Date: 2018-03-02
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: light rain

The Three Amigos - Hiawassee So, who really thinks about their pinky-toe on an hourly basis?!?! The hiker who has a blister on her pinky-toe. A blister that reforms day after day!!! Seems like something so small would not have much of an impact, but today it is the weakest link that slowed us down. Although the lion roared all night, we were not in its direct path, as Low Gap Shelter, is nestled between hills on the south side of the surrounding mountains. So, while we could hear the wind rolling like a freight train most of the night, we barely felt a breeze blowing against our tent. However, our clothes were still soaking wet this morning and not particularly fun to put on with temps in the low 30¢s!!! But, the only other option was to keep on our dry camp clothes. Not going to do that! Just gotta suck it up and hike on! We were the next to the last ones to depart camp, as we hung some of our wet gear form branches to dry a bit. We finally started our climb out of Low Gap at around 9AM. It was a slow, steady ascent and we both started out thinking it was going to be easy-peazy. But after the first descent, the pinky-toe started yelling at me and the only thing louder was the right knee that was trying to compensate for the pinky-toe. We stopped several times to try and treat the blister, but finally gave up and just hobbled on. We went up and over several mountains, many of them very rocky, which made for even slower hiking. But that was probably a good thing after we had busted it yesterday trying to get to the shelter. Next Step and I leap-frogged with ¢Zoltan¢ most of the day. He is a sweet kid from Atlanta that had previously attempted a thru-hike but had blown out a knee at mile 890. Good for him for coming back and giving it another try!!! We made the final 2 mile descent down Blue Mountain and into Unicoi Gap around 3:00, well over an hour later than we had anticipated. There is a parking lot there along US 76. Next Step called a shuttle (didn¢t feel like waiting around for someone to give us a ride) and we went straight to the Holiday Inn and I got in the shower while Next Step started the laundry. I was beginning to think he got lost, but finally he came in and was so excited that he had found The Three Amigos, Joe Kool, Dom, and Traveler (Will from New Zealand), who we had met on our first day of hiking! They invited us to walk with them to the local pizza place for another all-you-can-eat buffet. It was half a mile up a two lane highway with no shoulder, but it was PIZZA!!! Suddenly I felt fine!! What pinky-toe?!?!?! It truly was the best part of the day catching up with them and eating pizza!!! We called a taxi to get us back to the motel since it was now after dark. Several cars had gotten a little too close for comfort on the way there, and it was still daylight! I can only imagine what would happen at this time of night. We went up to the three amigos' room after dinner and checked out JKs and Traveler¢s Z-packs (Next Step has backpack envy). JK also let me try on a knee brace he picked up at Rite Aide. YES!!! I will be taking a trip there in the morning as part of our re-supply run. Joe told us that they could not remember our trail names so they had been referring to us as ¢Colonel¢ and ¢The First Lady.¢ I want to say that each of the Three Amigos are genuinely good-hearted. Traveler is a little closer to our age, but JK and Dom are great kids that anyone would want to adopt as their own. It is people like this that are already making the AT a memorable experience.We were hoping to be at Top of Georgia Hostel by Sunday, but are now thinking we¢ll just put in a couple of low mileage days to let the weakest link heal. There are several more days of sunshine in the forecast, and that is helping turn this frown, upside down:-) Please keep the prayers coming! Thanks to all who have signed our guestbook. It means SO MUCH!!! - Which Way Elevation Data:Ascent ~ 1,770Descent ~ 1,880Grade ¢ 9.8  Weather:Day ¢ 40 degrees / Sunny/WindyNight ¢ 35 degrees / Clear  Over the Horizon: GA/NC Border