Days 2-4

Total Miles - 65

     Hiked into Hiawassee, Ga. 2 days ago.  Stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and did laundry as well as recuperated a little.  Man i'm getting old.  Right next door is a BBQ place.  When they set that plate of Texas brisket, baby back ribs, sliced pork, Texas toast, fried okra, and a pint of Yuengling on the table i just about cried. Seriously.  I think they knew i was just off the trail, maybe the smell gave me away. Anyways, they loaded me up.  Talk about southern hospitality.  Oh, i had coconut cream pie for desert.  That had to have been one of the most satisfying meals i've ever had.  I'm taking a shuttle back to the trail tomorrow. It might be awhile before i post anymore updates.  The hiking is getting a little easier due to the topography. Northern Georgia is killing me.  The last 10 miles of the trail is starting change into a more open and gradual hike.  Hope it stays like this for awhile. Here are a few pictures i took along the way.

Hiking in the early morning mist was very beautiful

The AT white blaze marker on the tree

Flowers everywhere

This picture doesn't convey the real beauty of all the flowers everywhere

An  easier, and most welcome, level hiking path

aahh!

Another easy stroll

                                                                                      Magnolia  blossom?

This is what very tired and sore feet look like.

Water fountain. Had to stop and refill my water bottles

                                                                                    Just thought it was pretty

A more rugged part of the trail 

                                                Doesn't look like it, but this trail was straight up

                                              The trail took me down the side of a huge boulder
                                                               
                                                   
           
                                                                    Another leisurely stroll up a mountain

                                                                                    Yes, this is the trail

.......and on, and on, and on

April 30 - May 1, 2011

Day 5

Total Miles Completed - 39.9

As I write this I'm sitting on the bottom bunk of the bunkhouse at Mountain Crossing Outfitter in Neel's Gap Ga.  It was an extremely long day yesterday and truth be told  i wasn't physically prepared for it as i should have been.  My original plan was to hike from Hawk Mountain Shelter to Gooch Gap for a total of 8 miles and hike another 11.9 miles to Woods Hole the next day.  Unfortunately, a large portion of the trail, which included where i was to camp, was closed due to an increase of  bear activity:

   Problems with the bear population can almost always be attributed to backpackers failure to properly store their food,  and people thinking these animals are cousins of Yogi and Smokey. Bears are naturally afraid of humans and will run away from you before you run away from them, but when food is entered into the equation it becomes a whole new game. And usually the bigger one wins. Here's the correct way to handle food while camping around bear country:

  Consequently I ended up having to hike through the area without stopping for a total of 15.8 miles. Way more than i anticipated given the mountainous terrain. I'm not trying to be melodramatic, but there was a point on Blood Mountain when I asked myself what the heck i was doing out here. Blood Mountain was by far the most beautiful place i saw up to that point. Because of my physical discomfort  i didn't really get to enjoy it as much as i should have. Climbing it, and i do mean climbing in every sense of the word, was taxing. I had to climb over rocks and boulders numerous times.  On a positive note, it put me a day ahead. Later in the afternoon i was becoming concerned because daylight was starting to fade and i was still encountering some very rough terrain descending Blood Mountain.  I had been hiking for 7 hours already and coming down Blood Mountain was dangerous in itself  during the day.  I did not, and physically could not do it at night.  There were no campsites to be had so i couldn't just set my tent up and finish it the next day. So i was a little concerned.  Luckily the trail leveled out and i left the rocks and boulders behind as darkness set in.

     I arrived at Neel's Gap and got a bunk in the hostel.  Let me tell you, i was almost better off staying outside the hostel in my tent. Just imagine 10-15 hikers with all their wet, unwashed, socks and equipment laying out.  No ventilation.  I was not only in pain, but my surroundings were miserable as well.  The owner is a published writer and runs a successful outfitter operation, at least it seems from outward appearances, that i don't understand why he can't take better care of the hiking community that gives him the business to begin with. Not to mention the basis for his book. In case you're wondering, his name is Winton Porter and he runs the Mountain Crossing Outfitter store in Neel's Gap.  At the very minimum he could ventilate the dungeon and get rid of the sewer smell in the kitchen. It really needs to be inspected. Other than the hiker's living quarters the part the tourist get to see was great.

The AT running right through the building

Boots hikers have thrown into the tree outside the bunkhouse

     I've decided to stay an extra day in Neel's Gap because of the pain i've been having on the outer part of my left hip.  I'm pretty sure it's just a pulled muscle.  The time here also allowed my to spend the day getting some work done and make a few calls with friends and clients. While in Neel's Gap I met a fellow hiker who is a stylist and he gave me a haircut. Imagine, a haircut on the AT. Who would have thought that would happen. He ended up bartering haircuts with the outfitter for some much needed equipment. Neel's Gap is a way station of sorts for AT hikers. The trail literally passes through arches located between two parts of the facility.
   I'm heading out tomorrow.  Destination Unicoi Gap, Ga. I'm going to try and stay a day ahead of schedule so i can stay an extra day at the Holiday Inn Express in Hiawassee, Ga. Love you Sara and Emma.

