Today’s Miles: 12.9
Trip Miles: 23.7
Mostly sunny and breezy, high 77, low 53, dry.
Up at 7:00. Probably got 5 hours of sleep. Put on hiking clothes and a long-sleeve camp shirt. Walked over to the shelter and made tea. Had a Stinger Waffle with Justin’s Almond Butter for breakfast. Wrote yesterday’s blog and started on today’s. That killed an hour. People were gradually getting moving and heading out.
A guy came into camp at 8:00 who has been running the trail south from the NC line since 8:30 yesterday morning. He just set the Fastest Known Time (FKT) record for the Georgia section of the trail. He was exhausted!
Took my meds, brushed teeth, used the privy, washed up with soap and water, put on a short-sleeve hiking shirt, got everything packed up, and headed out to Gooch Mountain shelter about 9:10. Should be about 12 miles today. Sent my Garmin daily check-in message.
Slow getting out of camp today. Should have blogged last night. That cost me 45 minutes. Still, I was happy with all my camp chores today. Chatted with Debbie before leaving. Should see her and Randi at camp tonight.
Damn Apple Watch is already down to 88%! Need to find cell service so I can upload the blog from yesterday and chat with Dana.
Decided to listen to a book today. Going to redo the Honor Harrington series start to finish. Should last me into Virginia.
Stopped for water .2 miles from camp. Topped off and moved on up the trail. Very warm day.
Caught up to the Texans from last night. They are going to try to make Gooch Mountain but will decide in 5 miles at Hawk Mountain Shelter. They were struggling a lot with the elevation and their heavy gear. I found out a few days later that they bailed out Hawk Mountain after 1.5 days.
Stopped at Long Creek Falls about 2.78 miles in so far today. Still no cell reception. Falls are beautiful and the grotto they are in is probably 15 degrees cooler than on the trail. Took off pants legs and had a Snickers bar and chilled for 20 minutes.
Met Jim from TN. Seems about my age, maybe a bit younger. He’s thru-hiking too. Moving a little faster than me.
Stopped at Hawk Mountain Shelter at 12:30 to try to fix a blister. Same little toe again. Punctured it and wrapped it. Gonna try my toe sock liners instead of my heavier toe socks. Had lunch with Debbie and Randi. Pepperoni and cheese. Had some cell and checked in with Dana.
The Army Rangers are training near here today. Got buzzed by a Blackhawk helicopter that landed and took off near Hawk Mtn several times. Heard sporadic automatic gunfire on and off. No big deal. It’s all blanks and was aware we could run into this.
Stopped for water about .3 miles after leaving Hawk Mountain Shelter. It’s 80 degrees, sunny, and hot. About 7 miles to camp. Gonna be a tough afternoon.
Wow… tough day and my nastiest mountain is right in front of me. Sassafras Mountain. I have not radically underestimated the physical challenges and hard mountains, but it is harder than I thought. GA is the second mountainous state on the trail.
Stopped for a break at 3:30 before my last nasty climb of the day. Sassafras Mountain is 1.1 miles up and about 655 feet. Took till 4:40. Nasty!! This weather is unseasonably warm, but it was all cold and rain last week so I should not complain.
Got to Justus Creek at 6:00. Exhausted. Met Randi and Debbie. They are staying here instead of pushing on. Watered up and rested. Thought about staying here, but all tent sites are full. Slogging 1.4 miles uphill to Gooch Mountain Shelter for the night. Ugh!
It was more like 2 miles uphill, but I made it at 7:09. Stopped and got 3 liters of dirty water about .3 miles before camp.
Tent setup by 7:28. Checked weather. No rain, so not using rain fly tonight. Finished camp setup by 7:50. Made mountain house white bean chili with chicken for dinner a bit after 8:00. Chatted with two people who also ate late. Filtered water, put smelly things in bear box, and got settled into tent at 9:00.
Hard day physically. Still having fun though!
Technical Notes
- iPhone 45%
- Watch 23%
- iPad 90%
- Headphones 80%
- Stinger waffle 150
- Justin’s nut butter 220
- Tea 0
- Snickers 250
- Pepperoni 560
- Cheese 100
- Mountain House White Bean Chili 575
- Dehydrated chicken 170
- Water 5 liters
- Miles 12.9
- Time 9:47
- Elevation gain 2745
- Calories consumed 2025
- Calories burned 7000
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