Date: 2014-04-05
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Cheese Factory 
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was the first cold day on the trail. I woke up around 7am and was not looking forward to getting out of my warm sleeping bag. Finally, after a few minutes, I got up and began packing up. I ate a Pop-Tart after I packed up and talked to Bama, Walkabout, and Dale Earnhardt. Soon after, I hit the trail. The first 5 miles to Chattahoochee Gap were fairly level and easy, as it followed an old roadbed. From Chattahoochee Gap to Blue Mountain, the trail turned very rocky and technical. Funny story about this stretch: 10 years ago, me and three friends (Olin, Travis, and Brent) hiked this section and they didn't think I would make it. Hell, I didn't think I would either! I lied down in the middle of the trail many times, dehydrated, weak, and unable to go on. Finally, I made it. That was 10 years ago, and I am happy to say that this time was much different, and I made it through this stretch without even taking a break! I had lunch at Blue Mountain Shelter with Racewalker, Hey George, and Draggin'. After talking to Racewalker, I found out that he is a professional race walker, and trains on the track at Western Carolina University, my alma mater. Small world! After lunch, me and Draggin' hiked the 2.4 miles down to Unicoi Gap together. Draggin' thru-hiked in 2005 and it was fun to listen to his stories, and I picked his brain about thru-hiker things. Draggin' is a good guy, and I really enjoy hiking with him. When we got to Unicoi Gap, I had a choice to make: Either hike on, or call my parents to pick me up and bring me to their house for the night. After thinking for a few minutes, I decided to hike on with the group. It felt odd to be crossing Unicoi Gap on a thru-hike, because it is a place I've passed hundreds, if not thousands of times in a car while growing up. I am fortunate that my parents live so close to the AT in this section, because there will be several times when I will be able to visit them and stay at their house for a night or two along this hike. We saw dozens of day hikers today, all headed for Tray Mountain Shelter, which made the decision for us thru-hikers to not stay there an easy one. Draggin' and I left Unicoi Gap and hiked up Rocky Mountain together, which was very steep and rocky, and felt like it went up forever. We finally made it to the top, drenched in sweat, and sat down to admire the views for about 30 minutes. Then it was a steep descent into Indian Grave Gap, where we got water, and we see Walkabout coming up the trail carrying a 6 pack of Miller Lite, hot dogs, buns, and BBQ sauce. He said he hitch-hiked into Helen, GA to retrieve a mail drop, and picked up some essentials on the way out. Draggin' and I continued on to Cheese Factory, which is a flat camping spot halfway up Tray Mountain. It is the site of an old cheese factory from the 1800s. Only thru-hikers are camped here tonight. Me, Draggin, Racewalker, Hey George, Bottle Cap, Iron Cheeks, MRE, Mundo, and about 8 more. We can see the lights of Helen, GA from up here on the mountain, and it is cold and windy tonight. MRE built a fire which we all enjoyed. Tomorrow I am shooting for Dicks Creek Gap, where I'll be picked up by my parents and taken to their house for the night. I think I'll take a zero day Monday. A zero day is a day off, where no miles are hiked.