Update

April 27
The magnitude of this undertaking is starting to sink in.  Reading about the Appalachian Trail is one thing, actually  hiking it is another.  I met my shuttle driver Survivor Dave, I guess it was his trail name. At least i hope so.  Survivor Dave spent most of his adult life as a chef. Now he shuttles hikers to and from a number of different points along the AT.  As we made our way to Amicalola he filled me in with the inside scoop about the different personalities and businesses involved with the AT.  I had a feeling i was entering a different world with its own unique list of celebrities and personalities. We arrived at the Amicalola visitor center at 3pm knowing i was already behind schedule.  I was supposed to arrive at the visitor center and hike 5 miles to the Len Foote Inn. The problem was that to hike to Len Foote you had to leave before 2pm because of the amount of daylight left and not wanting hikers stranded in between the visitor center and the inn. I was deflated.  Thankfully something good happened to me.  The park ranger called  and received permission for me to hit the trail.  I talked to the inn keeper and he told me dinner was at six and they would keep a plate for me.  It was exciting to finally, after months, even years, of dreaming and planning this I was getting one step closer. O.K. maybe more than one step.  Remember folks, Amicalola is not the start of the AT.  Amicalola is the starting point for the approach trail to the start of the AT at the top of Springer Mountain.
Regardless, my day was looking up.  After a few miles with my pack on I started to feel things that the books can't really convey.  Exhaustion.  Thankfully my adrenaline was still pretty high.  After a few miles i heard the Len Foote before i saw it. They ring the dinner bell to let everyone know dinner is ready. It's an amazing place The southern hospitality and rustic appearance was just as one would have expected from a place like this. The first thing i thought was that i had to bring Emma and Sara back here one day.  The group there was small.  The southern cooked meal was prepared by Cathy. I'm hooked on her corn pudding and peach cobbler.  This was the night of the killer storm barreling through the south eastern part of the U.S.  They woke us up at around 10pm to head down to a cellar type room because of the possibility of tornadoes and high winds.  A minor inconvenience considering i could be atop a mountain totally exposed. I'm hitting the trail tomorrow in earnest. The real deal. My first step on the AT.  Next stop Hawk Mountain Shelter. That's all for now.  I'm taking my Advil and heading to bed.  Love you Emma and Sara. No bears yet girls

Part of Len Foote Hike Inn

Dinner Bell

Cathy's Homemade Peach Cobbler

Cathy the Chef!

Thought the sign was cool

I"m Off

I don't know about this guys. It might be an omen of things to come, but it hasn't been the best of starts this morning. Double checked my pack loaded it in the car headed for the airport, no problem.  Checked in and headed for the mother of all security checks.  I take it they don't see many backpackers head through their security checks.  Needless to say they stopped me to ask about the items i was to take on board. First, it took a few minutes to assure them that yes that is an actual water filter.  Then on to my $120 Leatherman.  They didn't care that is was a tool, can opener, scissors, screw driver, etc....  Flight leaves at 7:15 with doors closing at 7:05 for boarding.  TSA had me from 6:15am.  No matter how much i begged they were steadfast in there assertion that my Leatherman posed a national security risk.  Just go check it in they said.  So i ran to check it in. Luckily there wasn't a line.  "No you can't check it in. It has to be in a bag sir." Ugghhh.  I run back to TSA to surrender my $120 Leatherman and get to my flight thinking i'll pick up another one when i get to Atlanta. I approach the agent who searched and interrogated me. These guys are trained well, or intoxicated with  the power of being  the most important person in the lives of thousands of travelers herded past them on a daily basis. "You have to go through security check again sir".    "But i just did that 5 minutes ago. Surely i can  just pass through with glance at my butt back."  At this point i glanced at the line and i my heart sank knowing ill be watching my ride taxi down the runway without me. I was past the panic and anxiety  stage and shuffled back in line.  Lo and behold they escorted me again to the side to asking me again about my water filter.  The planets are aligned against me today. God is sending me a message. This does not portend of good things ahead.  Well, i get a seat a seat on the next flight to Charlotte and head for  5 Guys for  a hamburger. Screw this, if things are falling apart at least i'll indulge in a hamburger.  It really hit the spot.  Now as i type this i have to endure the guy next to me talk to someone on his cell about his meeting with his boss. Not a problem in itself, but does he have to talk as if he's addressing the entire airport. Boarding now. Onward.  I'll keep you posted.