Date: 2015-04-04
From: Poplar Stamp Gap, GA

To: Cheese Factory Site, GA
Miles today: 12.0

Morning:Last night was the first of what will most likely be many crumby nights/days on the trail. A storm system rolled through just before midnight and lasted through the morning hours sending wind and thunder rumbling through the mountains. Snuggly cocooned in a sleeping bag inside my tent, it made for a nice show watching lightning flashes illuminate and dance across my rain fly. A relatively sleepiness night would follow, however, as my streak of little sleep continues. Though not recommended due to trail etiquette, I was faced with the dilemma of needing to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Normally you would find a place well off the trail to relieve yourself, but seeing as though there was a downpour, I simply unzipped my tent, and carefully aimed outside of my door. Problem solved. The feeling would return just before 6am and, no longer having the rain excuse, I layered up and stumbled out into a dark, foggy, and cold morning. Rock Boat was up for whatever reason and I reassured him I wasn't leaving him behind just yet. It's currently approaching 7am and my camp is still asleep as I type these words. The rain has passed, though drops from the treetops still plop off our tents every few seconds. The wind is howling along the ridges which makes me think it'll be rather chilly hiking today. As soon as more light appears, the camp will gradually rise at their own pace, pack away their wet, muddy tents, and begin their walks to their respected targets for the day.Evening:Rock Boat and I headed east outta camp up what would be considered level ground for AT standards. It was a pleasant surprise from previous mornings - the going was good early on for once. This helped forget the moral sting caused by last night's rain, but the extra weight of wet tents did not. Partnered with sustained winds from the north, it would make the day the worst so far. We made it to Blue Mountain shelter and were able to get a small break as we ate lunch behind a tarp-wall hung over the shelter entrance. The day's first challenge would be the descent side of Blue Mountain. The decline would become the most difficult part as my latest injury would soon flare up in the form of sharp pains in one of my knees that would persist for the rest of the day, but mainly just on descents. This mountain had many cutbacks and rocky terrain scattered amongst the remaining trail until we finally reached Unicoi Gap. Here I experienced my first form of trail magic when a man who had been running the trail stopped to offer us water. I gladly excepted, and was surprised at the distance he had just run, but was offering me - along with Rock Boat, Airlock, and Leigh (whose trail name is now officially "Star Crunch") - the water he had available. The man, at 60, was training for a 100-mile mountain run himself. A man driving a shuttle also stopped by and said hello and offered his hostel at the next gap. The man ended up being a man, a myth, and a legend of not only AT thru-hikers, but also of the triple crown (AT, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail), Sir-Packs-Alots. No more than minutes after Rock Boat and I continued, Star Crunch was given water and a mini bottle of whiskey by 2 more strangers. Sometimes you're lucky, other times you can only be happy for another hiker's good fortune.The days toughest climb would be soon after at Rocky Mountain where the climb gained just over 1,000ft in 1.5 miles. The remaining couple of miles to the Cheese Factory Site (the former site of one) were gradually uphill, but easy compared to the earlier climbs. The night promises clear skies and a cold night so I currently sit tucked in my sleeping bag, listening to the camp of ~10 hikers. Fiddler on the Hoof reached our camp this evening and is currently serenading the masses with his craft. Only a 10-miler planned for tomorrow, but Tray Mountain, which rises 800ft in the first 2 miles of trail, awaits. Hoping to reach Hiawassee, GA by Monday, but injuries linger and will have to be monitored.Happy Easter to everyone tomorrow. It may not be family, but I can at least say I'll be spending the day with a few cool people.