Date: 2010-03-08
From: Amicalola State Park

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 67.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Sorry for the lack of entries. It was a little more difficult to get computer access than I imagined. Currently I'm in Hiawassee, Georgia for the afternoon. Just hitched into town to re-supply, and I'll be back on the trail for a few more miles yet today before nightfall.My time on the trail has been great. The hiking, the scenery, the excercise, and the people all have met if not exceeded expectations. The cold and the snow, however, has been problematic.I started hiking from Amicalola State Park on March 1st, it started snowing late in the evening on March 1st. The group I was with that first night at the shelter did make a fire, which was nice (expecially since there has been no dry wood since that night). Nights have been absolutely frigid, with temperatures dropping into the low twenties or teens. Once getting to the shelter/camp for the evening I go through camp chores (getting water, setting up my gear for sleep), make dinner, and then promptly head into my sleeping bag in order to stay warm. With the exception of last night I am certain I spend more time awake and cold at night than I do asleep. The good news is that it has been warming up, last night I stayed rather warm and got plenty of rest. The bad news is that it seems we will be getting rain tueday through saturday. That's weather.The snow has been a pain. It's great to look at, but it is tough to hike through. I have hit drifts up to my waste at times. It's thawing out slowly, but things are still very icy and slick. I've met tons of people since the start of my hike, and they have all been great. From the first night until yesterday I had been hiking and meeting up with Matt and Josh. They had both just gotten out of the navy, and for whatever reason decided that a thru-hike might be a good idea. Unforunately after a night in Helen with the two of them, plus Eight Bells and Andy, they decided to take a zero day in order to rest their respective injuries. I don't know when, but I imagine I'll be seeing the two of them at some point again.People on and off trail have been amazing. Saturday afternoon I came into the parking lot at Unicoi Gap to find the Lehigh's (I wish I had written down your first names, because the two of you deserve many thanks) who were camped out in the parking lot with lawn chairs set up and all sorts of food. I sat down with the two of them and had a bite (well, maybe a few bites to eat) until Matt and Josh came down. They were talking about heading into the Helen to stay out of the cold for a night, and the Lehigh's offered to give us a ride in. It was an offer I could not refuse. Once again, thank you.On the way out of Helen, I figured I'd try my hand at hitching. Eight Bells, an older hiker, seemed skeptical, but it sounded a lot cheaper than the $40 the cab service he called wanted. Just as we crossed through town and I was about to raise my thumb, sure enough another couple pulled up next to us. They were headed on a backpack trip themselve, from Franklin, NC (which I should be at within four days) south to Unicoi. It'll be nice to see them again in a day or two as our paths cross.At Dick's Creek Gap, there was a cooler along the trail with fresh fruit and sodas for thru-hikers as well. Completely annonymous. It may have been the best orange I have ever tasted.Getting into Hiawassee this morning was a breeze as well. The third car to pass pulled up and offered to drop me anywhere I needed to be. People's kindness has absolutely exceeded expectations.So far my body has been holding up very well. No blisters, no ankle problems, no knee issues, no nothing. Sure, I'm sore and tired come days end, but nothing out of the ordinary.Tomorrow afternoon I will be leaving Georgia and crossing into North Carolina, which will be a nice accomplishment. Now that the snow is starting to melt, and I am picking up the pace slightly, things are starting to feel as if they are moving forward (northward).