Date: 2014-03-18
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 6- After a very cold, damp night we got up at 6:30 AM, packed up a wet tent (but dry on the inside where it counts), ate a quick breakfast and started our 9.6 mile trek to Unicoi Gap. The first 3 miles were on an old road bed so the grade was gentle and the footing firm. We watched the sun (!) come up over the mountains and it was beautiful as we had several views from up high where we could look across to other ridges and mountains and down onto fingers of clouds stuck in the gaps. It was a great way to start the day! After the roadbed conditions became more trail-like and we went up Blue Mountain. We made a snack stop at the Blue Mountain Shelter where we met Daniel, a thru-hiker from Germany. He had all his gear spread out to dry because everything got soaked last night. He was in a good drying spot because he was high up where the sun was shining and there was a breeze. Our last 2 miles were all down hill and the weather conditions deteriorated as we descended. By the time we got to Unicoi Gap it was in the low 40's with strong winds and fog so dense we couldn't see to the end of the parking area. We were in one of those low clouds stuck between the mountains! This was our destination for the day and we were supposed to call the guy at the Budget Inn in Hiawassee who was going to send a shuttle up to get us. We decided to try to hitch a ride into town, thinking that it may be quicker then waiting for someone to drive up to get us. So I stuck out my thumb but it was so foggy that no driver could see me in time to stop, plus there was very little traffic. So Jim called the guy and he told us he'd be there in 30 minutes. In that 30 minutes (which was really 40) 3 other cars drove to the parking lot to drop off hikers and they offered us rides to town, which we couldn't accept because our guy was on his way. By the time we got picked up we were frozen! The interesting part of the drive down to Hiawassee was that about 1/4 of a mile down the hill away from the gap, the sun was shining and we could feel the temps rising. Spring has sprung in Hiawassee!This is our first stop in a real town for resupply. We sent a box to this motel with 4 days of food. Once we checked into our room we walked directly to the nearby Dairy Queen for a hot, tasty, calorie-filled meal. We then did a load of wash, dried our tent and boots, planned our next section of hiking, showered, grocery shopped and made a dinner reservation at the nicest Italian restaurant in town. This has not really been a rest day, although I am sitting comfortably in our room to write this! As I've mentioned before, we've been meeting lots of wonderful people. Here are some of the trail names of people we've met: Rhode Island Red, Mountain Dew, Cheesesteak (she's from Philly!), MC, Blackhorse, Slowpoke, High Loon, Zig Zag, Mission, Two Tricks, Saint, Pittsburgh, and lots of other folks waiting for a trail name to find them. Our plan is to hike for 6 days before stopping for a resupply. This would hopefully put us at the NOC-Nantahala Outdoor center, where we might spend 2 nights because we will have had 6 longer mileage days in a row and it will be time for a rest day. During this next stretch we will leave Georgia and enter North Carolina! Thanks to all for signing our guest book! It is so great to hear from each of you. Please forgive me if I don't respond back personally, frequently there isn't time when we have good cell service or I need to conserve the battery life on my phone. All is well.