, high on the main ridge of the Great Smoky Mountains, is Thunderhead. Eagle Creek begins it trip to the lake from a small spring below the Spence Field Appalachian Trail shelter, just west of Thunderhead.

I'm not sure, but I think that's Jenkins Ridge winding down from just west of Thunderhead towards the lake. It looks steep - that's one hell of a climb if you head up from either Eagle Creek via the non-maintained Pinnacle Creek manway, or from Hazel Creek out of Sugar Fork.

Campsite #87 is located not far from the entrance to the Eagle Creek arm of Fontana Lake, on a small island. It's approachable only by water.

Below, Paul heads into Eagle Creek with the lake at low pond - about 20 feet or so below full pond. At that level, there are a lot of little 'heads' either sticking up above water level, or more dangerously to power boats, just below the water's surface. It opens up a lot of good snorkeling though.