Date: 2014-04-10
From: Poplar Gap

To: Cheese Factory
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

AT day 5 - What a beautiful day!Today we woke to an amazing sunrise and warmth!!! It was a welcome change from the cold we've had so far. It was wonderful packing up camp and not freezing! We knew we had a couple big climbs to do so we got started fairly early. Donna (who we deemed Nightingale) walked with me for a while at the beginning while the boys went ahead a ways. It was nice having someone to talk to while hiking that understands girl stuff! She is also just a very sweet woman who even lent me her phone charge booster so I could write this post (my phone died right before we left camp), gave me an emergency blanket in case I needed it to stay warm at night, and gave Kent a breakfast drink and powdered milk to make it with. People on the trail never cease to amaze me with kind acts. After a nice couple miles through the woods we went to an empty shelter with a great view and had our lunch before heading down to Unicoi Gap. There we were greeted by the YWAM van (the van that's supporting the school group we camped with the other night) who gave us snacks and water!!! It was a nice treat before heading up our first real big climb of the day. Once again we set our pace to slow and made it up the two mile mountain with no issues. We've all fallen into a routine for climbing that seems to be working so I think we're all sticking to it. Generally Jon goes ahead a little and Kent and I stay together; me humming or whistling and Kent probably wanting me to shut up (thanks Steve for the music on my MP3 player) but being too out of breath to tell me! Just kidding he's doing great!At the top was another gorgeous view! We could see all the way to South Carolina! That always makes the climb worth it. After a steep rocky downhill, we made it to our next climb with sore knees and headed into camp at the Cheese Factory, where to my dismay there was no cheese. We were the first to make it there but were quickly joined by over 15 more campers. A lot of people we hadn't seen since day one or two strolled in and we all exchanged stories of what had happened over the last few days. Most of them thought we went further ahead and that they wouldn't catch up to us. What a great confidence boost to think people out here think we're fast! Once again trail names came up and were happy to report that we all have official names now and have named three other people! Kent is now Glades Man and I'm Optimist Prime. I think we've officially named a brother and sister set of hikers "hansel & gretel". The other favorite topic while at the campfire is what can be done to keep Sarah warm at night. Last night I had to sleep in all of my clothing which consisted of: tights, thick running leggings, two pairs of wool socks, my gators (which are like waterproof leg warmers), a long sleeved shirt, a fleece hoody, and a down jacket while in my sleeping bag inside two sleeping bag liners. It worked! I was warm for the night, but I'm still afraid of colder nights. And Everglades Man needed his bag liner back (my second liner) because his sleeping bag is too hot (I don't grasp that concept). He's sleeping on his air pad covered in the liner and using his bag as a quilt so as to let some cold air in (I'm still dumbfounded someone can be too hot out here when it's 30 degrees)!!!! So tonight, on Carmen Sandiego's recommendation, I'm sleeping with a hot rock in my bag! So far so good as long as I don't end up with a hole in my stuff! We are hoping to be in Hiawasseee tomorrow or early Saturday where we will have power to charge our stuff! Hopefully, we will be able to call and check in on everyone. We miss you all but love reading your comments!