Date: 2012-04-21
From: Gooch Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up at 5:45 to the sound of rain (pouring) put on my Goretex rain gear with my Surfire headlamp on I ventured down to the privy (first time) it was a very big privy, by privy standards and much appreciated on this cold raining morning, kept me dry. After you do your thing, there are a couple of 5 gallon plastic buckets full of leaves or woodchips, you take a couple of handfuls of either and cover what you just deposited, allowing the red worms do their job. I cleaned-up the privy a little before I left, swept the floor with a broom (all privy have these) used a wet facial towelette on the seat of the throne so it would be clean for the next visitor. (good Karma)returned to the shelter to eat breakfast, Turbo had his tent spread out trying to dry it off with a towel. I decided to just have cold cereal (Rip's Big Bowl) bought at WholeFoods Johns Creek, GA it's part of the Engine 2 diet, along with two rasin cinnamon bagels topped with honey. 15 hikers crammed into one little muddy wet shelter was not my idea of fun so I returned to my hammock let my wet boots hang outside and just rested waiting for the crowd to leave or the rain to stop. Finally it was just us three hammock campers left Wicked Miner, Blu-eyes soon to be Grizzle and myself. Wicked Miner had a Hennessey hammock with snake skins drying it out from the roof of the shelter. My hammock was dry, I took it down underneath the tarp my pack and other gear was also under the big Mamajamba (132"x120")tarp. Took everything down to the shelter to pack-up. Signed the shelter log "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." ~ Neale Donald Walsh. Hiking in the rain was definately not in my comfort zone but the rain gear kept me dry for the most part. I planned to call my sister when I reached Woody Gap, she lives about 20 minutes from there between Dahlonega & Cleveland. I will shower, do the laundry, dry-out everything and try to catch up on this journal. I need to learn how to upload the photo's too!With so much rain the trail was actually like a stream you had to walk to the side of the trail to avoid the water and the mud! Half way through the rain began to slack up some ran into two hikers (husband & wife team 30's) who stopped by Gooch Mountain Shelter for lunch earlier that morning they were taking off their rain gear also passed Goose & Criple Creek taking off their rain gear, I was going to wait until I could see the sunshine. Finally the sun broke through the clouds and I removed my rain gear on top of Ramrock Mountain. Strolled into Woody Gap about 2:30 P.M. saw a thru-hiker by the sign drying out his gear. His trail name was Durrty Hippy (he told me how to spell it) (male 20's) from New Hampshire. Grew up on a deer farm (hunting club I guess?) he told me he had planned on hiking the trail with his best friend but the best friend commited suicide in 2011 he has his friends ashes in his backpack so in a sense they are walking the trail together... Sad! While waiting on my brother to pick me up and talking with Durrty Hippy out walked Blu-eyes soon to be Grizzle in his sandals no socks hiking for most of the day in the rain! He needed a ride over to Neels Gap to Mountain Crossings which has a full outfitters store inside to purchase some shoes or boots. I told him we would shuttle him to Neels Gap and we did. Ok off the trail for tonight. be back tomorrow at Woody Gap to hike the 11.5 miles to Neels Gap.