[at-l] N. Georgia Hike - October 12

October 12
I slept pretty well throughout the night. The occassional snoring serenades did not bother me. I got
up just after 07:00. I had just slept more than enough and it ws time to get up.  I was among the
first to get up and I began to get my breakfast going as the sun was coming up over the horizon. The
morning temperature was in the mid 40s I suspect. It looked like it would be a very good day for
hiking. 

As I was getting things ready other people were getting up.  It wasn't long after the sun had risen
that pretty much everyone else was up and about too. Everyone else included our little group of
John, Ron, myself, and Ryan; Jenny and Brooster who met on their AT through hikes in 1997 and
subsequently beame a married couple; and a few others whose names I am not sure of. Jenny is perhaps
the person with the most interesting story.  She is originally from South Africa and her thoughts on
her AT hike were certainly different since she had no real knowledge of the trail until she did it
(even less than many American rookie backpackers at least as far as culture and geography are
concerned).  We spent the better portion of the morning talking about all sorts of things. There
was, after all, no reason to hurry since our destination was Hawk Mtn. Shelter which is about 7.8
miles away. 

I finally left the shelter around 10:40 perhaps an hour after Ron had departed. Ryan, John, and I
all left about the same time. The day had begun to warm up and I imagine the temperature had risen
into the upper 50s on this clear sunny day. 

The hiking out from the shelter to the first forest road ws perhaps the hardest of the day.  The
trail was moderately rocky and generally descending so it took me a little longer than I would have
liked to travel the 0.7 miles. John and Ryan had moved well ahead of me and I was hiking alone.  

After crossing the road things got easier and I was able to really enjoy the trail. Just after the
road I entered a grove of evergreen trees that I later learned were Hemlock trees. It was a lovely
change from the deciduous trees that are so much more common. 

I reached Strover Creek Shelter, about 2.8 miles of hiking, just after noon. Naturally, everyone was
already there but hey that is how it usually works out. We had our midday snacks and spent a bit of
time at this very shady shelter before  heading north again.

As Ron and I hiked together we came upon something that will eventually devour the trail: a black
hole. It was a sink hole. Not terribly big yet, but more than large enough for a person to trip into
and hurt themselves. John had put a log over part of it when he passed by and we noticed that water
was flowing (or seemed to be) through it. We did not linger at the hole. We had one shared thought:
let¹s leave before the ground gives way. We did just that.

We stopped for lunch at Lost Creek Falls. It was really a fine little falls. It wasn't a very tall
waterfall but it was among the prettiest I have seen on the trail this year. At the falls we talked
a bit with two men and the daughter of one of them. The girl, all of 12 years old and on her first
trip,  has a lovely personality. I think John is right she will through hike the AT one day. She
already knows one of the most common questions hikers ask each other: how much does that weigh?

At the falls in the shade it actually felt somewhat cooler  than it had been.    Once we left the
falls though  temperature rose again. I suppose that the shade combined with the spray from the
waterfalls lowered the temperature a bit.

We had arrived at Lost Creek around 14:15 and left about a half hour later. Ryan took off and flew
ahead. John, Ron, and I trailed behind. Eventually I pulled ahed of them since I hike the uphills
better than they do.  The trail was generally pretty easy and I found it quite pleassant hiking.
There was one long-ish ascent and I made pretty good time.

I reached Hawk Mtn. Shelter at 16:00. I had been wondering where the shelter was. It seemed like I
should have arrived several minutes ago, but I suppose I was arriving pretty much when I should
have.   Ryan had been there for some time already and Ron and John arrived not long after I did. 

The hiking day had come to an end and I was quite happy. There are many other people here besides
our group including the girl's group (she has been given her trail name, Sunshine) plus a south
bound through hiker whose name I do not know and a couple other section hikers. 

I am sitting here now at 20:00 looking at the rising moon feeling the remains of a cook fire burn
down. People are getting ready for bed and I shall soon follow. A very good day in most respects. I
just wish my SWA wasn't being tempormental (maybe I can blame the silt in the water).

©copyright 2000, Kenneth Knight
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