Date: 2009-04-16
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: few clouds

So, I am at the Hiker Hostel again. No no, I didn't quit. The wonderful folks here run a shuttle up to Woody Gap every day. You see, even though I just hiked 29 miles, it's all of about 5 miles up the road to them. They pick up who ever is there, but I was the only one today. Wow, what a hell of a day. 17 miles, I am exhausted. So much to talk about today, it was a real time trial, living and dying by the clock. I guess you could break it into thirds. I woke up at 7am and found that those rat bastards had attacked my pack. No literally, those rat bastards ate a hole in my pack. I hung my food bag like a good hiker, but stupid me forgot a Clif bar in the front shovel pocket. I woke up to a silver dollar sized hole and a half eaten Clif bar. The shelter rats are notorious for creating problems. I won't make that mistake again. I woke up with the goal of making it to Gooch Mtn Shelter, 12ish miles away. But the idea of coming back to the Hostel, a shower, delivery pizza, and electricity sounded all too exciting. I got on the trail just a couple of minutes before 8. That gave me exactly 9 hours to get to Woody gap, 17.3 miles away, hmmmm, could I do it? I was about to find out. The first section of my day was 5 miles to Hawk Mtn Shelter, I was hoping to get there by 10ish, and I got there at 10:03. The next jaunt was 7 miles, by far the most strenuous section of the day, and I needed to get to Gooch Mtn Shelter. I needed to get there by 2:00, 2:30 at the latest, to have a prayer of making it to Woody Gap on time. Between that point and me stood Sassafras and Justus Mtns, a couple of the hardest hikes at the start of the AT. Passing many folks along the way (both directions), I made it to the shelter at 1:57. Sassafras "kicked my ass" as they say down here, and Justus took the rest of it from me. My legs are jelly, I just completed over 12 miles, but I decided to push it. I wanted to be eating Dominos and call home to Dani so bad tonight. The last section was 5 miles to GA route 60, the first pavement I would see since Amicalola. Between me and my goal stood Ramrock Mtn. Damn, Ramrock sucked. I left Gooch Gap with 3.5 miles left at 2:40, and it was all uphill from there. I started hallucinating that Dani was standing at the top of the hill with a big Dominos pizza in her hand, my slice of heaven. About a half mile before the long climb up Ramrock, I put on the Ipod and rocked out. I owe at least part of my success today to George Thorogood, Rage Against the Machine, and Godsmack. It was the second wind I needed. I had all but given up, thinking I'd never make it in time after all that struggle, when I saw the truck. A big beautiful white tractor trailer truck driving down the road, I must be close I thought, he passed not more than a half mile away from me. I pulled (dragged myself) into the Woody Gap parking lot at 4:25pm, a half hour to spare, I never thought it would happen.   17.3 miles in 8.5 hours in mountain country. Try it, it's hard. My highlight of the day? I'm sitting at a picnic table at the gap and these 6 guys come out of the woods in the opposite direction. We start talking, they did 20 miles in 2 days on an AT guide led hike. After the normal chit chat, they ask me about my hike. I told them I did 17 miles today, and the entire group of burly, fully loaded pack wearing, fresh off the trail bad asses simultaneously go "Whooooooaahhh". It was freakin awesome. A few lessons learned today: I needed to eat more. I needed to go so fast that I didn't have time to cook anything, trail mix and clif bars all day. Also, I drank about 5 quarts of water and I didn't go pee all day. Not good, I drank a LOT, but still not good. A gorgeous day, I woke up at 35* and the high was 62* with a little breeze, perfect. Rain is coming in Sat. night, so I wanted to push it while the going is good. It's 7:30, and I'm ready for bed. 10 easyish miles into Neel's Gap tomorrow. See you there. Pictures are getting posted in a minute to Google. Happy Trails,Matt