Date: 2010-03-15
From: Hiawassee

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

Home girl reporting from Strider's man cave. Strider has accomplished 41 miles in 4 days and has been hiking on a cold, wet and foggy trail. There are many hikers on the trail also attempting a thru hike and it has made the shelters and tent areas very crowded. Strider has slept in his tent each night because the shelters are full before he arrives. He states that he is very comfortable and is pleased with his equipment choices. Strider will edit this when he gets time and coverage.Like Homegirl reported the trail has been in constant flux between light rain, sleet, fog and often a fine wind blown mist. The trail has a constant flow of hikers attempting todo exactly what I am doing. The odds are that less than 25% of us will make it the entire trail from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt Katahdin in Maine. There is talk on the trail that 25% of these hikers will drop out before the 100 mile mark and 50% are off the trail before they reach the 500 mile mark at Damascus Va. I saw a few guys out here that were carrying some very heavy military gear and another hikers backpack has already broke apart. Most hikers are under 30 and most are male. There are a few women hikers out here and some hikers are a little older, like me. I am slowly increasing my miles and it is taking me all day to get the job done. I am a slow but steady mover and seem to end up at the same place as most of the hikers who pass me during the day. I slightly pulled a groin muscles when a foot slid out from underneath me in the mud. It only hurts when I fully extend my stride, so I take it slow, especially on muddy or icy surfaces. After a full week I feel that I have the routine down. Get up early and transition from being in camp to hiking on the trail. Keep a steady pace and keep moving. Rest stops during the day are usually taken when replenishing water and having a quick snack. Hike as late into the day as is possible before reaching a shelter/tenting area. I have yet to secure a shelter spot so I immediately set my tent and lay out my sleeping bag and pad. Prepare dinner and fill up on water. When it gets dark I get into my sleeping bag and write into my journal. Then fall fast asleep. Some hikers are becoming increasingly recognizable because we have been sharing the trail while passing and being passed on a regular basis. Many hikers went into Haiwasii for a resupply, pick up mail drops, get a shower and a hot meal. WaitnSee and myself caught a ride in the back of a pickup truck for $5 each and were climbing out of Dicks Creek Gap by 9:00am. The trail was a consistent climb from 2660ft to the final destination at 4600ft. When I crossed the Georgia/NC border at 3800ft I was still climbing and the temperature was dropping fast and I was struggling to keep moving forward. At Bly Gap I was passed by 4 hikers who were hiking together. They were still moving at a good clip and were out of sight quickly. Three of the four had very small packs and I was to find out that they were very light. I have seen these guys before and the difference between our pack weight is obvious and I wonder if I am carrying to much. I ponder this as I navigate the next 3 miles still further uphill while walking in and out of snow. I was lucky to land the last spot in the shelter and layed my 2" air pad, 0degree bag, And clean warm thermals. The sky at 4600ft was crystal clear and the temperature dropped into the low 20's. During the night all three of those hikers who were carrying small light packs were sitting up against the wall, shivering. They chose to go light and they forfeited some of the conveniences that I have. It was a good lesson for me. I was the first one up on that chilly morning and quickly on the trail and I felt so much better about the contents in my backpack.