Date: 2017-03-13
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dick's Creek Gap (Top of Georgia Hiking Center)
Miles today: 3.4
Weather: fog

Day 06: Deep Gap, GA to Dick's Creek Gap, GA - 3.4 miles:The fifth night brought temps in the low-20's. Needless to say, no sleep was had as I shifted all night like a plump grub in my sleeping bag. Having pitched my tent beneath the bear lines, I found it a a nice welcome when the earliest of risers began lowering their bags, losing the battle of trying to remain quiet in the process. I also found humor in the fact that most of the ~40 hikers went through with the extra chore of hanging their bags while I used mine to comfortably prop my legs on overnight. The cold air bit as soon as I emerged from my tent. The mud from yesterday's section frozen to my shoes; the laces frozen vertically at attention. Cramming my feet into them, I knew it was only a little time til my body heat would thaw them out. After a few minutes of warming my hands around a small fire built by a group of college students from Iowa, it was time to cover the few miles down into Dick's Creek Gap.The day would only be a short walk, less than 3.5 miles, but consisted of first climbing over a couple smaller climbs before dropping down into warmer temps in the valley below protected from the winds. Along the ridge the wind howled, forcing me to pull my balaclava over my face, my warm breath causing light ice to form along my mustache. The snow and trail had frozen overnight, making the going easier than the sloppy conditions of the day before which, at one point, had caused me to go turtle-up after both feet slipped from under me. The path was covered in tiny fractured pieces of snow and ice, giving the appearance of millions of toenails scattered along the trail.As the trail descended lower, the snow all but disappeared and the trail returned to easy going. We reached the hardtop of Dick's Creek Gap and made our way half a mile west to the sharp incline leading to the friendly confines of the Top of Georgia Hiking Center operated by triple crowner, Sir Packs Alot, and an assortment of staff and volunteers. At 10:30am, the place was bustling with activity as the days new hikers arrived, and the previous night's were setting out. After a brief introduction and handing over $25/ea - which includes a bunk, shower, and shuttle into Hiawasee - Sarah, Odin, and me were taken into the section of the hostel referred to as the Wolf Den. The small room housed eight bunks where outcasts, misfits, and hikers with dogs are sent. Another unit holds two dozen or so more next door where everyone has access to a small kitchen and bathroom. After nesting out our gear in our respective bunks, grabbing a shower, relaxing in nurse scrubs which are provided, and having my laundry cleaned and returned to me, we caught a 1pm shuttle down into Hiawasee. Having just resupplied in Helen with enough food to reach Franklin, NC, my goal was just to grab a bite to eat.After being released at the rendezvous point of an Ingles supermarket, the dozen or so of us in the shuttle scattered in all directions, determined to accomplish his or her series of chores, the order of importance differing as much as each hiker. Some headed east to an all-you-can-eat buffet, and others west to a couple of local outfitters and fast-food chains. Per Odin's request, Sarah and I made our way to a Subway, making brief stops at two small outfitters. Sarah purchased a new sleeping pad and I purchased shoe adhesive for when my shoes, without fail, will one day begin to fall apart. We reached Subway where we camped out in a booth for two hours, Odin calmly napping on the floor. Sarah and I came up with the idea of playing Odin off as a service dog (with no disrespect to those who actually benefit from them) which fortunately allowed him to hang out in Subway and venture through Ingles without any issues. As a well-trained dog, all he needs is the occasional snack to keep him happy, and no one will question his obedience.On our way back to Ingles, I saw Sir Packs Alot pushing a grocery cart down the sidewalk between Ingles and an auto shop. One of the hostel shuttles was having wheels replaced, and he was working on a large restock of goods for the hostel. I broke off from Sarah and Odin to give him a hand. With us being unable to access the van for some time still, we instead chatted for 10 minutes about the hostel and the trail. Every hiker has their own opinion about anything and everything trail-related. I was left indifferent about this hostel during it's first year of operation during my 2015 hike, but this time around it has grown on me.After returning to the hostel just after 4:30pm, the rest of the evening would consist of lounging around, chatting with other hikers, and overall avoiding the cold outside. All hostels have their own unique atmosphere and character, but both provide the opportunity for hikers to meet and reconnect. My bunk-room alone has a cast of unique characters: a younger guy from Alaska, Iceberg, can jam on a guitar, and his service dog. Two older gentlemen, cousins, from Maine. A mother, Courageous, along with her two sons, aged eight and 10. Along with being a mother of five kids, trekking the AT with two of them, she's also in the process of recovering from a rare cancer of the blood. With the help of a variety of meds, she said she's feeling great, a complete 180 from this time last year, and is in overall great spirits. A great example of a powerful woman. There's also Shades and Lioness who I've flip-flopped with a couple times so far. Shades seems to always being wearing his sunglasses which leads to his name. Lioness is 18 and fresh out of high school. She has a head running wild with dreads, a glimpse of the free spirit I'm sure rests inside. She's using he AT as a "gap year" in order to hopefully find direction before she enters college this Fall.As the evening closed to an end, I drifted in and out of the larger bunk-room, observing hikers busy in their own ways: Shades playing Monopoly on the floor with the two kids and another hiker, a couple other hikers using the kitchen to cook massive meals with food purchased in town, another creating a makeshift wind-block for her stove, and finally another helping an older lady with a gear shakedown. The older woman is the hold-on-to-everything type and, I believe, is a first time hiker. She has been hiking with paper files so far - one paper telling her how to use her stove, another how to set up her tent, for example.Lights were off at 9pm and, within minutes, the first snorer sounded off. Within another 10 minutes, Sarah began her nightly soundtrack. At some point in the night the small room reached its climax when Courageous, though more subtle, joined in. Nights like last night, when a small room prevents a light breeze from taking away a small percentage of the sound, I sit there suffering through an internal battle. Should I jab my eyes out or should I simply quit the trail? Snorers might be the end of me. Tomorrow brings a last-minute zero in order to avoid a night of cold. The day will be utilized lounging, probably bring bored, socializing with other hikers with the same idea, and hopefully being able to upload the remainder of my photos so far. Back on trail by Wednesday to suffer through what's expected to be the coldest of the nights to come.