Day 1, Thursday, 3/14/13, hiked 2.8 miles, Springer to Stover Creek mile 2.8
Took a Southwest Airlines flight from San Antonio at 6am and flew to Atlanta via Houston. Took the MARTA train to the North Springs station. A shuttle drivers "Survivor Dave" drove me to the start of the Appalachian trail. He took me to Cooper Gap first to drop off some water that I wound need the next day then took me to the Springer Mouton parking lot which is 1 mile North of Springer Mountain. From There I hiked South to the top of Springer. When I got to the top I met "Spider" and some others, then I hiked back North and stopped for the night at Stover Creek Shelter at the 2.8 mile mark. Spider was there and I met a few other hikers at well. I also saw "White shoes" there who I meet back in the Springer parking lot. It was a cold night - about 32 degrees. I had been feeling really sore from training and i guess just nerves. I felt way better after I took my first step up Springer. Wore knee braise and ace bandages for first few days but not I am just legitimately ore from hiking - which is normal.
View from Springer Mountain
On Springer Mountain
Day 2, Friday, 3/15/13, hiked 13 miles, Stover Creek to Gooch Mountain mile 15.8
Hiked to Gooch Mountain shelter. Met a family "Borders", "Doobie", and "Pink Panther". Borders has hiked the AT and the PCT before. They shared their water with a German couple on Sassafras mountain and then I shared my water from Survivor Dave with the family at Cooper Gap. I also had my first trail magic at cooper - a former thru-hiker stooped by with pop and Gatorade. Also met "Nema", "Gweejo", "Glowbug", "elbow skin" (Chan), "tumbleweed", and "Icarus" at the shelter.
Day 3, Saturday, 3/16/13, hiked 8.5 miles, Gooch Mountain to Lance Creek mile 24.3
Saw the famous trail Angel "Miss Janet" that morning, she was camping an doing trial magic, also got an apple from a Church group camping there. Miss Janet's group had a lot of current and former thru-hikers there, one came right up to me and showed me how to adjust my pack properly by putting most of the weight on my hips and tightening the load lifters. The load lifters should be loosened on downhills to provide balance. I met "Unremarkable" soon after that. Got AMAZING trail magic from the Glenloch Baptist Church when i came through Woody Gap! They had everything, hot dogs, soda, cookies, supplies, napkins, granola bars. They even washed our feet - Literally washed our feet. Many hikers were hesitant on the foot washing but those that gave in loved it. The Church isn't even close, more like 3-4 hours way. One of there Pastors is a hiker and then come out once a year to just bless and server the hikers. They didn't press another but just said that by washing feet they were following the example of Jesus - what a great idea - most hikers would have resented a Gospel message that that point but instead the saw a great example of God's people just loving other people.
Trail Magic from Glenloch Baptist Church
Day 4, Sunday, 3/17/13, hiked 7.4 miles, Lance Creek to Neels Gap mile 31.7
Great hike and a great view from the top of Blood Mountain. Tumbleweed says it is called that because two Indian tribes fought a big bloody battle up there. Hiked to Neels Gap where the Mountain Crossings outfitter is. Got a "Shake down" they go through your pack and tell you what you need and don't need. They took my picture and put it on Facebook if you care to find it. Logan told me to loose a bunch of stuff that I don't need to carry and told me that I don't really ened to worry about ticks until i start seeing grass that is taller grass. Stayed in blood mountain cabins next door with Nema, Icarus, and Two stix. They stayed a second night, so did the Germans couple and the Borders family. Got a free dinner from that same Church Group too! Then a bunch of us stood around listening to "Baltimore Jack", another AT legend who has hiked the trial many many times. He gave advice and said to make a list of chours the night before you go into town and that it is best to go in to towns in the morning then either stay there that night or go back to trail that night. Usually there is a big climb going out of a town. Take real food to town with you the first night. Take at least one meal you don't have to cook, in case you don't want to cook.
Mountain Crossings outfitter at Neels Gap
Day 5, Monday, 3/18/13, hiked 11.5 miles, Neels Gap to Low Gap mile 43.2
Was a cold and rainy day with lots of fog so you couldn't see any of the nice views. The Shelter was full so we stayed in tents (by this point I was meeting up with a lot of the people I met the second night). Everything got wet, everything got muddy! :( We set up our tents and got in them right away. The wind was blowing almost right in to my tent so I was cold until i let up. By bag was also wet in the morning from condensation. They sun showed up in the morning so i hung up almost everything I have and let it dry. I left around 11 or 12 and was almost the last to leave, put I caught up to them without a problem - turns out I am a fairly fast hiker but I do need to slow it down for the first few weeks until my body gets used to hiking.
Day 6, Tuesday, 3/19/13, hiked 7.3 miles, Low Gap to Blue Mountain mile 50.5
Stayed in the shelter for the first time, supposedly the windiest shelter in Georgia. Thankfully it wasn't too windy that night and we were not too cold. Met "Wild Willy" there, he is from Oakridge Tennessee. also met "Grumpy", "Thor", and Miles (that's his real name) along the way.
Day 7, Wednesday, 3/20/13, hiked 2.4 miles, Blue Mountain to Unicoi Gap mile 52.9
Got up really earily and hiked to the road at Unicoi gap to take a free Shuttle to the Budget Inn in Hiawassee, GA. Stood in the cold a long time waiting for it :( We decided to stay here because they are calling for really really cold weather Wednessday night. We checked in an when right to breakfast at a real restaurant - what luxury! We will be back here on Friday night to because they are calling for rain and cold weather. Because we started so early we have to be carefull of the weather at this time of year so we are playing it safe and may even be back in to Hiawassee a few more times this weekend due to cold/rain/snow. We can't avoid all that weather but will try to avoid the worst.
Waiting for the Shuttle, from left: Spider, Gweejo, Globug, Me. Tumbleweed is taking the picture
Steady-State
this was incredible to read through, friend! thanks for praying for me, by the way. got a good health update. will text you later. small group tonight. dave is making italian chicken. we'll save you some... wait. no. that'd be gross. :-) we'll just pray for you, like we always do. hike on!
ReplyDeletegood news! and thanks for the prayers!
DeleteAwesome stuff, man! That shake down probably helped a lot. When you're all done you're going to have to teach me how to properly pack and everything.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hugh! will do
DeleteDude, just pumped to hear you're enjoying yourself! Keep safe and enjoy yourself, you're experiencing something very few do.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ryan! its been great!
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ReplyDeleteRob! Glad to hear your adventure is going so great! Loved the church washing people's feet just like in the Bible, but question is, did you let them wash your feet?!! We are all praying for you !
ReplyDeleteThanks Izenia! and I was first in line to get my feet washed! I like to think my example encouraged others to get their feet washed too :)
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