Date: 2010-02-07
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: scattered clouds

How beautiful a day can beWhen kindness touches it!               ~George EllistonThe night at Low Gap Shelter was long and cold, but more comfortable with the new Thermarest pad. The only real disturbance was during the night when Fahmah was smacking the floor of the shelter with a boot or something. I assumed the shelter mice had mounted an attack on his tent which was set up in the shelter. He said, no that there was a bear moving around outside the shelter. Sounded like a sow "talking" to her cub. Our food was hanging on the bear cables outside, but still - a bear stalking around just outside the shelter needed to be scared off! So I joined in with the banging and offered a few fierce yells to boot. We shined our lights about and eventually ventured out to check the area, since bears have been known to outfox, uh, outbear? bear cables before. It was strange... there were no bear tracks anywhere to be found even though Fahmah was sure the bear had been very close to the shelter. I wonder WHAT he could haveheard...The morning was gray and slightly foggy, but the cloudbank we were in seemed to be trying to lift. The packing went a bit faster this morning than yesterday. I left the shelter and headed on up the trail. Fahmah lingered at the shelter for a while. There were fewer blowdowns along this part of the trail, and the going was much easier. The snow and ice made the walking a bit more difficult, but it wasn't bad at all. The old abandoned road climbed with a gentle grade for a few miles, then continued a climb up a steeper, rockier section.It was interesting to see how the trail conditions changed, seemingly minute by minute. The clouds and fog came and went. The sunshine seemed to flirt with me, shining boldly then coyly playing peekaboo. The world would seem closed in and gray, then I would round a side of the mountain to see blue skies and bright sun making the snow and ice sparkle.The footing changed constantly, too. Sometimes the snow was light and powdery, sometimes it made a slight squelchy sound when I stepped into it - perfect snowball texture. Some stretches of the trail had snow but with a light crust of ice that would echo as I broke through. Solidly packed ice and snow covered other areas. My boots squished in soft sections where the flow of springs, steams and seeps had melted the snow, revealing the brown leaves and mud beneath. The gashes of dark brown made a stark contrast to the virgin white snow all around.Fahmah caught up with me shortly after Chatahoochee Gap, and together we continued on. Up and up over Blue Mountain, then down the other side. When we were nearly down to Unicoi Gap we were overtaken by a couple of trail maintainers who had been up working on the area around Blue Mountain Shelter. (Thanks to all trail maintainers who make this hike possible!)When Fahmah and I made it to the gap, we were met by local trail angels, Dave and Robin. From the gap we were whisked away to our respective motels some miles away down in Hiawassee. That was a wonderfully kind thing for them to do, but they didn't stop there. Two hours later, after we had cleaned up, Dave picked us up and took us home for a wonderful dinner that Robin had made. We watched the Superbowl game together.While the loss of the Colts was disappointing to this midwesterner, the pain was lessened mightily by the friendliness and good cheer of the company. (Of course, the excellent food was most welcome, too!) After a little more chatting, Dave drove us back into town and dropped us off.What a beautiful day it had been. Thank you, Dave and Robin, for your kindness.