Date: 2004-03-24
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap, GA
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Did you know that Rhododendron leaves pop when they burn?What a day. If they keep up like this, I'll have too much to write about. After waking up at 6:45 to the other hikers packing, I took my time cooking. It was chilly and I could not keep my fingers warm.I had my first opportunity to use duct tape when I melted holes in two stuff sacs. I was using them as a wind shield for my Pepsi stove. Not a good idea. I also ignited a hair elastic but that will not be missed. I looked upon the whole incident with awe and amusement.Steve, a 25 year old from MA, offered me his duct tape. It patched the holes nicely. I was the last out of the shelter at 9:15. Hightower Gap was less than a mile away when I came across eight young kids sitting on the logs that lined the trail. They looked forelorn. I thought I had found the VonTrapps in GA, but it was the Amish group, or Menonites. I saw the woman first. She had a triangled bandanna covering her hair like a shall and wore a skirt. She had an apologetic smile as she explained that the guy lying on the ground next to her was awfully sick. I asked if they needed Peptol Bismol or for me to call someone. They said they had a cellphone, so I moved on. Further up I met one of their group and gave him Josh's number since he passes through here often. I had to completely unpack my bag to find the number but he was "much obliged."Further up the trail, I met One Leg and Flash Hand. While it is well known that One Leg has a prosthetic leg, it is not known that Flash Hand is deaf and uses sign language.My ASL would have been handy if I could remember it. But he quickly taught me "See you later."I leaped frog with Jen and Sean, a couple from Maryland, a few times. Then I was alone with the woods for a bit. There were some tough ups and downs. Getting to the peak of Mount Sassafras was particularly tiring.I bumped into Steve, Andy & Darren, the guys who renamed my game, at Justice Creek. They were just leaving, but Steve hung out to finish cleaning up. We had a discussion about the miles to Gooch Gap Shelter. One book said 1.1 and the map said 2.5. Whichever, I figured I would see them there.Sure enough it was 1.1 to Gooch Gap Shelter. But it was only 2 or so in the afternoon. After chatting with the boys for a bit, I forged ahead alone to Gooch Gap and the intersection of US42.Nobody was here but there was a nice campsite so I set up for the night. It took me an hour. I'm not very efficient but learning.About an hour later, Andy and Darren showed up. They were thinking of moving on but I convinced them to stay once I showed them the campsite.Darren had never set up his tent because he bought it cheap in Atlanta that weekend. There were no instructions. Just as we were figuring things out, Josh showed up to say hello. He immediately gave our camp techniques a rundown. Very helpful. He even moved my bear bag rope to a higher limb.Shortly after that, a woman with four kids and a baby in her arms showed up. They were One Leg's support group and family. Also with them was One Leg's friend Frederick, also an amputee, who was documenting his progress on onelegwonder.comOne Leg had not shown up so the kids pulled together every stitch of wood and bark to build a roaring fire. Josh had since left. The kids were inquisitive and grilled the three of us about our hiking. That's when I learned Darren was planning to quit at Neel's Gap. Andy was thru-hiking and Darren came along for the first week. But he has his own rig and truck contract and can't afford the six month stint of hiking. Andy did a marathon in 2000 but admits he is out of shape now for that.We heard a "Woo Hoo!" on the trail behind us and the kids went racing yelling "Daddy!" Lisa, the woman carrying the baby remarked after they disapeared, "They just love their Daddy." Their plan is to drive north and provide food, water, and recharging for Scott, One Leg.For awhile we were all around the campfire chatting. A far cry from the empty campsite I had earlier. Then the family agreed to find a spot farther off as to not bother us and left Andy, Darren, and me to enjoy the remains of the fire. After a bit of chatting, we headed to our tents and everything went quiet.