Date: 2006-03-03
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Journaling again from my tent. The temperature at 8:19 is 31 degrees. I'm sleeping in long pants, wool socks, shirt, fleece, mittens, hat, scarf, and balaclava. Die hards might say this is overkill. Screw 'em. I've also got my water bottle in here to keep it from freezing. Around the fire tonight Will asked, "Why is it so cold?" I said, "Because it's winter."This sleeping adventure follows a great day of hiking. Lots of ups and downs. Beautiful. Bright sun through bare trees. Views of ridges and rolling scenery. Mountains are different here. Nothing above treeline and no jagged rock scrambling. This allows for steady walking, keeping a beat. Once you find your pace you are free. Winding trail to start. Views of the slope down on my right and up on my left. As I walk I hear my steps, the click of my poles, and wind that blew all day, rattle and squeaking of swaying trees.Up and over four or five mountains. Highest, Sassafras and Justice. Each ascent followed by a descent into a gap. Had no idea that Georgia had this kind of scenery and landscape.Morning began with deep pink and red sunrise. Also numb fingers as I boiled my oatmeal and broke camp. Hiked out with hat, mittens and running shorts. Pants are only for rain. Most of last night's crown minus Tybie Pete (not sure of spelling) kept a similar pace. We all hike alone but cross paths occasionally and somehow all gather for the same breaks. I tend to keep a good strong pace and leap frog with various pairs. Of our current group there are three pairs, and Dan and me each as a solo. Also crossed with Nokia, a trail journalist like most of us. He's just a hike lover and not working on a thru.Was excited to meet Crazy Horse, a guy with an airforce cap and aviator glasses, coming in the opposite direction. He has all of my respect. He's just finishing a SOBO. When he gets to Springer he's turning around and heading back to Katahdin, his fifth thru-hike. And even though I've only done 17 official miles, I feel like I am part of something. We all feel it. Everyone out here, mostly strangers, are involved in a pursuit. Somehow the trail is an equilizer.Interesting that we're all independent, but that we're making decisions as one. We all showed up for a break at the same shelter and based on miles covered and miles between shelters came to an agreement on where to stop for the night. We then separate, hike our miles at our paces and reunite. Agreement among all that the miles flew today. All on a hiker's high.Dan's not with us tonight. He got to Gooch before everyone, having missed the previous confab. When we met up, he had already called Hiker Hostel to put him up for the night. He thought we'd gone on to the next shelter. That would have made for a 21 mile day. Not ready yet. Tomorrow will be 11.5, a tough one. One night, two days to Neels Gap. Showers, resupply and maybe beds for the night. I may lose the group if I have to wait until Monday for my shoes. My foot's feeling better after making adjustments, so hopefully they will forward the shoes to the next stop.Big fun around the fire. The dumbest things provide entertainment. Much talk of happiness of living outdoors, falling into the hiking life, talk of food (big thing for the hikers), and wishes for cherry pie (very common craving for hikers).Coyotes howling and I'm tired. Retiring with the water bottle and the Grease Monkey, still along for the ride.