Day 12-Interesting Signs, and a Standing Indian

March 30-Day 12-12.1 miles-90.3 miles total on the AT

We tried to get an early start this morning, and we were pretty successful, leaving at 8:20. It would have been easier had the wind not been blowing so hard, and it being freezing cold (okay, not literally freezing, but pretty chilly with the wind. For the first time, I started out in my puffy jacket. 

The jacket came off pretty quickly as we had a good climb up Courthouse Bald. There was a pretty great view from near the top. 

Last night I could see lights from down there. I think it’s maybe Hiawassee. The lake is definitely Lake Chatuge. 

Once we were over the bald, the day was a bit easier. We came to the infamous “Sheeter “ sign. 

It’s really the Shelter sign for Muskrat Shelter. 

Then, not much further along the trail the the sign for this trail. 

So not PC!

We made good time on about 3 miles of easy trail. We stopped for lunch just before Deep Gap. There are so many gaps with the same name. We also went through another Sassafras Gap (well, in all fairness, the other Sassafras was a mountain). When we got down to the gap after lunch, Sam, who is supporting Odyssey, was there. I asked him if he could take our trash. He said no problem, and even gave us fresh ziplock bags! 

The final climb for the day was Standing Indian Mtn. I don’t know if it was the peanut butter and Nutella tortilla I had for lunch, or what, but I powered up that mountain! I timed a mile, and I did it in 30 minutes. The over all climb was 2.6 miles. When I got to the top, I expected Sure Foot to be right behind me, but he wasn’t. I took photos, had a snack, and used the little girls room, and he still wasn’t there. 

Yes, sometimes my chest strap chokes me!

Since there was no standing Indian available for the photo, Flat Will got to stand in (and LB too).

After spending about 15 minutes at the top, I was getting cold. Still no Sure Foot, but I knew I had gone up pretty quickly. I headed on down for the remaining 2.9 miles of the day. I powered down too, managing 2.4 miles per hour. I got to Beech Gap campsite just before 5:00. Sure Foot walked in just as I was finishing setting up my tent. He was suitably impressed with my speedy pace up and down the mountain. 

Beech Gap campsite is sort of a grove of rhodies. 

Our tents among the rhodies. 







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