Date: 2006-03-16
From: Hawk Mtn Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter, GA
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: 0

I slept in my tent, okay last night and awoke to temps in the high 30¢s. It was chilly getting going but it got warm quickly, by the time I started hiking I was down to my insulated underwear shirt. I decided to take it easy getting out this morning in order to really go over my gear. I ended up being one of the last ones out at 9:10am. As I came down off Hawk Mountain I noticed soldiers just off the trail crouched against trees. One would move, take position, then the next would go. As I reached the gap (that¢s what they call the low spot between mountains) I crossed the road and saw more soldiers heading down the valley on the other side. I continued on, and as I started up the next mountain they blew up some simulated explosion. It brought back memories of all the ORI¢s I participated in. I heard ¢Incoming,¢ and I was glad I didn¢t have to put on a gas mask.The day got tougher from there. Yesterday on our ride from the hostel to the trail Josh, from the hostel, told us what to expect the first few days. He told us our first big hurdle would be Sassafras Mountain - and he was not kidding! It was a bear, soon to be followed by Justis Mountain. Now I¢m in the mountains, so you could say today had it¢s ups and downs.Trail - Click picture to see full sizeAs I mentioned earlier, I started later than most. Well I soon began to pass the other hikers who had left before me; some would overtake me again, some I never saw again. I was low on water so I chose to eat a late lunch by the stream at Gooch Gap. The hike from there to the Gooch Mountain Shelter, where I¢m staying tonight, was fairly easy most of the way. I reached here at about 2:30 pm, not bad for 7.3 miles. I want to stay to 7 mile days this first week to build up my body. Tomorrow looks like a 13 mile day to the next shelter. I would rather not do that many miles, but I probably will. The day after will be short...1.5 into Neels Gap and a hostel. A shower, real food, and a chance to review my gear are inviting. I¢ll add a few more miles a day next week and stay at that pace for a week. After that I¢ll try a little more, but not so much that I hurt myself.I set up my tent today, aired out my sleeping bag, and washed socks. Life is exicting here on the trail.This evening Chris, from Austin, celebrated his birthday with a tradition of meeting the arrival of it with a special drink, then he passsed the bottle around for all to share. That gives us all a memory of Chris¢ birthday - he turned 30.Old GoatNote from Sue (Old Goat's wife): When Old Goat calls me I jot down things he says. We talked about the things he says in our conversations that he didn't put in his journal and together decided that from time to time I'll add notes from our conversations. For example...Chris, who celebrated his birthday, carried a bottle of whiskey, a can of Guinness, and something else to make the special birthday drink. He has a tradition of celebrating his birthday in an Irish Pub in Texas with that special drink at exactly the stroke of midnight in Ireland time. He said he was glad his birthday was so soon into the hike because it was hard to carry that extra weight.Re: ORIs - For those without a military background, ORIs are "Operational Readiness Inspections" where soldiers act as if they are at war. There are explosions, alarms, and everyone has to get into protective postures when the base is under a simulated attack...donning protective gear (Chemical Warfare Gear, including gas masks) and getting into protected spaces (e.g., under desks if in an office environment). The exercises are excellent preparation in case one actually has to go to war.