Date: 2013-03-26
From: Sassafrass Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap - Hiawassee
Miles today: 6.3

We woke up today and it was freezing. Now I have a sore throat to go with my chest congestion. Yeah! The wind was still howling and there's snow on the ground. It was really tough getting up with it being so cold. I went out to get some water that I'd left in my bucket from yesterday and found that it was frozen solid. So I got a rock and broke the ice and presto... we had water! I purified enough water to boil for coffee and G-man made the coffee for us. It was just instant coffee but it tasted so good. Once we drank it, I got up and tried to build a fire but again with little success, even using alcohol. It was just too cold. Eventually we broke camp and got on the move. It wasn't until 11:00 AM, though so we got a late start. Still, I needed to get some hiking done in order to make it to Franklin by next Sunday. As usual, as we hike our own speed... I lose everyone uphill because I'm in the best shape, and Gman loses everyone downhill because of gravity. Noodles brings up the rear due to the gravity of his shape. We saw each other, the other hikers that were at our camp and still others on the trail, and eventually got to Dick's Creek. My goal was to move past Dick's Creek and get in 11.2 miles to the next shelter, which would have been Plum Orchard. However, I wasn't feeling too good and actually was pretty weak from having a cold. I decided it would not be smart to take the risk of hiking up to 12 miles per day to make it to Franklin by Sunday and certainly did not want to miss the arrival of my package. I called Deb and asked her to change the delivery place to Hiawasee and I would just stay back there and be a little behind everyone else. The Budget Inn was full so we moved on to the Holiday Inn Express in Hiawassee. We found it to be so much nicer, but much more expensive. To me it was worth it though. The Budget Inn serves a purpose because it's a cheap place for hikers to stay, and it comes with a ride to and from the trail. But I needed a nice place for one night so I was happy about the situation. We ate at a buffet for $10, all-you-can-eat and it was absolutely great. We filled our guts and got plenty of rest for the impending trail for tomorrow. We talked to many other hikers who were staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Hiawassee. The town is full of hikers. It is unfortunate that I am losing time by staying here but I need to get my package and recuperate so that I can move on. This will be a great place to recover from my cold and let my knee rest. It was hurting pretty bad from going down those steep mountains. I had previously found a knee brace in one of the hiker boxes and put it in my pack though my knee wasn't hurting at the time. I'm glad I did that because now my knee hurts, though I've never had a knee injury. In the lobby I noticed another hiker box. This is a box that is typically at a shelter or hotel or other place where hikers gather, where they leave/give things they don't need to other hikers. I had just asked Deb to send my tarp so I could stay drier when it was raining. I saw two tarps and grabbed the smaller one so now I have one. I can't tell you how miserable it is to not be able to merely step outside of your tent without getting drenched. Now, with the tarp I can sit outside my tent and make coffee or breakfast without getting soaked. It's worth carrying the extra weight. Being in the rain is the most miserable experience of this whole adventure.   Ironically, taking a shower is the most pleasant.