Date: 2008-11-25
To: Planning Phase
Miles today: 0.0

Another great shakedown hike from Amicalola Falls State Park to Neels Gap..40 miles..approx elevation gain over 7100ft and loss over 7300ft..the weather was sunny,brisk,cold (40s)winds in the day and clear,starry skies with cold(15-20s) temps at night..brrrrrr..ahhh yeah..this is what I was wanting out of this hike..testing winter gear.Actually my original plan was to leave my car at AFSP and shuttle to Unicoi Gap to begin a 60 mile trek but my shuttle person didn't show up.I finally reached him and he said his father had had a heart attack and he was on the way to the hospital. I sure hope he's okay.What do I do now?I started hiking that's what I did.You like the port-a-potties at the great Approach Trail Arch..hmmmm? There is about 6 or 8 of them all in a row.They seem to go on forever..haAfter getting the late start on Wednesday 19th, I camped on WoodyKnob.My sleeping gear consists of a Mountain Hardwear Phanthom 15 degree bag with a 15 degree bag liner to boot.What can I say,I sleep COLD!!I also have a Z Rest pad and a Prolite4 3/4 length pad.So I was toasty.YES!!On top of Springer Mountain a trail maintenance crew was there waiting on a helicopter drop( and me to drag my butt up the mountain so they don't accidentally drop a load of lumber on my head)of supplies to rebuild the privies..nice Thanks for all you do guys.I was wondering why the helicopters kept flying over me as I was climbing the mountain.Heck I was just stopping and looking at them too.Little did I know I was hindering them.Oh well.Thursday night I stayed at Stover Creek..not at the nice shelter..man, that shelter is rockin'..I met quiet a few SOBOs..what a treat! Grits,Shelter Monkey and Creek Diver are some I remember.But I do remember they were ALL young and skinny.Maybe when I finish at Big K I will be young and skinny..well skinny anyway..HA!They were very excited and rightly so.This was very encouraging for me.It was a hoof to get to Justus Creek and water..I had been out for a few hours but I was okay since it wasn't hot out but it was great to see the creek.This was my coldest night,Friday..on my little thermometer it read 15 degrees at midnight when I had a nature call..arrgh The next morning even though I kept my water in my tent it was almost all frozen.I was able to salvage some of it then the rest thawed as I hiked on that day to a small but nice stream just north of the Dockery Lake Trail.There I camped.Then was the magnificent Blood Mountain.I like everyone else that knows remembers the tragic fate of Meredith Emerson.I couldn't help but to think about her and the loss her family feels now.As a mother myself my heart and prayers go toward them for best wishes and peace.I wrote a poem to Meredith on the picture entitled "Enough said".I called the picture this because after summitting Blood Mountain,being engulfed in thoughts of her and her family and facing my own fears of the whole horrific situation,the information board had a simple but empowering emblem with her name and a heart(see pic).It stood out boldly to me and said very respectfully and loudly at the same time "We love and miss you Meredith"On arriving to Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap I was greeted with very friendly and helpful staff.I even got to meet Chris Hall"the LEKI rep"..cool.Within an hour I was in a shuttle jeep back to my car at AFSP then on my way home.Even though I didn't get to do as many miles as I had planned it was another great hike and experience.Now what can I test next.hahahaha