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[at-l] 1997 SLACKPACK TOUR OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

1997 SLACKPACK TOUR OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

APRIL 14, 1997 - MONDAY

	it was sooooooo cold in the morning.  SUNSHINE broke camp first
and sat in the van to get out of the wind.  i was close behind her, and
started the van to get some warmth.  PAT jumped in the back.  KEN was
last up.  we all bit the bullet and set up for breakfast.  it was a quick
breakfast...
	SUNSHINE and i headed out from WOODY GAP (GA60) when the sun was
nearly upon us.  we hiked together for three miles, then she took off. 
guess who showed up at SLAUGHTER GAP?  GUTSY, and her dog, came strolling
along.  i had met her in NEW ENGLAND last year, during her hike, and had
given her a lift in the van (i did 900 miles of day hikes on the trail
last year, some in all of the fourteen states).  GUTSY gave me a big hug,
and we yak'd for a few minutes.  she had been in email contact with
SUNSHINE before the hike, and was happy to have met her up the trail...
	I ran into TARA, and we hiked over BLOOD MOUNTAIN together.  the
climb up was interesting.  it was the first time that rocks come into
play along the trail.  i left my stick in the shelter, at the top of the
mountain, and did not realize it until about a half mile beyond the
shelter.  it was an irritating walk back up.  BLOOD MOUNTAIN is the
highest point on the A.T. in GEORGIA, and getting there FROM ANY
DIRECTION is all uphill...
	the day finally warmed up, and the last miles to NEELS GAP
(US19/129) were very pleasant.  BALANCE ROCK is something to see.  i
caught one hiker whizzing past it, so i made him come back and take a
look.  he said 'improved the day', and continued on...
	PAT and KEN had made arrangements for us at GOOSE CREEK CABINS,
and KEN was waiting at NEELS GAP.  SUNSHINE had gotten there a while
before i did, and was happily writing picture postcards.  a group of
hikers, who were staying at the bunkhouse, had congregated around KEN. 
they all wanted rides into town.  we made arrangements with them, then
KEN drove SUNSHINE and i to the cabins, then returned for the hikers...
	the cabin was nice.  the shower was nice.  the heat was nice. 
the lodge was nice.  the people were nice.  i recommend GOOSE CREEK
CABINS...

APRIL 15, 1997 - TUESDAY

	it was nice to sleep indoors.  we had a quick breakfast, then KEN
drove us to NEELS GAP.  off we went.  the highlight of the day was
watching some hawks catching the thermals and playing tag...
	the hike out of TESNATEE GAP (GA 348) is quite an climb. 
SUNSHINE flew up the hill, off course.  i took my time, of course.  KEN
was at the top in the midst of a day hike.  SUNSHINE and i had previously
decided to hike to WHITLEY GAP SHELTER, and KEN agreed to come along.  it
is a 1.2 mile blue blaze hike.  the shelter is pretty crappy.  i do not
recommend the side trip.  there was a register entry indicating that
'this place is evil'...
	at HOGPEN GAP (GA 348), SUNSHINE and i strapped on full backpacks
for the first time, and headed for LOW GAP.  this was an effort to
prepare ourselves for backpacking thru the SMOKIES, where the van can't
get to us every day.  WE DO NOT ENVY THE BACKPACKERS...
	we were highly fatigued by the time we hit LOW GAP.  we happily
shed the packs, then set up the tents.  eventually, there was quite a
crowd in and around the shelter, at least 15 people.  some of the names: 
SPIDER (two week section hike), BEV and LANCE (married), GOETHE (big guy,
big snores), WILLOW (very friendly, nice legs), MATT (talker), MARTIN
(marine), ED (nine day section hike), and CAROLINE (new england accent). 
i wish i had gotton more names, but socializing was not my first agenda. 
i was in the tent relaxing and reading and dropping off to sleep...

APRIL 16, 1997 - WEDNESDAY

	the night was much warmer than previous nights.  the camp came
alive at daybreak.  people emerged one by one, heading for the woods, off
to get water, tents coming down, stoves being lit, and pots rattling. 
SUNSHINE and i were out quick...
	the hike out of LOW GAP is a joy, even with backpacks.  we made
good time to CHATTAHOOCHEE GAP, then took an extended break.  the next
stop was BLUE MOUNTAIN SHELTER.  this is a small shelter, but clean and
pleasant.  it is positioned to catch the very first rays of the sun as it
breaks over the mountains in the morning.  the hike up to the shelter,
and then down to UNICOI GAP (GA 75) is an adventure in rock hopping. 
quite a knee buster for the last mile.  KEN and PAT were waiting for us
at UNICOI GAP, and we happily shed the evil backpacks.  we then hopped in
the van and drove to UNICOI STATE PARK and rewarded ourselves with the
tremendous buffet lunch that is served at the lodge.  the people at the
lodge are genuinely friendly and laid back...
	after the feast, we returned to UNICOI GAP and continued hiking,
but without the anchors (backpacks).  we headed for TRAY GAP (USFS 79). 
on the way, we had another GUTSY sighting.  she was backpacking south
looking for some friends, hoping to find them before dark.  we chatted
for a while, mostly about her bout with LYME DISEASE last year.  GUTSY
took off on her quest, and we continued on to TRAY GAP.  KEN and PAT were
there.  we set up camp and talked until after dark...

APRIL 17, 1997 - THURSDAY

	we awoke to wind, rain, and hail.  apparently it snowed in some
places.  we broke camp with frozen hands.  SUNSHINE and i finally started
hiking.  atop TRAY MOUNTAIN, where the 360 degree views are tremendous,
there was 20 feet visibility.  we walked in the wind and the clouds for
an hour or so, with the sun poking it's head out occasionally.  the sun
finally defeated the clouds, but the wind kept blowing, and the chill
remained...
	i kept my head down and just hiked.  SUNSHINE, of course, was
having a wonderful day.  she would smile in a tornado.  we got seperated,
but met back up at DEEP GAP shelter.  she left, and a fellow from IRELAND
came by.  we chatted for a few minutes.  we were both headed for the
BLUEBERRY PATCH, so i told him we would give him a ride.  i took off,
kept my head down, and hiked for DICKS CREEK GAP (US 76)...
	PAT and KEN had rigged a clothes line at DICKS CREEK GAP, and all
of our wet gear was billowing in the wind.  SUNSHINE and SPIDER were
there also.  SPIDER's shoes were causing him problems earlier in the
week, and i had loaned him my spare pair at that time.  two days of
hiking later and he bought them.  he is a much happier hiker now...
	as it turned out, the BLUEBERRY PATCH was full early in the day,
so PLAN B became the HIAWASSEE MOTEL.  JACK, the irishman, arrived, and
SPIDER enticed him into sharing a motel room.  we all hopped in the van
and headed for HIAWASSEE.  the rooms were warm, and the showers were hot.
 after the hose down, we headed for pizza.  veggie for SUNSHINE,
pepperoni for the carnivors.  we were pigs.  back to the motel, turn on
the weather channel, prop open the eyelids...
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