Date: 2013-04-02
From: Hightower Gap

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 12.4

The Appalachian Trail in Georgia just sparkles. Literally. It looks like someone walked along the trail ahead of me and sprinkled glitter in my path. I'm no geologist, but I guess it's a kind of rock called mica. In addition to all the loose "glitter" that sparkles on the trail, all the rocks glitter too. When the sun is shining, which I have been fortunate to have had happen all the time, it is truly amazing to see. There is also a lot of marble--pure white rocks of all different sizes from gravel-sized to boulders. And some are pink, and some are streaked with gray and pink, and I saw one that was the most beautiful shade of coral-salmon-pink. There are so many pretty rocks, and I keep seeing some that my granddaughter would love to have, and my first instinct is to pick them up and put them in my pack to give her later. Then I realize the lunacy of filling my pack with rocks! I guess she will have to hike the trail herself some day.Today was a harder day for me than yesterday. The trail was much different. Yesterday I hiked along side of so many pretty little babbling brooks, and it was fairly gentle--Hawk Mt. wasn't so bad, in retrospect. Today, Sassafras Mt. was a long, steep, climb. It was followed shortly by Justus Mt, which was shorter and not nearly as steep, and I thought I was home free. But then! Nobody told me about Ramrock Mt. It definitely deserves more respect. Everybody talks about Sassafras and Justus, but Ramrock kicked my butt. Maybe it seemed worse because it was late in the day when I was already tired. There also wasn't nearly as much water on the trail today. The only creek was Justus Creek, about in the middle of the day. I stopped there and refilled my water bottles which were nearly empty after the long morning hike. I used my Sawyer Squeeze water filter, which worked great. Then, at the very end of the day, was what was cryptically called in my guidebook as, "Springs. Many". And there, coming from out of the rocks on the left side of the trail, was spring after spring after spring. Water, either sprinkling or trickling or gushing from the rocks, and down the steep dropoff on my right. Sigh. I love this trail!I hiked 12.4 miles today in 8.5 hours. I am definitely the slowest one in our group of 4 slackpackers. I feel bad about it, but I am doing the best I can. I go very slow on the uphills, because it is hard, and I get out of breath, and the memory of that pulled groin muscle is still vivid. And I go slow on the downhills, because I am babying my knees, and to a lesser extent, my ankles. These downhills often have loose rocks in them, and it would be so easy to turn an ankle, or jam a knee. So I watch my foot placement very carefully, and I don't know how these people go flying down the hill passed me. So because I am slow going up- and downhill, I try to make up for it by really pushing on the relatively flat sections, hiking MUCH faster than I am comfortable hiking. And I don't take the time to fully appreciate the scenery, or smell the roses, etc. I guess that's the price I pay for slackpacking, and having a shuttle to meet at a predetermined time. I do appreciate the warm bunk, and hot shower, and especially not having to carry a heavy pack. Once the slacking is over and I have to carry that pack, my daily mileage will drop drastically. I'm thinking it might even go to 5-8 miles a day for a few days, and I'm ok with that. Speed and strength will come with time.Today I hiked past the point where I had to give off last year with the groin pull, so that is a personal victory for me! I guess it is due to better conditioning, and mostly with not having the heavy pack on my pack. The weather was much colder today than yesterday, but with the strenuous hiking I soon worked up a sweat anyway, and didn't mind the cold. I used to be cold all the time,but I guess menopause has taken care of that. Cold doesn't bother me as much as it used to. In fact, I was about the only person I saw all day today hiking in short sleeves!I feel good. My feet are sore on the bottoms tonight, I think I will get some insoles. No blisters yet, which is a real blessing, many hikers have terrible trouble with blisters. Tomorrow: the infamous Blood Mt, highest mountain on the trail in Georgia! They say the climb up is not so bad, but the descent is brutal. I'll let you know tomorrow night!Thanks for all the comments in the guest book. It means a lot to me. And, those of you who are praying for me? Please add my husband Mike to your prayers. In many ways he has a harder job than I do, without the adventure. I appreciate him, and all who are pulling for me, so much!