Spring 2017 AT hike, day #13

Thursday, May 25, 2017
Start: GA 75/Unicoi Gap
End: Neel Gap/US 19/Mountain Crossings hostel
Miles: 21.2

I stayed the night at the Top of Georgia hostel again and was back on trail by 8:30am. I climbed from Unicoi Gap (2949') up to Blue Mountain (4025'), then descended to Red Clay Gap (3485'). I went past Low Gap Shelter (3024') and climbed up to Sheep Rock Top (3558'), then descended to ~3100' and climbed up Poor Mountain (3620'). I passed by Wildcat Mountain (3637'), descended to Tesnatee Gap (3138'), and then climbed to Cowrock Mountain (3842'), Wolf Laurel Top (3780'), and Levelland Mountain (3870').

I arrived at Neel Gap (3125') at 4:30pm, meaning I averaged ~2.7 MPH (average speedy hiking is 2 MPH). I arrived in time to get some dinner from the outfitter while checking in at their hostel.

People described this hostel as a "basement dungeon," and I must agree. There are at least 12 other people here at the hostel (and they're the louder, slower, and less prepared hikers), and the hostel is clearly an after thought for the folks who run the outfitter upstairs. The water runs and there's a shower, though the drain of the shower backs up.

Tomorrow is my last night on trail; I'll arrive at Springer on Saturday afternoon!

Spring 2017 AT hike, day #12

Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Start: Unicoi Gap
End: Dicks Creek Gap/Top of Georgia hostel
Miles: 16.7

I got a nice night of sleep, waking up around 6:45am. I enjoyed a delicious meal of all I could eat cold cereal (I bought non-dairy milk in town yesterday). The shuttle left at 8am and I was dropped off at Unicoi Gap (2949') by 8:45am to hike back to the hostel.

I climbed up Rocky Mountain (4017'), descended to Indian Grave Gap (3113'), up Trey Mountain (4430'), down to Wolfpen Gap (3550') and Steeltrap Gap (3448'), up to Young Lick Knob (3748'), past Addis Gap (3304'), and then up Kelly Knob (4126'). From there, I descended to Deep Gap (3554'), climbed Powell Mountain (3850'), descended to Moreland Gap (3015') and then Dicks Creek Gap (2675'). I arrived at the gap by 2:15pm and then walked the 0.5mi to the hostel.

It lightly rained off and on for most of the morning, with most rain stopping by noonish. I even saw the sun in the afternoon! It's been a nicely relaxing day. I only have ~50 miles left. I'll do ~20 miles tomorrow and then have two days to do 30 miles. It's also set to have decent weather between tomorrow and Saturday. I'm 93% done with the AT as of today!

Spring 2017 AT hike, day #11

Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Start: Standing Indian Shelter
End: Dicks Gap/Top of Georgia hostel
Miles: 16.7

I woke up this morning around 5:45am due to the rude section hiker who got up, using his cell phone flashlight to take his pack down and start cooking. He made no effort to avoid shining the light in everyone's eyes. I got up earlier than I wanted and was on trail by 7am.

From the shelter (4742'), I descended to Deep Gap (4341') and then climbed to ~4800'. I descended to Wateroak Gap (4490'), stopped in for a quick stop at Muskrat Creek Shelter (4562'), descended to Sassafras Gap (4300'), and climbed to Couthouse Bald (4708'). From the bald, I passed by the NC-GA state line, and then descended to Blue Ridge Gap (3090'), climbed to As Knob (3144'), passed by Plumorchard Gap Shelter (3144'), climbed up to Buzzard Knob (3679'), and then descended to Cowart Gap (2900'). From there, I climbed to ~3300' and then descended to Dicks Creek Gap (2675'). I arrived at the gap by 1:45pm.

When I arrived at the gap, a shuttle for the Top of Georgia hostel was in the parking area. They took me to the hostel and greeted me with the choice of free beverage. The folks who run the hostel are nice people, which is saying something given that they've dealt with 10,000 hikers over the past 3 years. The young puppies here don't appreciate what they have in this hostel. They chafe under the basic hostel rules and complain about it constantly.

The pouring rain all day today provided ample encouragement to keep moving. It's supposed to rain all day tomorrow too, but at least it'll be a slack packing day. With all I can eat cereal in the morning too!