Date: 2010-04-23
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap - Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Hit the trail around 8 a.m. after a pretty good nite sleep under clear, cool, and windy weather at Blue Mtn shelter. Other than the hiker awakening us at 3:30 a.m., the only other incident was a mouse running across my back during the night inside my tarp, which startled me.   We hear screach owls and what sounds like coyotes howling during the night. I make it to top of Tray Mountain around 12:30 p.m where I stopped for lunch and a break. There is a GA Appalachian Trail Club trail worker up at the Tray Mtn shelter doing some maintenance work, and we talk for a while. He tells me about all the blowdowns and how tough the winter weather was up here, a lot of snow and ice and blowdowns. The AT was actually closed for while here in Feb and early March until the trail workers could get in and clear it. He says they cannot use chain saws or power tools in any of the Wildlife Preserves along the trail, they have to use large bowsaws and axes. They have done a really remarkable job all along the Georgia section of the AT getting it in shape for thru hiker season.I meet a Georgia Tech grad who is thru hiking with his dog, "Cooper" who also stops for lunch. The young hiker from Colorado who had arrived at Blue Mtn shelter at 1 a.m. the nite before also arrives at Tray Mtn shelter for lunch. Another woman arrives who is attempting a thru hike, but she is suffering badly from shin splints and has to hike slowly.   Many thru hikers along the trail are mentioning knee problems since I've been on the trail. I'm also hearing most hikers say they are carrying well over 40 pound packs, some have over 50 pounds. One story on the trail is of a man who was carrying a 100 lb pack. I leave Tray Mtn shelter around 1:30 p.m. Hikers are spreading word of a coming severe weather front, there are predictions of thunderstorms, lighting, hail and possible tornadoes on Saturday. I decide to try to make it to Dicks Creek Gap and hitch into Hiawassee, GA and get a motel room.The late afternoon climb up Kelly's Knob turns out to the the hardest climb of the trip so far. The afternoon is sunny and hot, and I'm out of water. Luckily I arrive at Deep Gap shelter where there is water, around 5 p.m.   I meet several other thru hikers in this section who plan on staying at Deep Gap shelter and taking the Dicks Creek Gap shuttle to Hiawassee in the morning.   I get to Dicks Creek Gap around 7 p.m, and luckily catch a ride in 5 minutes out on the road. Check into the Holiday Inn Express, and eat dinner at Daniels' AYCE Buffet across the street.   It's my favorite place in Hiawassee to eat, fried chicken, fish, potatoes, salad bar, a great deal, and the owner is a fanatical fan of the movie "Gone with the Wind". The entire restaurant is decorated with pictures and memorabilia from Gone with the Wind.The wether predictions have gotten worse, so I decide to take a zero day here on Saturday and hit the trail again Sunday morning back at Dicks Creek Gap, where the AT heads up to the GA/NC state line at Bly Gap, then Standing Indian Mtn, Albert Mtn, then on to Windding Stair Gap and Franklin, NC.