Date: 2009-03-21
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: stealth site 0.3 miles past Gooch Gap
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't sleep much that night. Early in the night, I thought I heard footsteps in the leaves coming toward me, but as I quickly turned towards it, it went away. At seven in the morning, I finally started sleeping. I don't know why I always seem to sleep the hardest just as the sun begins to rise...I finally got up at 8:15 and started breaking down my hammock. I looked back at the shelter and only saw "Z" playing fetch with his dog. Everyone else seemed to have already left. I suddenly felt very behind- that I would have to quickly leave and hurry to catch up to everyone if I ever wanted to see them again, but then I calmed down and reminded myself that I can hike on my own schedule and at my own pace, and that I shouldn't be worried about what anyone else was doing. I had originally thought that this would be my highest mileage day before arriving at Neel's gap and planned on eating a breakfast bar on the go, but since it was so chilly, I decided it would be nice to warm up a little with some oatmeal. It was very windy, and I had some difficulty lighting my alcohol stove, so I asked "Z", who was a smoker for some help. He looked at me a little quizzically and quickly lit it... Kris (Chris?) came up the hill to the shelter from his hammock location and did some pull-ups on the loft. "Z" looked like he was in no hurry to do any hiking at all. (Later, I heard that he doesn't hike on Saturdays...)   I packed up and headed off on my own at 10:00. I passed several very friendly trail maintainers along the way who asked me if I was headed for Maine and wished me well. One advised me on where to get water, and said that the side path to Long Creek falls was well worth it. I passed many campers at Three Forks sites, who were enjoying a leisurely morning like I had. I did take the trail to the waterfall, where I first saw what I thought was fog coming off it, later to realize that it was actually cigarette smoke from two guys that had camped there... But the falls were pretty, and I felt they made up for the one I missed on the Approach Trail.   I next passed a group of five guys who I saw on their way to Springer the day before. They asked if I froze during the night, as they did, not having enough insulation. They asked me some questions about my hike and seemed quite impressed that I was going to Maine all on my own. "I've got to respect that", one of them said. Three of them took the long path behind Hawk Mountain shelter to collect and purify water. They were hoping to spend the night at Justus Creek. I was the last one to pack up and as I made my way back to the main trail, found them all lined up on the side of the trail with their boots off, applying band-aids to their toes, and happily resting and stretching. I thought they were smarter than me, for being able to slow down and give their feet a little rest.   As I descended into Horse Gap, I saw a hiker with brightly colored gear resting down below. It was '9 Iron!' I caught him! We were happy to see each other and talked about the weird vibe from the guys at the shelter the night before. 9 Iron said he hadn't slept well and that he almost got up and pitched his tent near me because I was the only "normal one". Honey looked exhausted and was sprawled out, resting. When 9 Iron jokingly said that the only reason he was resting at that log was because Honey was so tired, she picked up her head and looked at him with an expression that read, "Excuse me?..." I told him I would see him at Justus Crek, where I planned on taking a break, and headed up Sassafras Mountain. I had heard a lot about the difficulty of this mountain, but found no difference between it and any other uphill I had climbed, and didn't understand why this mountain had such a reputation. It was also a very short mountain. Two hikers were ahead of me at the summit, and one more was resting at a rock. As I hiked towards him, he said, "I wish you could come talk to my class!"    "Me? Why?" I asked.   "Because the girls I teach are too afraid to go into the woods."   I didn't realize that I was a role model in some way, already. I never felt that what I was doing was difficult or required braveness. Even though I have not had much outdoor experience, I felt that what I was doing was simply 'natural.'      As I came downhill to Cooper Gap, where there was a road crossing, I saw some cars, people sitting in chairs and a grill. As I started to pass by, someone asked if I wanted something to eat. Trail Magic already! On Day 2! I could not believe it. I felt it was way too early for Trail Magic... One of the guys sitting in the chairs recognized me from Amicalola (just as I did him). He said, " I know you! You're the girl who was having her picture taken at the sign!" I soon learned that this was Obie, who had walked into Stover Creek Shelter right after I had headed for my hammock. He had hiked the Florida Trail, starting in December, and was intending on hiking to the Canadian border. Suddenly, his thru-hiker appearance made complete sense to me, as I was perplexed when I first saw him at Amicalola (how could anyone look like that already?... It's too late for any southbounders to be arriving here now...)   I chose an apple for my treat and sat down beside Perry. I got cold quickly from not moving and Ghost Whisperer and Survivor Dave, who were hosting the Trail Magic, said I looked like I was about to turn into a 'Wendy-sicle.'9 Iron came down the hill and joined us, and then Obie and I took off to get in some more miles. Since he said he was from California, I asked him why he wanted to do the AT instead of the PCT and we chatted all the way to Justus Creek. He wanted to move right along, but I had planned on taking a break there. I knew it was one of Certain's favorite hammocking spots on the trail, and I wanted to take in some of the beauty before continuing on. Obie agreed to take a little rest and have a protein shake. He thought I was in great shape and wanted to know what I did to train for the AT. We talked about our reasons for doing the AT and a little later on, what effect his three months of walking had had on him so far. We made it to Gooch Mountain shelter at about 4:52, and stopped in to check it out and get some water. My original plan was to spend the night there, but it was extremely crowded, and it was still early, and I wasn't too tired. So I collected some water, we took a small break, and then moved on. Someone told us there were places to camp at Gooch Gap, but there were many tents already set up there, and it was right on a road, so we continued on. As we crossed the road, we were offered hot dogs and soda! You've got to be kidding me! Two trail magics on Day 2? I didn't want any, but Obie took one (or 2?) hot dogs to go. Not much later, Obie spotted a good place to set up our hammocks, so we got off the trail at 6:06 and I showed him my strap and ring system, and my tarp set-up. We ate dinner and talked, and then retreated into our hammocks as darkness fell. Again, I could not manage to sleep. My sleeping pad was not angled correctly, and because I had not adjusted my underquilt in the light, it was hanging below my hammock and not around it. It only got down to about 36 degrees, but I was cold.    I tossed and turned, and finally, after an amusing symphony of singing and talking birds of different types started their chorus at dawn, I knew it was time to get up. I'm slow to pack everything up, and Obie is not..