Journals

According to Pittsburgh:

APRIL 14, 1997 - MONDAY
   it was sooooooo cold in the morning. SUNSHINE broke camp first and sat in the van to get out of the wind. i was close behind her, and started the van to get some warmth. PAT jumped in the back. KEN was last up. we all bit the bullet and set up for breakfast. it was a quick breakfast...
   SUNSHINE and i headed out from WOODY GAP (GA60) when the sun was nearly upon us. we hiked together for three miles, then she took off. guess who showed up at SLAUGHTER GAP? GUTSY, and her dog, came strolling along. i had met her in NEW ENGLAND last year, during her hike, and had given her a lift in the van (i did 900 miles of day hikes on the trail last year, some in all of the fourteen states). GUTSY gave me a big hug, and we yak'd for a few minutes. she had been in email contact with SUNSHINE before the hike, and was happy to have met her up the trail...
   I ran into TARA, and we hiked over BLOOD MOUNTAIN together. the climb up was interesting. it was the first time that rocks come into play along the trail. i left my stick in the shelter, at the top of the mountain, and did not realize it until about a half mile beyond the shelter. it was an irritating walk back up. BLOOD MOUNTAIN is the highest point on the A.T. in GEORGIA, and getting there FROM ANY DIRECTION is all uphill...
   the day finally warmed up, and the last miles to NEELS GAP (US19/129) were very pleasant. BALANCE ROCK is something to see. i caught one hiker whizzing past it, so i made him come back and take a look. he said 'improved the day', and continued on...
   PAT and KEN had made arrangements for us at GOOSE CREEK CABINS, and KEN was waiting at NEELS GAP. SUNSHINE had gotten there a while before i did, and was happily writing picture postcards. a group of hikers, who were staying at the bunkhouse, had congregated around KEN. they all wanted rides into town. we made arrangements with them, then KEN drove SUNSHINE and i to the cabins, then returned for the hikers...
   the cabin was nice. the shower was nice. the heat was nice. the lodge was nice. the people were nice. i recommend GOOSE CREEK CABINS...

APRIL 15, 1997 - TUESDAY
   it was nice to sleep indoors. we had a quick breakfast, then KEN drove us to NEELS GAP. off we went. the highlight of the day was watching some hawks catching the thermals and playing tag...
   the hike out of TESNATEE GAP (GA 348) is quite an climb. SUNSHINE flew up the hill, off course. i took my time, of course. KEN was at the top in the midst of a day hike. SUNSHINE and i had previously decided to hike to WHITLEY GAP SHELTER, and KEN agreed to come along. it is a 1.2 mile blue blaze hike. the shelter is pretty crappy. i do not recommend the side trip. there was a register entry indicating that 'this place is evil'...
   at HOGPEN GAP (GA 348), SUNSHINE and i strapped on full backpacks for the first time, and headed for LOW GAP. this was an effort to prepare ourselves for backpacking thru the SMOKIES, where the van can't get to us every day. WE DO NOT ENVY THE BACKPACKERS...
   we were highly fatigued by the time we hit LOW GAP. we happily shed the packs, then set up the tents. eventually, there was quite a crowd in and around the shelter, at least 15 people. some of the names: SPIDER (two week section hike), BEV and LANCE (married), GOETHE (big guy, big snores), WILLOW (very friendly, nice legs), MATT (talker), MARTIN (marine), ED (nine day section hike), and CAROLINE (new england accent). i wish i had gotton more names, but socializing was not my first agenda. i was in the tent relaxing and reading and dropping off to sleep...

APRIL 16, 1997 - WEDNESDAY
   the night was much warmer than previous nights. the camp came alive at daybreak. people emerged one by one, heading for the woods, off to get water, tents coming down, stoves being lit, and pots rattling. SUNSHINE and i were out quick...
   the hike out of LOW GAP is a joy, even with backpacks. we made good time to CHATTAHOOCHEE GAP, then took an extended break. the next stop was BLUE MOUNTAIN SHELTER. this is a small shelter, but clean and pleasant. it is positioned to catch the very first rays of the sun as it breaks over the mountains in the morning. the hike up to the shelter, and then down to UNICOI GAP (GA 75) is an adventure in rock hopping. quite a knee buster for the last mile. KEN and PAT were waiting for us at UNICOI GAP, and we happily shed the evil backpacks. we then hopped in the van and drove to UNICOI STATE PARK and rewarded ourselves with the tremendous buffet lunch that is served at the lodge. the people at the lodge are genuinely friendly and laid back...
   after the feast, we returned to UNICOI GAP and continued hiking, but without the anchors (backpacks). we headed for TRAY GAP (USFS 79). on the way, we had another GUTSY sighting. she was backpacking south looking for some friends, hoping to find them before dark. we chatted for a while, mostly about her bout with LYME DISEASE last year. GUTSY took off on her quest, and we continued on to TRAY GAP. KEN and PAT were there. we set up camp and talked until after dark...

APRIL 17, 1997 - THURSDAY
   we awoke to wind, rain, and hail. apparently it snowed in some places. we broke camp with frozen hands. SUNSHINE and i finally started hiking. atop TRAY MOUNTAIN, where the 360 degree views are tremendous, there was 20 feet visibility. we walked in the wind and the clouds for an hour or so, with the sun poking it's head out occasionally. the sun finally defeated the clouds, but the wind kept blowing, and the chill remained...
   i kept my head down and just hiked. SUNSHINE, of course, was having a wonderful day. she would smile in a tornado. we got seperated, but met back up at DEEP GAP shelter. she left, and a fellow from IRELAND came by. we chatted for a few minutes. we were both headed for the BLUEBERRY PATCH, so i told him we would give him a ride. i took off, kept my head down, and hiked for DICKS CREEK GAP (US 76)...
   PAT and KEN had rigged a clothes line at DICKS CREEK GAP, and all of our wet gear was billowing in the wind. SUNSHINE and SPIDER were there also. SPIDER's shoes were causing him problems earlier in the week, and i had loaned him my spare pair at that time. two days of hiking later and he bought them. he is a much happier hiker now...
   as it turned out, the BLUEBERRY PATCH was full early in the day, so PLAN B became the HIAWASSEE MOTEL. JACK, the irishman, arrived, and SPIDER enticed him into sharing a motel room. we all hopped in the van and headed for HIAWASSEE. the room was warm, and the shower was hot. after the hose down, we headed for pizza. veggie for SUNSHINE, pepperoni for the carnivors. we were pigs. back to the motel, turn on the weather channel, prop open the eyelids...

Home