Date: 2012-04-04
From: Low Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Temp - 52/73I'll get to today's hike in a moment but let me jump to the end first. Did I mention my faith in humanity being lifted yesterday? Well today I unfortunately was reminded that even the hiker community has it's low life's.When I came into Hiawassee, Ga. to the motel to pick up my food drop of "low weight freeze dried"(expensive) food the guy behind the desk said it had already been picked up. He couldn't explain it and didn't offer much else than "I'm sorry". I'm not upset with him as he was frazzled from the fact that he was working alone because his mother had to be taken to the hospital and he was doing all the hiker shuttles as well as covering the desk for check-ins and hikers like myself picking up food drops.So what do I think happened???? Well when Sod went in to pick up his food drop the guy didn't ask for ID as they are supposed to do but the "frazzled" guy wasn't the regular desk clerk. I'm guessing since the motel didn't have any rooms available some low life hiker saw my name on the mail drop sheet right on the counter and said he was me saving him a trip to the store and getting back to the trail asap. The desk clerk put the date of pick-up but didn't have the hiker sign for the package.I was mad as hell at first but got over it and decided to go to the local Holiday Inn Express for better accommodations and treat ourselves to their hot morning breakfast. So my faith in humanity being deflated and my attitude not being the best I apologized to the desk clerk at the Holiday Inn when I checked in because I'm sure my attitude wasn't the best and I explained my situation. She was very sympathetic and when she was done she asked me to wait a moment. She reappeared a moment later from the back room carrying 3 "lightweight freeze dried" meals explaining some hiker left them behind a week ago. She lifted my spirits and once again proved to me there are no "coincidences" in this world ....Sod doesn't agree.So that takes care of my dinners for a few days but I'll have to shop for lunches, breakfasts, and snacks so Sod suggested we take a "zero day" (no hiking) tomorrow to get things back to normal, but I think I may have tired his feet a little on the morning's hike since I took the lead and marched him non-stop for 7 miles in 3 hours flat. Why you ask???? Well when I got up this morning all I had on my mind was a very large meatball sandwich from the local Subway next to the motel. Poor Sod asked to stop at 6 miles to have lunch but I told him we needed one more mile where I knew I had cell reception to call ahead for a shuttle that would be waiting for us when we entered Unicoi Gap at 9 1/2 miles. Sod ate his lunch at 7 miles at my "infamous" Blue Mt. Shelter (read 2000 journal), while I arranged for our shuttle to the local Subway.Today's hike was pleasant with cooler temps and clear skies although it was a fast pace. We met a number of Boy Scouts coming up the trail since they are on spring break. We also ran into an older women we had met a few days earlier who was heading to town to get resupplied because last night she and another hiker watched as a bear managed to yank and tug on their bear rope until their food bags dropped to the ground where the bear in "Yogi" fashion sat for an hour and had a feast. Well I'd rather lose my food to a hungry bear than a low life hiker.So we'll hit the trail again Friday morning replenished and relaxed ....and I'm sure after another Subway sub.I'll report tomorrow how we spent our zero day.