Date: 2003-03-09
From: Blue Mt. Shelter

To: Tray Mt. Shelter and beyond, to Blue Ridge Swag
Miles today: 11.1

Day nineAnother chilly morning. My bladder drives me from the sleeping bag and into the cold. You thought it was summer yesterday, eh sister?On the way back, I grab my foodbag and cook up a pot of oatmeal I then retire shivering, back to my bag and eat it, layered in fluffy down.The group in the shelter starts to stir. "No," says one. "Don't make me put my pack on again."Bradley the springer spaniel pokes his head up from the hammock - his master Patrick has taken him up with him during the night. I have to snap a picture of this.The sun rose directly in front of the shelter, putting on a show. Maize and Blue are getting off the Trail today and returning to the midwest. They stock me up on ibuprofen, bless their post-40 hearts. Last night my feet just throbbed, keeping me awake."What a bunch of unmotivated thru-hikers," jeers a weekender. That does it. I want a laid-back but motivated hike, and he is right. I get a late start and leave the youngsters still huddled in their bags. The wind is so cold this morning it gives me a headache, blowing right thru my hat.The young people are good kids, but they are still sorting out life and their humor with each other tends to be a shade on the negative side. A certain enthusiasm for the venture is lacking, and I miss the excited folks of the fist few days.Though they are very polite to me, I find myself longing for more upbeat, motivated company. I wonder where the very supportive Pack 31 is today.On the way down the stony flank of Blue Mt, I meet the ridge runner. His name is John, or "Big Stick," no doubt in reference to the large walking pole he hikes with. He tells me there is Trail Magic ahead. Yes! We chat awhile, and I feel from him the positive vibes I was missing.At the info board at Unicoi Gap, it's true - there are treats galore, plus fuel and Gatorade. Fresh doughnuts?! I eat a pastry on the spot and, what this? A gallon of fresh orange juice? I pour a glass. Heaven!I may be the only hiker on the AT this year to GAIN weight.Thus fortified, I eye the long pull out of Unicoi Gap. I did this section last year almost exactly to the day, and remember it well. A truck pulls up, and two friendly faces pop out - it's Heather and Andy from Pack 31! Here's enthusiastic company. They got off the Trail for three days to rest. Heather has been having excruciating knee pain, and in about the same place I used to. She is all taped and braced up. We compared joint supports, like old people. I showed her my Cho-Pat Dual action knee brace. So far, knock stump, there has been no pain there. Everywhere else, but the knees are golden at this point.I let them go ahead, since today is a "loafing day" for me. I decided on the hard-charging Long Trail trip last August that my AT trek was going to be the epitome of unhurried. Unhurried does not mean unmotivated, it means a conscious effort to slow down and go at a pace with which my frame is happy.So today, I finally keep that promise. On the uphills, I pass by no rock or log that calls my name. Off comes the pack at many of thyese fine sitting spots. Sometimes I sit just to hear the silence or, rather, the breeze and the birds. Somewhere up the long hill, tho, I take my hat off and forget it. Bad thing, Martha. A person needs a hat in late winter North Georgia.When I come to the Cheese Factory site, with it's lovely, flat mountain meadow, I can no longer resist - I pull out my Z-rest foam mat and have a nap in the sun, which by now has mellowed considerably.Why anyone would build a cheese factory on a Georgia mountaintop beats me. Maybe they were Swiss, and were used to such things.I awoke to the brown eyes of Spike, the boxer. Spike is ecstatic to see me. I miss my goofy little dog Pogo. Spike's owners are out for a spring break of camping, and we chat awhile. More positive, enthusiastic young people.Tray Mountain, at over 4900 feet, is quite high for the North Georgia AT, our tallest so far I believe. It is hard - what else is new? - but I love it's rocky top and grand views. The sun is blazing now, and the sky that deep blue that looks like one could just float away on it.I promised the bod an easy day, and Tray Mt. shelter is just 7.6 miles from Blue Mt. That should do it for a rest on this loafing day.But after an early supper and a nap, it's only 4:30 and the old frame is restless. Any miles more I do today come off the 10-plus I'll do tomorrow. Why not hike a little more, and make a wilderness camp?Because I am starting to hear Hiawasse and a hot shower call my name. I hadn't planned on being there until March 13, but suddenly it looks like cleanliness and blueberry pancakes could be mine as early as the eve of the 11th. My birthday is March 12, so that would be super sweet.I check in with the bod, since it has the last word on this hike. All systems go, except for the feet. And they are only grumbling a little, a good many hours from outright rebellion. I am starting to see benefits on Day One of the Loafing Method of AT hiking.The walking in late afternoon is so fine, so sun-bathed, so rolling that I just keep on trucking against expectation two more hours, to Blue Ridge Swag. Along the way, I see some fine old growth oaks - crowns broken out, huge-girthed, covered in knobs and burls. I nod my respects to "los viejos" as I pass.I am on a roll, some days just flow. But it's 6:30PM now, the sun is dropping to the far ridges. I am gliding on the Trail, hoping for a flat spot at the bottom, when I am hailed. Andy and Heather again, too perfect.We chat while they finish their supper, and I hang my food bag on a their bear line. Heather says her knees are holding up fine. We watch the sunset go red, then dark, and then we retire. I take some of the midwestern ibuprofen and tote up the miles - about 11. Ooops, well, tomorrow will be under 8 miles, with only Kelly Knob to bust me.for once I set up my Nomad 2-4-2 perfectly, and there is no sag. I wish I knew how I did that. Well, I have months to practice.