The image of SBF is one I won't ever forget, been there twice. NoBo AT hike in May 2010, stopped there for pizza and a break in mid afternoon, then hiked on to the next shelter. Curtis was running the place at the time, with the usual gang of colorful hikers and characters there that day.
But the stop I really remember fondly was a Smokies hike in Nov-2013.
I drove up from Florida, spent the night in the SBF bunkroom, by myself, and Curtis (R.I.P.) shuttled me to Fontana Dam before sunrise the next morning.... as I crashed in the bunkroom, I could hear the shouting and music from the adjoining building where the "crew" was up partying late that night. One guy there told me he was working there for the season, but more interested in hustling any young female hikers who came thru there. He seemed to fancy himself as quite the AT Casanova. Maybe he's here on White Blaze now, and his reputation has spread up and down the trail amongst the ladies.
Looking back, that shuttle ride with Curtis to Fontana Dam before sunrise... was one of the best shuttles I ever had. He shared many memories and history, he was one of a kind, and the AT misses Curtis. We told jokes and laughed our butts off on that shuttle. Got a picture of him at Fontana Dam when he dropped me off that morning, he wished me luck and said he'd see me when I got back to SBF in a few days.
Few days later when I got back to SBF to get my car, as I walked down that gravel road to SBF, here comes Curtis with a vanload of hikers on another shuttle heading out. He slowed down rolled down his window, looked at me like he didn't recognize me....and said loudly, with a wink of his eye "get that POS car of yours off my property!"
I laughed and he drove off, last time I saw him.