Date: 2018-04-21
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 2.4

I got up and everyone was still around, taking tent down as I go down with my water pump to try again. It was not working at all so I decided to go down and hitch hike and find an outfitter store to see if they can find what is wrong with my water pump.It was a short 2.4 miles hike down from Blue Mountain to Unicoi Gap. I saw several people there, doing some BBQ. It turned out that they are having trail magic for hikers. I saw lady approaching me as she wanted me to join for some free meals. I did because I was so hungry, the aroma of the burgers took me there anyway. I had a cheeseburger and Coca Cola.  I talked to Trail Angels about water pump problem. We discussed about where outfitter is, I showed them my guidebook.  She called to that outfitter for me and said that I need to hike up 17 miles and then walk .5 miles west of A.T. to that place. I was like, no way, I can't hike without water. She said that they provide free shuttle ONLY if I decide to stay at their hostel for the night.She called again and said that shuttle will come and pick me up ONLY if I give them my credit card number for reservation. I refused because I have not check my balance for few days.  I told her, I have cash with me. She said the hostel staff won't send shuttle unless I give them my credit card number.  Another Trail Angel heard the conversation she had with the hostel staff on phone, she offered to use her credit card to make a reservation.  I was like, its easy, I approached her and attempt to give her $30 in cash, she declined. I was like no no, take that $30.  She said everything is okay and still decline.I told trail angel to be sure to let Top of Georgia Hiking Center to check my water pump, that is the only reason I want to go to T.O.G.. I have NO INTENTION to stay there tonight. Shuttle came and picked me up. Went to T.O.G. Hiking Center, I quickly trying to get them to see my water pump, but THEIR top priority is business. Its money to them that is what important, since my bed is already paid by trail angel, they seemed not to bother to care about my water pump.They assigned me to my bed.  After that I quickly get out of my room and go to the lounge and make sure they be able to help me with my water pump because in the book, it stated this place is outfitter with full service hostel.  So two staff decided to check my water pump. Know what I learned? THEY do not KNOW how to deal with water pump, I gave them an instruction manual so they finally learned how to disassemble the water filter pump.  I was like, is this a real outfitter or what?They finally opened the filter pump and it was covered dirty, they showed me the page on manual which I did not read after I purchase the new water pump and before I start my hike that this pump NEED cleaning EACH TIME after use. I was like that is very inconvenient! We discussed about Sawyer Water Filtration System and I decided to buy it and ship my 2 weeks old MSR Water Filter Pump with my receipt to my friend in Arizona hopefully if he can get it to the store and have it refund to my account since its less than 30 days old.For the whole beautiful sunny day I lost just because of damn water filtration pump and blamed myself for not reading Instruction Manual before I started hike from Amicalola Falls State Park.