Friday June 1, miles today 11, miles from Springer 69

After an early start I made the the day's destination, Dick's Creek Gap by one PM.  A half mile down the road led to the "Top of Georgia" hostel.  Major Tom and I evaluated our packs and mailed stuff home.  He went from 43 lbs to 36, I went from 39 to 35.  After showers we caught a ride into Hiawasse and had dinner at the AYCE (all you can eat buffet).

The Top of Georgia hostel is a money losing operation dedicated to serving hikers on the AT.  There are 2 paid employees and the rest are volunteers or work for stay folks.  They have bunks, a kitchen, a small resupply store and shuttles to tote hikers to or from the trailheads and local towns.  They are very friendly and dedicated.  I hiked there from the trailhead and the moment I set down my pack I was handed a soda (the first one is free) and welcomed.  This place is a hiker rescue.

Thursday May 31, miles today 5.7, miles from Springer 58

After drying my tent, Obi-Wan, Major Tom and I went and had breakfast at the only non fast-food restaurant in town.  We returned, grabbed our gear and tried to get a ride back to the trailhead.  We finally got there at 11:30.  We had to start with some big climbs over Rocky mountain and Tray mountain.  On the way I met a hiker from Bavaria.  We finally got to Tray mountain and decided to stay there.  Our new German friend did not have a trail name so I named him Hellcat.  Our threesome became a diverse foursome, a Pennsylvanian, a Bostonian, a Swiss and a German.

Wednesday May 30, miles today 9.7, miles from Springer 52.3

After listening to the rain hitting the tin roof at Low Gap shelter all night Obi-Wan and I decided to make a run for hwy 75 at Unicoi Gap, get a ride to Hiawasse rent a room and dry out.  About 9:30 am the rain let up and we took off.  The trails were flooded often ankle deep.  There were water falls every spot where there were high rocks.  At Blue mountain shelter we took a rest and I called for a reservation at the Budget Inn.  By that time Major Tom caught up with us and asked to share a ride with us, he needed drying out also.

 

At the top of Blue mountain, before I lost cell coverage, I called Joyce and Sally's shuttle service to pick us up at Unicoi.  When we arrived, Big Red and Mak were waiting for the same service with the same idea.  Sally arrived in her Subaru outback and picked up Big Red and Mak while we had to wait for the next trip.  We were kind of curious at the lack of traffic and later found out there was a land slide and flooding just east of us and the road was closed.  Sally arrived back at 2:30 and we loaded into her Subaru.  Sally was an older lady that seemed to enjoy hikers and didn't mind their smell much.  As she drove us to Hiawasse she told us about the road closures, tree falls and flooding river.  When we got to town she gave us a quick tour pointing out the restaurants and other businesses.  She showed us the two traffic signals on the main Street and then dropped us off.

The Budget Inn was a pretty humble place, (a month before, I probably wouldn't ever stop) but after the wet nights, felt like paradise.  I split the cost with Obi-Wan for $22.50 apiece.  After showers we went to the BBQ place, ate, and had a couple beers.  Then over to the local grocery store for some resupply and a six pack.  We turned up the heat in our room to start drying out some gear, put the clothes in the washer, sat outside the room and drank beer.  We met another half dozen hikers staying at the motel.

Tuesday May 29, miles today 4.6,. Miles from Springer 42.6

It poured rain all night but I slept ok.  Too much rain to make coffee so I ate more pita bread before packing up.  Despite my best efforts a lot of my gear got wetter.  I hiked 4.6 miles to the nearest shelter and arrived at 8 am to see 8 people packed in though shelter had a maximum capacity of 7.  There was a nice eave on one side with a cooking shelf so I fired up the stove and cooked a dinner and coffee.  Eventually 5 of the folks in the shelter decided to go.  I decided to move in hoping to dry out. 

Three of the people there decided to stay and try to wait out the storm and we started to share stories and information on equipment.  All of us had just started the trail within the last week.  There was a young couple from Texas, Big Red and Make, who were learning about mountains.  Apparently they don't have many in Texas.  Both had just graduated from school and were starting to figure out the job market.  There was a guy about my age, Major Tom, who was an engineer with fascinating stories about the defense industry.  About mid morning we were joined by Obi-Wan, a visitor from Switzerland.  The rain continued and other folks came in.  One gal stayed, a few continued on and some decided to put up their tents rather than to try to squeeze into the crowded shelter.  Major Tom had a small weather radio that kept giving ominous reports of the storm. 

Monday May 28, miles today 14.1, miles from Springer 38

Torrential rains started around 2am and lasted all day with no let up.  Tropical storm Alberto caught up with me.  Started out with a five mile climb of the highest point in GA- Blood Mountain.  It was steep and rocky and when mixed with the rain and high winds... a pretty miserable hike.

Three miles further I arrived, at Neal's Gap where the trail passes through an old historic building that currently houses a hostel and a really good outfitter.  I spent 3 hours there drying out and eating microwave pizza and drinking coffee.  I also bought an extra backpacker's dinner and socks.

Reenergized I went back out in the rain and hiked another six miles.  I finally had to set up my tent, I slept dry but a lot of my gear was soaked.  I could not cook dinner so I ate some pita bread and jerky.

Sunday May 27, miles today 11.7, miles from Springer 23.9

Up early and stopped early, the trail further requires bear cannisters.  It rained off and on all day but generally it was nice.  I put up my tent early and soon was surrounded by other hikers. 

Saturday May 26, miles today 13.2, miles from Springer 12.2

PATH finally on the path

Satish, his daughter and another friend took me Amicalola state park where I registered as the 2648th thru hiker this year.  They then drove me up to a mile from Springer mountain.  The four of us hiked to the top.  The six year old girl was in the best shape of all of us as she hopped rock to rock on the wet trail, terrifying her father.  We took pictures at the top and signed the log before we hiked down.

From where we parked I donned my backpack and headed up the trail.  It rained off and on all day which was pleasant.  I started running out of gas about 10 miles in about at Horse Gap but was disappointed to find no water there as I was running low.  Consulting my trail guide I was even more disappointed to find it was 4 more miles to the next water with a 2 mountains between.  I struggled up Sassafras mountain and when I arrived at Cooper Gap saw an army water trailer with potable water.  I camped happy.

Satish and his intrepid daughter