Date: 2016-02-28
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Blood Mt GA
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Well I've seen my first wild life...more about that later. Still hiking with Shawn, get packed up and head out about 8:45. Get a little ways down the trail and who do we see but my ole friend Art. He got an early start and had already passed us. You never know when or where you will see someone on this trail. We have been leap frogging some students from the University of "the team up north" that I have been giving a hard time when I see them...can't quite get them to finish up when I say OH...lol. All in good fun. The temps are warming up today and not long we are in short sleeves. We head down the trail and run into some more trail magic(tis the season for thru hikers in Georgia). This time thought it is in a Styrofoam cooler, the lids blown off and it is blowing away. We clean up the mess and I ended up getting some cheese and Shawn got a water out of the deal. That is one thing about the trail I have seen very surprisingly little amount of liter. So far one clear trail. We go a little further and stop for a break. I tend to my feet and put some mole skin on a couple of blisters trying to pop up. This up and down the country side is starting to take a toll but nothing too bad. Yesterday we were in the trees and not a lot of views, today my guide book shows four scenic views. On a clear warm day the views did not disappoint. As we pass day hikers they are always inquisitive about a thru hiker, so we stop and chat for a few. At one point I did get asked if my dad was picking me up...just a case of mistaken identity. So towards the end of the day we stop for water on our way up Blood Mt where we plan to stop for the night. Another hiker joins us and up we go. We get to the top to see spectacular views...this is why you hike. Looking over the mountain ranges as far as the eye can see. Warm sunny day had to sit and take it all in. Time to get up and oh my....a little sore. Kind of the feeling I have after finishing a half marathon. But get going and get loosened back up. The cabin is less than to be desired so we scout out a place to pitch tents. Luckily the first place we chose was too small because we went to the other side of the top and was shielded from the 20 mph+ winds throughout the night. There is a parking lot a couple of miles away so there are quite a few day hikers taking in the view. We set up camp relax a bit and make dinner. I have a pasta sides Mac and cheese and some hot chocolate. The temps are a little cooler up here and it hits the spot. I throw some beef jerky in with the Mac and cheese for added flavor. Everything taste great. I go to clean up and pick up the open jerky bag and the jerky goes flying. So I clean it up as best I can. We also hang our food bags from trees so animals don't get into them. So we get that done dishes cleaned up and we are off to watch the sun set...BEAUTIFUL!!! So then it is off to bed. I am laying there working on yesterdays journal entry and hear something moving around out there. Figure he is cleaning up the jerky that I missed. So I hear it getting closer a shine my light around the bottom walls of my tent(which are mesh) and I see some eyes peeking at me, thinking its a mouse I brush the side to scare him away and he leaves for a minute and comes back...this time I see his eyes and what I think is a white stripe on his head. So I say to Shawn I think there is a skunk outside my tent and I don't want to scare him so will he take a look. Sure enough that's what it is. I make enough noise to scare him away without getting sprayed. I went out a little later to tighten my tent strings and see him scurry under a rock. So back to bed I go hoping he won't return and shinning my light around to keep him in check. Shawn is in a small tent also and I can tell he is a little nervouse also. His sleeping pad makes a loud crackling sound when he moves and I just have to giggle when I hear the crackling. Well off to sleep...good night