Date: 2016-04-03
From: Gooch Gap

To: Top of Georgia Hiawassee Georgia
Miles today: 42.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So time to catch up on the trip. Today is Thursday April 7th and I am at The Top of Georgia Hostel 9 miles from the North Carolina Border. Let go day by day to today.Saturday April 1 ¢ Marilee and I got to the start at Amicola Falls State Park. We hike together up the Appalachian Approach Trail ¢ without backpack - so she could enjoy a hike with me and Riley before we departed. Got the park ranger to give me a shakedown, sign me in and also give me some great advise about hiking and gear. My pack weighed in at 37 pounds without water. We spent some time at the lodge then continued hiking. The Approach Trail is 8.7 miles long with a 1300 foot climb leading to the actual start of the AT at Springer Mountain. P.S. Those Approach trail miles do not count in the total AT hike of 2184. We ended the day back at the hotel with a great dinner in a neat country town eating BBQ in Elliay Georgia. Got a good nights sleep.Sunday ¢ April 3:We woke up and Marilee gave me a ride back where the Approach Trail ends and the AT starts. Of course we both cried as I already knew that I would miss her a lot and was grateful to know that someone in my life could support me on such a wild expedition. She is a great person with a big heart and I love her more than I show her at times. By 10 am I was ready to start hiking and she had to leave to begin the hard drive back to Colorado.The trail was a lot more than I expected and it was great. Right from the start I began hooking up with other hikers. Several were also bring their dog so that made me feel a lot more comfortable bringing Riley. First big surprise was about five miles in where all of a sudden in the trail I see a canopy tent with dozens of people waiting for me and cheering me on. They were from the Georgia Adventure Group and were there to encourage us and and also feed us. So after a couple of hot dogs, soda, chips and candy bars, Riley and I said goodbye know there are really a lot of great people in this world. Hiked along a stream until reaching the Hawk Springs shelter around 4pm after 9.2 miles. Already several dozen hikers were there and set up. Georgia portions of the trail's shelters are awesome. Set up my new camping hammock and began mingling with people. Quickly connected with several who we eventually stayed together for several days. Of course Riley was the hit of the day and everyone wanted him to stay with them. A group of housewives came in and set up next to me. They do about 1 to 2 weeks of the trail every year. I noticed one pulling out a bottle of Fireball whiskey so of course I had to rib them for carrying that weight. I also asked for a shot jokingly to which they replied no this is a girl party and no guys invited. That initiated me into the trail naming tradition. They did not have a real trail name yet and asked for suggestions. The guys I was hanging with suggested ¢The Real Housewives of the Appalachian Trail¢ and they liked it and accepted their new trail name. Nightfall came and Riley headed to bed. I into the Hammock and Riley on his pad and blanket. By 10 PM the temps began to drop and the winds picked up quickly. Riley was shaking so bad and he tried once to get into the hammock but once in decided he did not like it an fought me to get back out. I tried to cover him more but to no avail and he was freezing at temps started to approach 30 degrees. By midnight I gave up and he and I headed for the shelter that already had seven people in it. The shelters are a three sided ¢ open face structure with a second level bunk area. They welcomed me, really Riley, so that I could snuggle and cover Riley with my sleeping bag. After about an hour Riley finally stopped shivering and we went to sleep. The guys were chatting away only to hear some paper rattling in the upper bunk. One of the hikers climbed the latter to see if is was mice ¢ which is was- trying to chew into the backpacks for food. As he stretched from the ladder with his butt hanging out he ripped off the loudest and worst smelling fart that would clear a room. We all started laughing and decided he needed a trail name. It only took minutes to get a vote of ¢Stink Mouse¢ He tried to fight it but to no avail so it stuck. Woke up at 3pm to take a leak to a very cold and windy night with a super view of the mountain night sky and stars. At 5 am I awoke to realize that somehow Riley wiggled out of his collar so I panicked and called out. He came running back and jumped on me shivering so I grabbed him into the sleeping bag but I also smelled horse poop. As I covered him he was covered in poop but I did not care as I just wanted to warm him up. We fell asleep.Monday ¢ April 4:Woke up to 28 degree temps but a beautiful sunrise. Today we planned to go to the next shelter 7.8 miles down the trail. Based on the day prior we all did not rush thinking this would take less than four hours. What a mistake and our first lesson of the mountains of northern Georgia. The profile showed to large climbs so off we went. After 2 hours and lots of climbing I thought we were at the 4.5 mile point called Sassifrass Gap and completed the first climb, but the guide did not match what I was seeing, especially no water source which I was running low on. Another hiker came along and informed me I had only gone 2.4 miles to Horse Gap and that Sassifrass Mountain laid ahead. WHAT !!!! So off Riley and I went on the climb. After only a few minutes Riley plopped in small pond of standing water and promptly laid down in it. I called him out but he refused to get up so I assumed his pack might be too heavy. I took it off to carry and he got back up. We crossed a stream just