Too cold to get out of my tent

April 5, 2000 -- Day 5
Destination: Neel's Gap/Goose Creek Cabins
Today’s miles: 4.1
Trip miles: 30.7

Hard to believe this is the same day I woke up to. Marie and I dreaded getting out of the tent. I wore socks on my hands and four layers of clothing as I hiked, and my nose dripped like a leaky faucet throughout the morning.

Before I began the trail, I read in another hiker's journal that the climb up Blood Mountain seemed endless. I had a different experience. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the stone shelter at the summit, enjoying far-reaching views in all directions. When I started to get cold again, I descended into Neel's Gap, where a large cluster of hikers who'd been in front of our much smaller cluster was hanging out on the deck at the Walasi-Yi Outdoor Center. Not long afterwards, a large cluster came in from behind. Most continued on, as this turned out to be a gorgeous day. Joker, Marie, Grumpy and I had already decided to stay put, dry out, clean up and re-group. There are two other thru-hikers here at Goose Creek, which isn't far up the road from Walasi-Yi.

Walasi-Yi is a great place; although the staff helped me part with $273, and all I got in return was gear. I'm actually glad the weather was so cold and wet during those first few days, because it was a great way to learn what works for me and what doesn't. Here's what I've changed:

The bright orange rain poncho goes home. Instead, I bought a coated-nylon jacket with nifty armpit zippers for added ventilation. The poncho was too all over the place. It got in the way when I tried to do just about anything and scrunched up when I put on my pack.

Homemade multi-purpose fleece thing--same problem. Too loose and bulky. It made a great pillow and a warm serape when I was sitting around camp, but it was heavy and would get all twisted up inside my sleeping bag when I twisted and turned. Instead, I bought a synthetic liner, which adds 20 degrees. And it weighs considerably less than the fleece thing.

The Dromolite water bag with drinking tube goes, also. The compartment inside my pack, designed to hold the bag, is inconveniently located; I have to take things out to get at the bag when it needs refilling. And I can't see how much water is left. And the thing leaks. Instead, I bought a hip pouch called a "wet rib," which attaches to my pack. The pouch holds a water bottle and has an extra compartment for things like a camera, guide book and munchies, which are easily-accessible as I hike. So I'm also sending home the fanny pack I've been wearing backwards as a belly-pack. I'm keeping my one-liter soda-turned-water bottle and have added a Nalgene, which I can use for hot liquids too.

Many of us have been carrying far too much food. Matter of fact, I'm laughing at the amount of grub Joker and Grumpy have spread out on the floor of our cabin. I think they packed for the whole trail! (Marie and I get first dibs on what they don't want.)

I must say thank you to Keith here at Goose Creek Cabins for making us feel so welcome. He just walked in with pizzas and took our very stinky laundry to wash. Earlier today, he drove us to a restaurant for dinner. My appetite so far has been much less than it usually is at home. I'm sure that will change. Joker, on the other hand, is an eating machine, who's already scarfing down his pizza "dessert."

Okay, last ditty of the day before I fight Marie for Joker and Grumpy's unwanted chow....

Instead of waiting for Keith to pick us up at the restaurant after dinner, we hitched a ride back to Goose Creek Cabins. Joker volunteered his thumb. (I’m a virgin hitchhiker, by the way.) The black pickup that stopped for us was missing its tailgate and, I believe, the muffler. The driver was a big guy with a big belly, who I’ll call Bubba. Bubba was wearing a Biker-fest t-shirt. There were two women in the truck cab with him, one of whom was a very bleached blonde wearing a black muscle shirt. We four fed hikers did as Bubba told us and climbed into the rusty bed, then held on tight, which was good advice; Bubba has a lead foot! Anyhow, turns out that Bubba has a sister in Hiawassee, GA. He gave us her phone number and told us to contact her when we arrive. Said she'd drive us wherever we might want to go. Also turns out that Bubba and the girls weren’t going as far as they took us, and headed back the other way after dropping us off. What nice folks!

Hee-hee. Joker just snuck a cast iron fry pan into Marie's pack.

--Ramkitten