My Trails

On Saturday, 4/7/12, I did another 11 miles into Low Gap shelter and tented with about 20 people. The hiking was easy in the morning, following logging roads and streams, and then there were some wicked climbs up to Poor Mountain. The views were spectacular in every direction. The weather is forecast to remain clear all week long, thank goodness. We ran into two trail angels today handing out Pepsi that said they remember this whole area deep under snow, this time in 2010.

I’m pretty sure the 89 yr. man left the trail. I think he tried to go too far each day. I’ve met a lot of nice people on the trail, most are young, just out of school, but there are a few retired guys, me included,acting like kids again.

I’ve built up a reputation of sorts. When I run into someone new and tell them my trailname, they often say, “Castaway, I’ve heard of you!” I guess it’s because I’m nice to everyone. Oh! I have to tell you how I got the name Castaway but I will save that for next time. It actually came from Karen when we hiked in the Allegheny Nat. Forest.

I did get another air mattress at Mountain Crossing outfitters. It’s called a Neo Air Extreme, even lighter than the one I had (It is the one you used Donna. I think you punctured it on a cactus 😉

I awoke at 7am on Friday 6, to the threat of rain. I quickly made coffee, packed my tent, and headed up Blood Mountain just as it began to rain. It’s a long gradual climb – 1300 ft. – to the top at 4450 ft. Usually the views are spectacular, but today all we could see was a swirling, dense fog, accompanied by light rain. Even though it was a long climb the path was more gentle with switchbacks. There were a lot of day hikers out – this being Friday.

Right now I’m at Blood Mountain Cabins, a nice place with a special rate for hikers. There is room in each cabin for four to six people, but when I told the owners I snore, they granted me a cabin of my own, with the exception I help someone coming in late in the rain.

I’ve dried my gear, they even washed my clothes for free, and tomorrow I will resupply and buy a new air mattress. The weather is supposed to turn cold which will be good for hiking but bad in my tent.

Day three. 4/5/12. You may see a lot of errors – more than usual – because I’m typing on my phone. My battery drains faster than my iPhone did and I hurry to write a blog.

The hiking was better today because of a good nights rest and gentle terrain for several miles. I’m starting to see more hikers but there are long stretches where I’m alone for hours. The woods are beautiful with giant mature oaks, hickory, and popular. Sometimes I will hike through tunnels of rhododendron, and the path is lined with beautiful wildflowers.

Tomorrow I will hike over Blood Mountain, the highest mountain in Georgia and stop at the hostle there. We had more rain and lightning before I reached camp, but the sun is now out and I am still dry.

Day two was a killer. I had Sassafras Mountain to navigate, along with several steep peaks and gaps all day long. The AT in Georgia likes to visit every mountain top it passes, and the trail builders never heard of switch-backs. By the time I hiked 11 miles to a place called Justin Creek, it felt like I had walked 20. I can see why novice backpackers quit after just a few days. These mountains are hard!

My feet are doing good – no blisters yet – just a couple of sore toenails. My knee feels good and I only feel it if I go too fast on the descents. I still don’t have much appetite and I know I’m not drinking enough. It’s supposed to get cooler next week so that should help.

I’m starting to meet a lot of thru-hikers now. One interesting man is 89 years old, attempting to hike to Maine. Another, is carrying a 90 pound pack – the one leaving stuff beside the trail.

I am pretty tired tonight. I should sleep pretty well except for an air mattress that has a slow leak and leaves my hip touching the ground. I may replace it at the outfitters in Mountain Crossing.

I started up Springer approach trail at 7:30 am. It didn’t take long before my zip-off pants came off and I was sweating profusely. Even early in the morning the temperature was close to seventy. I only passed a couple of day hikers on the way and met one young thru-hiker while I was resting at a shelter.

I’ve heard of hikers throwing away gear on the mountain, but never thought it was true. About two-thirds of the way up, I came to a campsite with gear scattered by the trail. At first I thought someone was camped there but no one was about and I realized it was discarded from someone’s pack. There was hi-tech clothes, assorted camping items, and eight expensive Mountain House dinners. I wanted to pack the food out but I had all I could carry as it was.

When I reached Springer and the start of the AT, it was still early so I decided to move ahead to the next shelter. And besides, it looked like a storm was moving in, prompting me to get to lower ground for the night.

The walk down the mountain was exciting. Lighting crashed all around, hail prattled my head, and the rain came in torrents. I was full of adrenaline, propelling me faster than I should have walked on slippery rocks, until eventually the sun came out again. By the time I reached Stover Creek shelter, I was almost dry.

I visited with a couple hikers and enjoyed good conversation until darkness and bugs drove us to our tents. I slept well but woke early in the morning.