Date: 2008-03-11
From: Blue Mountain Shelter (3970')

To: Moreland Gap (I think 3050')
Miles today: 17.6

The mileage above could be 16.4 as I'm not sure which Gap I'm staying at, but I'm pretty sure Moreland is correct. This morning I woke up to a beautiful sunrise. I was kind of tired but it looked very blue and yellow against a mountain range and the shelter opened up right into it. I ate two packets of oatmeal and my goal for the day was Deep Gap Shelter which is 15.3 mi from Blue Mountain Shelter. The guy whose snoring was the loudest last night was apologizing for how loud his stove was when he was cooking breakfast. I didn't really mind either the snoring or the stove but I found it ironic. I left the shelter around 9:30 which seems to be my routine start time nowWhen I reached the top of Blue Mtn there were two hikers who had just come from the Cloud 9 Hostel and made it sound like a great place. Shuttles into Hiawasee, trout fishing, hot tub, and all around things geared towards hikers. I had planned on staying at the Holiday Inn Express when I reached Hiawasee, but Cloud 9 is much cheaper and sounds better. My handbook had said Cloud 9 would most likely be closed so I hadn't even considered it, but obviously that is not the case. The day was mostly overcast but not raining until about halfway. I reached the Tray Mtn Shelter, which is 7.7 miles from where I stayed last night, and refilled my water and it started drizzling very slightly. I didn't put raingear on until it picked up more and the rain was very gentle most of the way to Deep gap shelter and when it did stop it was still cloudy out.When I reached my destination the shelter was full of what appeared to be non-thruhikers. It was a cool shelter with several spots lofted above the lower level. I walked in looked around and left and I heard someone say "did he just walk up then leave" as I was leaving. There was camping at the shelter, but if I was going to rest, I'd rather do it down the trail a bit seeing as how there was 2 hrs of daylight left. I refilled my water and walked the .25 mi back to the trail from the shelter. My book said there was a campsite 1.1 mi from where I was. Seeing as how my book neglected to mention several campsites I had passed earlier I figured this upcoming one was significant enough to be included. There was an outlook 0.9 mi from where I was and the campsite was another 0.2. When I reached the vista I decided to stop and go check it out seeing as how my campsite was only a short distance away and I had time. The view was good and the clouds had just started to allow the sun through which made the short walk from the trail all the more worth it. After I left the outlook I walked a little further and then uphill and then downhill for much longer than 0.2 mi without seeing a campsite. I did pass another grouse however, which I heard, but only saw for half a second before it dissapeared into the woods. Eventually I did see a fire pit which had empty soda cans in it and a spot for a tent. At this point I did consider going on to Dicks Creek Gap and staying at Cloud 9 tonight but instead decided to save my money and tent. If I am where I think I am along the trail then Im only 1.2 mi from Dicks Creek Gap which means a very short walk tomorrow and a full day to take care of errands in town. It also means I walked 2.3 mi from the shelter turn-off which was not my intent. My feet got real beat up yesterday and they don't feel too much better today but I did treat them with some moleskin so they didn't get any worse. They will rest up tomorrow for a while and hopefully enjoy the hot tub. I can't seem to stake my tent correctly and I think it has to do with me not using the adjustable hiking pole. I might ask to get the pole that came with the tent mailed to me.I had the same thing for dinner that I did last night and tomorrow morning I'm going to try and make as quick on exit as possible to give me more time in town. I get to use a phone again and its Grammie's 82nd (I think) B-day and I'll definitely call her. She won't be expecting it. I'll also get my camera which Esra mailed to the Holiday Inn Express and I'll talk to her, my parents, and I might give Doug, Bob, or Stevo a call as well. I hope the Holiday Inn will give up my mail even though I'm not staying there. Also I saw another one of the blue woodpeckers and a normal one that might have had a small crest, but I couldn't make out any colors because it was silouetted (sp?). I also saw some more Dark-eyed junkos.