Date: 2008-03-13
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Another clear morning, we got a ride from Lisa at the Hiawassee Inn to the trailhead at Unicoi Gap to backpack two days to Dick's Creek Gap.Others heading in the same direction were Leaping Turtle, Pops, Glowworm and Brushstrokes, and Puppy (who intended to slackpack the whole 17 miles...) Steep ups greet you out of most "gaps", it seems, and we all groaned along at a similar pace until it flattened out some and hikers spread out to their own paces.I had my first guidebook flummox, where I thought a road we crossed was the one in the book, and decided we were much closer than we were to our lunch spot. I also spent an hour or so complaining that the book was wrong. Later I realized the little caveat in the preface needs to be taken seriously - that not all road crossings are listed...I'd gotten used to the fact that up until then, all road crossings WERE listed. It does make for some uncertainty, since only some high points and some gaps have signs, so you wander along looking for a definite landmark with considerable attention as the day goes on. You do know you are on the AT, since it is well blazed, but WHERE on the AT is sometimes a mystery.It got very warm, probably in the 70's, and we zipped legs off pants and got down to T shirts for relief. But the forest is still brown, not green, and the rhododendron buds are small and tight still. We passed some huge rhododendron trees, with trunks 9 or 10" across. Saw 2 squirrels, the first I've seen here.Some big hills with long climbs in this section, but also very good trail, well-maintained and often smooth and free from roots and rocks. Quite a treat, all told, when so much of northern New England trail is so naturally rocky. But the ups and downs are continuous, and by afternoon you know you've been getting a workout. Around 1:30 we stopped at Tray Mt. shelter for water, to find, as is sometimes the case, that it was a wonderful piped spring, but 100 yds downhill from the shelter. 100 yds. takes on a whole new meaning when you are hot and nearly out of water, and it is steeply down hill. But the reward, in this case, was great cold water for right then and the rest of the day.At 3:30 we found ourselves in some unnamed gap, perched on logs and inhaling almond snickers bars. Now, I've never been remotely interested in snickers bars, but I tell you, it was a true joy. Less joyful was studying the guidebook and realizing we had a lot further to go to get to the campsite - Sassafras Gap - that we planned. I had figured it to be about halfway thru the 17 mile section, but it turned out to be 10 - plus miles...we finallly got there around 5:30, really DONE with hiking for the day! Other hikers we knew were there, which was good and made for a comfy camp. Tent went up easily and we fixed dinner and hit the sack. Oh, and the water here was TWO hundred yards down an even steeper hill...to much gnashing of teeth and muttering of bad words, we managed to get the night's and next day's supply.It was our longest day, and probably too long, but we managed fine. Body is holding up well and it feels just wonderful to be out here hiking in Georgia.