Date: 2011-05-03
From: Dick's Creek Gap - Hiawasee, GA

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke early around 7 a.m. and took a second shower! Ah!!! That felt great! Started asking everyone what the plan for the day was to get back on the trail. As we were discussing this topic, we were all sitting around outside our room doors and guess who tried to join the conversation!!! MACK!!! Whoa!! Where'd he com from? Caver got mad at him, told Mack to get lost. This caused a big ruckus and it became known that Caver didn't even know Mack yet, he just didn't like him and his attitude. Guess Caver has the same 6th sense as Bandit.Immediately after the uproar, Gene showed up at the Inn bringing MyTime to the hotel!!! I told Caver my feelings about Mack and then hit up Gene that the guy he was looking for was at the hotel, but Mack lit out of there pretty fast. Then things started adding up. Squirrel Nut and Long Trail noted Mack was bragging about stealing from other hikers. Safari noted Mack had smoked all his weed at Deep Gap before coming into town this morning, someone noted that Mack had stolen a sleeping bag from Neels Gap and Gene called the Sheriff. All gave their accounts to the deputy and sadly Mack had already Yellow Blazed it out of town (he hitched a ride down the highway instead of taking the trail).Earlier that morning, Bandit and I walked up to McDonald's for pancakes for breakfast and had stopped at Ingles Supermarket to buy some supplies on our way back to the hotel. Mack had cornered me at the door to the store asking if he could use my cell phone. I had turned him down. He left in a huff and I was then really worried about leaving Bandit tied up outside the supermarket all alone. That guy is creepy! Wish the sheriff had him because now he is still on the trail somewhere.I got a ride back to Dick's Creek Gap and was on the trail by noon with the whole gang. It was to be a long hike to a far away shelter if I was to stay on schedule and of course, rain was in the forecast. Bandit and I crossed the GA/NC boarder in rain gear. It was getting late and colder in addition to the rain. Little did I realize but NC doesn't believe in switch backs and the 3 or 4 large knobs that we had to climb all went STRAIGHT UP!! Very, very hard climbs for the end of the day and I just hated to stop in the rain long enough to get out my NC map to see how much farther it was to the shelter. Our current map stopped at the GA boarder, my NC map was buried in my pack. Rats!As it continued to rain, I finally stopped and asked three pitched tents, the time and how much further it was to the next shelter and if they knew how hard the climb was to be. No one popped their heads out of the tents due to the rain, but spoke back through the tent. They noted the time correctly, said it was only a mile to the shelter but it actually turned out to be 2.5 miles. They noted it was all uphill climb to get there but neglected to note it was a HARD uphill climb. About 1.5 miles past those three tents I stopped, dropped my pack, frantically dug for my rain pants because I was freezing and retrieved my map. My vocal response to what I read on that map (another uphill mile yet to go!) must have sounded quite panicked because it was at this point that Bandit started to panic. He was doing circles around me and wining with concern. This turned out to be a very good lesson for me on how the Alpha dog (Me!) should never display fear because it causes the rest of the pack (in this case Bandit) to become afraid. I need to remain the strong, confident pack leader. So I calmed down, spoke sweetly to Bandit, and got us back on the trail. Bandit calmed down as I did. Wow! Good dog training lesson there!!!We finally go to the shelter in the dark, soaking wet, and very cold. Long Trail made me hot chocolate (bless her) and Caver hung my bear bag (thanks Caver!) I setup my tent and dropped into my sleeping bag without any supper but at least I was warm!!! Later in my adventure I was to learn that I was tenting right next to Grandma Pam! I'd heard all a lot about this other lady from Wisconsin but I think I was the only one who hadn't met her yet.