Date: 2006-03-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today, 3/1/06, I parked the Jeep at Indian Grave Gap and took a conditioning hike over Rocky Mountain to Unicoi Gap and back. Those hills get right to the point. Whew !For the record: it was in the HIGH SIXTIES today. The sun was out all day.Before I reached the top I ran into three hikers. The first being KarunaMiel which means Compassion and Honey. That's quiet a trail name. She started on the trail at Springer on her birthday. I know what day that was and I know how old she is, but I'll never tell. (for photos of all folks in this post see http://ozzyo.com ) This is not new ground for her as she hiked the entire trail in sections from July 4, 1986 to July 2, 2004. This time, however, KarunaMiel intends to make it in one shot. Currently she hales from Tallahoma, Tennessee but actually grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. This being a significant year in her life she is hoping to hike the trail in a way that will allow the time to create a lifetime of pleasant new memories. She hopes to do more than just watch the ground ahead as she places one foot in front of the other. For sure there will be a lot of that but she is interested in the people she meets, the sights to be seen, evenings sitting around the fire, and the hiker towns to be visited. That is where the memories will be made that will last long after memories of all those steps between are a blur. Have a pleasant journey. Not very far behind was John Schubert. John is a fine looking 70 years young. He is doing a section from Springer Mountain to Russell Field where he plans to arrange a ride from Cades Cove. That seems like a pretty good jaunt to me! He started on the trail this past Friday at 11:00 AM. Currently residing in Knoxville, Tennessee having lived in Chicago for about 40 years after coming to this country from Poland/Germany.John is already thinking past this hike to one either on the Pacific Coast Trail or in the Rocky Mountains. Barreling down the trail rapidly closing the distance on those ahead was Dan Mohler aka Moleman from Lancaster, PA. At the rate he is going he will be home in no time. Dan works at an outfitter shop and is no stranger to the trail. He made from the approach trail at Amicalola Falls State Park to Neel's Gap in two days. I couldn't get him to stay still long enough to learn much more than that. Here is a man on a mission. Go get 'em Dan.After I make it up the hill from Unicoi Gap I stopped on top to cook some lunch and took the time to set up my new MSR Hubba tent. This was the first time I had done that and I was pleased. It seems to be a well designed tent with space enough to avoid claustrophobia. Plenty of headroom. I just got the tent packed up when three thru hikers came over the brow of the hill. From left to right is Guns of Jesus, Cash, and Snowy. Cash and Snowy are from Casper, Wyoming and "Guns" is from Blairstown, New Jersey. The guys from the Rocky Mountains are impressed with the trail. "Guns" was getting a workout too. They are taking time to smell the roses it seems.......I didn't see any roses ! They expect to be in Hiawassee on Friday. Give me a call guys and I'll give you a ride into town.