Date: 2014-07-06
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

I shared the shelter area with a group of folks from Charlotte, NC. They were camping in a variety of hammocks and tents right next to the shelter. I set up my tent about 200 feet away, mostly because one of them had a Great Dane named Johnny with her. She slept in a tent like mine but the two person model and the Johnny slept in a 30 sq ft vestibule addition. It all looked quite heavy, but I think the dog carried his part. He also carried his own food; 20 lbs for a four day trip. In the morning they said the dog barked off and on all night. I didn't hear him at all. There is a good chance he was barking at my snoring. I left the shelter early planning to stop for breakfast mid morning. As I left camp I ate a Cliff Bar given to me by my 5th period class. They bought me a whole box of them. Some of the bars are in my pack and and the rest I sent ahead as mail drops.After hiking a while I realized I was approaching a critical water shortage. I stopped in a parking area at Horse Gap next to a forest road and fixed breakfast (powdered milk and protein in water with granola- it was pretty bad.) I realized I had less than a liter of water left and it was six miles to the next water source. As I pondered my situation, a jeep approached the curve in the road next to the parking area. There were two "backwoods" looking guys in the Jeep. Despite the fact that images of the movie Deliverance were swirling in my head, I flagged them down, explained my situation, and asked if they had any spare water. (I think hikers refer to that as "Yogiing" after Yogi bear and his skills at getting free food. I call it being desperate.) Anyway, the driver jumped out, went to the back of the Jeep, opened a cooler, and gave me a ice cold bottle of water. I poured it into my Nalgene bottle and said "Thank you very much." As I handed the bottle back. (I think there is a chance they might not recycle the bottle, but I wasn't ready to carry it to the next recycling bin.) At that point the passenger got out of the Jeep and asked if I was alone. I thought about saying I was hiking with ten other people who were just coming down the trail, but I said "yes." "Good" he said, and then he proceeded to stand at the side of the road and take a leak. And that is my water story for day 2. Oh, that us almost my water story for day 2. I hiked another mile or do over the next small mountain and down to Cooper Gap and there were five jugs of water set out by the trail - I filled up both Nalgene bottles, drank half if one, and filled it again. Hikers refer to that as "trail magic." I think of it as random ( or maybe non-random) acts of kindness. At any rate, it is greatly appreciated. If I am keeping track if trail magic, which it appears I am, I am going to call the Cliff Bars from 5th period Calculus as. #1 and the jugs of water as #2.The challenge for the day was going to be Blood Mountain. It was supposed to be one of the toughest climbs in Georgia. It really did not seem bad. Other than stopping for a drink and for one bagel with almond butter break, I didn't have to stop for a rest. Last year I had to stop and lean into my hiking poles every hundred steps or so while climbing the first few days. Either hauling rocks really did help, or these are just easier mountains. I guess I'll find out because there are plenty more to come. I was hoping to make 13 miles to stay at Hiker Hostel in near Woody Gap. I made it by 5:00 and got a ride to the Hostel from to guys from Atlanta that are doing the Georgia part of the AT by doing a small section every Sunday. Of course that means they have to do each section twice to get back to their car. At any rate I admire their effort and I appreciated the ride!