Date: 2013-04-17
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Cheese Factory Site, GA
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: light rain

By Wednesday, I was ready to head into town for resupply. The nearest towns were Hiawassee and Helen, GA in opposite directions of each other on GA 75 at Unicoi Gap, just under 2 miles descent from the summit of Blue Mountain. I made it to the parking turnout at Unicoi Gap before 9am. It was a fortuitous time to arrive! A flyer from the local Baptist church in Helen, advertised free shuttle into town, with all you can eat breakfast, laundry, showers, and shuttle around town to resupply. To top it off, the shuttle would return you to the trailhead later in the day. I waited about 15 minutes, and right on schedule, the shuttle arrived. The driver was likely a parishioner perhaps in her 40's, accommodated by an older rather portly man who was likely the church pastor...at least one of them. Both were very friendly. They waited perhaps another 15 minutes for more hikers to arrive. I watched perhaps a half dozen, who had also camped at the Blue Mountain Shelter, make their way down the switchbacked AT to the highway. Oddly, most of them completely ignored the shuttle and apparently never read the flyer at the kiosk that stated "FREE BREAKFAST" in bold print. Tru, Paul, her dog, and myself enjoyed a wholesome breakfast of scrambled eggs folded with cheddar, pancakes, orange juice and coffee. After being completely satiated with food, we took showers and did laundry, before heading back into the main part of town for re-supply. First, we found a good restaurant-pub for beer and German food which the German-themed-town was known for. For those familiar with the Danish town of Solvang, in Santa Ynez, CA, the ambiance was very similar, but in the lush green Appalachian Mountains. We may have eaten at the Helendorf River Inn since I recall the outdoor patio being on the banks of a river. We enjoyed bratwurst, wienerschnitzel and excellent beer. By about 3pm, we made our way with packs to Betty's Country Store on the edge of town. The store was excellent for hiker-resupply, with many assorted bulk foods, candies, and gourmet pastas. By the time we were done shopping, the weather had turned for the worst. Rain began to fall heavily as we were repackaging food on the picnic table outside the market. We finished under front eves of the market, then tried to arrange a ride back to the trailhead up the hill. Tru somehow arranged a ride with the store owner, a kind woman perhaps in her early 50s who had an old Ford truck. The rain stopped in about an hour. By late afternoon, the three of us hopped in the truck, Tru in back with her dog; Paul and I in front. By the time we arrived to Unicoi Gap, the rain came down in buckets. We scrunched beneath the tiny roof overhang of the kiosk while dawning our rain gear. I headed up the ridge at a fast clip. Tru and Paul had decided they would set camp a short distance before the first summit north of the gap, Rocky Mountain. I decided I wanted to push as far north as I could into darkness to make a few miles. The descent from Rocky Mountain was steep, rocky, and treacherous as flashes of lightning directly above, and deafening claps of thunder rung my ears. It was dusk by Indian Grave Gap (mi 55.6). I hiked up the next ridge in heavy rain and darkness until I reached the Cheese Factory Site at mile 56.6. The grounds were relatively flat and flooded. Several tents were set up around the perimeter of the opening, but no one was stirring. I searched the flooded grounds for a spot that was well drained. A labyrinth of paths beneath the low understory led to another small opening down slope. The opening did not look ideal for setting up a tent, but had a large tree for hanging the food bag. After hiking circles beneath the understory, I ended up at a site not more than maybe 10 yards from a neighboring tent. After setting up the tent in the rain, the rain ceased...at least for the time being. I young man greeted me and introduced himself as "lumber" (I think) I introduced myself, and learned that he brewed beer for a living. I had eaten already in Helen. I dressed in my wool bedtime clothes and into my warm bag for the night.