Super Hiker Woman (Trying Anyway)

March 28-Day 10-3.2 mile “Nero” Sure Foot and I got up at the still dark hour of 6:30. It just starts getting light at 7:00. By 7:30 the sun is rising over the horizon.  Sun comes up on another day on the AT! We were on the trail way earlier than we had to be as the shuttle wasn’t picking us up until 11:15, and we only had to hike 3.2 miles to Dicks Creek Gap. Didn’t take a lot of photos, but here’s a couple.  Bigfoot was here! This was called Carnes Cascade (there was a little sign that said so).  We got to the gap at 10:00. Funny thing...the trailhead is posted that it is closed, but look how many cars were in the parking lot! At the trailhead.  All day hikers.  The signs saying the trail is closed are on that kiosk.  The Budget Inn van arrived to pick us up and drive us the 11 miles into Hiawassee and the Budget Inn where we are staying tonight. The place is aptly named. Definitely no frills, but good WiFi, and coin laundry.  Nero days (short hiking...

March 27-Day 9.  9.4 miles Today was not a long day (okay, it was our third longest day, but after the last two days, it didn’t seem long), but it was sure a warm one. I’d guess it was near 80. I even pulled out my little roller sunglasses (the ones from the eye doctor that fit behind my regular glasses).  The first climb of the day was Trey Mtn. It wasn’t too bad of a climb. I took a little break at the top. Sure Foot joined me shortly after I arrived.  See the mountain? That’s Trey Mtn. Believe it or not, trail distance, it was only 1.9 miles away.  The view from the top of Trey Mtn. It took me 1 1/2 hours to get from the campsite to the top.  Coming down, Sure Foot blasted ahead of me, and I didn’t see him again until after lunch. I stopped where there was a water source .1 off the trail. I dropped my pack and hiked the longest .1 mile down to the spring. I filtered water, took off my shoes, and ate my lunch. All that took me about 30 minutes. I caught up to ...

March 26-Day 8 13.4 miles Sure Foot and I were the first ones out today. It was pretty chilly and foggy, but once we were hiking we warmed up.  There were tons of water sources today (ie streams and waterfalls). Here’s a couple of the nicer ones. I actually only got water had one of them.  Some of the streams like to use the trail to flow along.  Yes, that is the trail.  The first half-ish of the day was pretty easy. No steep climbs or descents. Not flat, but just gentle rolling. Unfortunately, that didn’t last (of course not...this is the Appalachian Trail). The first big climb was up Blue Mtn. Near the top is a shelter. A bunch of us stopped there for lunch. It had a very nice view.  That’s Morgan and her dad.  Blue Mtn Shelter  Interestingly, a bunch of the people who were at Low Gap Shelter last night decided to stop at Blue Mtn. I had heard them talking about going to Trey Mtn Shelter which would be a 15 mile day (even further than we went). At le...

March 25-Day 7 One week on the trail! We enjoyed our zero immensely, but it was time to get back on the trail. Sure Foot and I left ahead of Primo at about 8:00. We first had to walk the .3 back up to Mountain Crossings. At the outfitter, I nabbed some ziplock bags from the hiker box, and also bought another 4 snacks.  The trail goes through the breezeway of the building.  See the white blaze? Although the weather was going to be nice, it was pretty breezy and chilly heading out of Neel Gap. The first climb was to Wolf Laurel Top. I actually blew past it.  Next up was Cowrock. There were some very nice views! But no cows.  But Flat Will! Just on the other side of the mountain, there were even better views! See the rock across the way? We were eventually over there.  We stopped for lunch at Tesentee Gap, then had to climb up again. It was .9 to Hogpen Gap. Got water, then crossed the road and found Trail Magic courtesy of Roy. He was giving out bananas and orange...

March 24-Day 6 Well, Primo decided, due to the nastiness of the weather today (rain and thunderstorming), to take a zero as well. That makes our two night stay at Blood Mountain Cabins $48 each ($24/night). Not bad for a nice cabin! Primo even brought our skanky clothes up to the office to be laundered and returned to us (which he did as well). Since it was really pissing down rain, I called up to the office and asked if someone could drive us up to the outfitter to get our resupply. They said yes, and not only did Missy drive us up, but she waited for us to finish, and then drove us back! So nice! Now we are resupplied until Hiawassee, which is 3 1/2 days away. So far, I don’t have anything I want to mail home, but I did pick up another pair of underwear (yeah, 2 pair of underwear does not leave one for when you get to town), and a 2 foot section of Tyvek (to use as a ground cover under my vestibule). We are sitting in the office/store having some lunch. It’s a cozy place.  Probab...

March 23-Day 5 Last night, Doug and I walked back up to the tent pads to see if anyone else was there. Oh yeah, they were all full with two tents on one of the pads. Juice and Bomba Bear from Black Gap were there, as well as Primo and his dog Scruff, Morgan and her dad, Brian, Happy Harrison, Tin man, and the two other hammock guys. Morgan and I were the only females. We had a good time hanging out by the fire they had built. Funny/not so funny thing happened when I was brushing my teeth. It was pretty windy (impending rain). I finished brushing, and spit out my toothpaste onto the ground, only the wind took it and plopped it right on top of my foot in my Birkie sandal. Fortunately, I had put my waterproof socks on to keep my feet warm. I just squirted water on my foot and washed it off. Note to self...best to spit downwind from one’s feet! Anyway, the rain started after we had gone to bed. As soon as it started, I had to pee (of course). Such a pain, but I managed.  Woke up to it ...