before the camp area. Riley immediately began running from bank to bank through the water entertaining the other campers. One of the hikers I connected with whose Trail Name was Minister took video as people never saw a dog having so much fun in the water. He was entertaining. In what I planned would be a four hour romp turned into a 7 hour ordeal. We reached Gooch Shelter area and collapsed. Riley refused to eat and promptly fell asleep as I set up camp and got ready for dinner. The forecast was for below freezing temps and I know that Riley would not stay warm so I decided on the shelter sleep plan instead. Another hiker lost his pole so he carved a new one that included a pipe in the end that actually worked. Within minutes we named him ¢MacGruber¢. Off to bed for another very cold night. Riley still shivered most of the night but better and off to sleep we went.Tuesday ¢ April 5:Got up to another great sunrise with temps in the upper 20s. Got some hot coffee going and breakfast. Riley refused to eat his food so we packed and began today's hike. The goal was 16 miles to the top of Blood Mountain and into Neel's Gap. We left the trail to go into Suches Georgia to get burgers and beer but ended up with pizza, chicken wings and sodas. Riley after eating a bowl of his food jumped into a couch and fell asleep while we ate. We got a ride back to the trail from Suches towards Neel Gap. Got to Neel around 5pm and began to set up camp right away. There is a building older than the trail with bunk beds I was hoping to get one for the night to let Riley stay warm for once but they were full. We set up the hammock again then the goup of us built a campfire and chatted for hours. A hike we met a few miles back joined us named ¢Free¢ he was a pretty good guy around 60 but looked a real mountain man. He pack was small and light, nothing fancy and wore a block hat like fisherman wore. He told us this is his third time doing the trail. Looking at him, I sensed even at his age he could crush us all if he wanted. As we sat by the fire he pulled out a little pouch and wrapped himself a smoke that turned out to be of the Wacky Tobacky type. I was not surprised and laughed. Winds picked up and the sky was beginning to fill with clouds of an approaching storm. We went to bed and as I laid in the hammock I felt like I was on an amusement ride swinging back an forth. Again Riley could not get warm and was shaking constantly by now. By 5am he again figured how to wiggle out of his collar so I got up looking for him. I found him trying to bury himself in leaves so I brought him back and cuddled with him but no avail. By 6:30 am......next day....Wednesday ¢ April 6:¢¦... Riley could not stop shaking and got so violent that he could not stand up so I found some firewood and rebuilt the camp fire. Other hikers got up to help me with Riley and they had all fallen in love with him and wanted to help. One camper wrapped him in his down sleeping back while another got a down hoody over his head. We continued to hold up until around 9. Riley was still sleeping but shaking. Several of the hikers then left and we agreed to meet at the next shelter. Riley stopped drinking the night before and refused to eat. By 1pm it was apparent Riley was in trouble and by luck an hiker who was also a vet checked Riley out. He told me Riley was in going into shock from the constant shaking and needed to not hike and rest for at least 48 hours. I had to quickly come up with a plan B, not just for today but for how to keep Riley warm for the rest of the hike. Apparently I did a good job preparing for myself but completed underestimated what Riley needed. I already had reservations for Friday night at the Top of Georgia Hostel by Hiawassee 20 miles up the trail. I gave them a call, explaining the circumstances to see if I could come today and stay for three days. They were full but the woman who answered named ¢Buttercup¢ indicated they were full but she put me on hold so she could talk to hikers that already arrived and scheduled to stay that night. Great people immediately responded and so we looked for a ride direct to the hostel. As I waited for the ride I knew that I in a hammock, as comfortable as it was, would not work for both of us. The historic building had an outfitter in it and I explained the situation. They were great and $600 later I mailed home my hammock, picked up a great tent, high quality dog sleeping pad, sweater and a few other items. They also did a shake down of my gear and by the end my pack went from 37 to 28 pounds ¢ and they took my old gear and mailed it home for me.....MARILEE be looking for a big box coming. By 3pm we had our ride and off to the hostel.We reached yet another spot on earth that was inspiring. The mountains of the Smokey's in the distance was stunning as the the hostel itself. Completely staffed by people who have completed the hike at least once and understood what we needed. Riley finally stopped shaking and ate three bowls of food and one bowl of water, then jumped on my bunk and fell asleep. You could tell he was happy. All other hikers kept checking on him and their concern and care made me feel so good. I was humbled. I was told that hiking this trail would change me and that change already started. This is a world filled with people I did not know existed anymore. Their kindness and care touched me and as I showered I cried. Good thing the water drowned out my sounds as most who know me, know I am too proud to cry. We including Riley joined the campfire that night until the rains began. I was glad of my decision to take a few days off rather than trying to hike to the next town for Riley. Off to bed. P.S. Riley is much better tonight and had slept most of the afternoon after eating three bowls of food.