Date: 2005-02-17
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap (Hiawassee)
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: clear sky

This morning I woke up to a beautiful sunrise. That was a good thing because the desire to take a picture won from my desire to stay in 'bed'. I'd wanted to start hiking around 7:00 but that's when I woke up so I obviously wasn't gonna make it. One of the guys woke up around the same time and the chatting combined with the admiration of the sunrise didn't make for fast packing. Eventually I made it out just after 8:00.I planned to go to Hiawassee today which would be over 18 miles. The 8 o'clock start however made me doubt that I would make it to the Dicks Creek gap before dark. I just haven't been moving that fast lately. Anyway, I thought I would give it a try. I was completely out of water when I started but didn't want to backtrack the 300 yards to the spring. I figured there would be plenty on the trail. I was regretting this decision because I got pretty thirsty and there was no water in sight. I didn't want to get the guide book out to see if there was anything ahead because maybe there wasn't for a while and then I would be really worried. Now at least I could be hoping (this makes total sense, right?). Just as I was about to kick myself for being so stupid there was a trickle of the valuable liquid right on the trail. I was able to get some in my bottle and drank a little. Being reassured that I wouldn't die of dehydration I contiuned to look for a better source. Which was right around the corner (sort of). Nice cascading water found its way into my platypus and I was a happy hiker once again.I tried to keep good pace to get the mileage in but there were a lot of slow climbs (are there ever any fast climbs? Nah, not for me). The downhills were pretty steep too and I had to watch my footing. There were lots of twigs, branches and rocks to stumble over. I took my time and made it safely down. The weather turned out to be great. This morning it had been freezing (frost on my tent which I had hung out to dry) but now the sun was really showing itself. I eventually hiked in t-shirt and shorts again. I didn't take a real lunch break, just snacked on some cookies and luna bars. Around 2:30 I ran into two day hikers who told me they had just finished their gourmet lunch. Too bad, they said, that I hadn't been there ten minuted earlier. Just great! I chatted with them for awhile and they informed me that I should have plenty of day light left to hitch into Hiawassee since it was only about six miles further. I was happy to hear this. It was an enjoyable conversation.Then it was time for some more up and down. The up started to really annoy me just when I ran into two section hikers. They were going from Dicks Creek gap to Hogpen to finish up Georgia and are planning on doing the rest of the trail later this year. They told me that I had almost reached the top of the hill and that it was almost all downhill from here. Note the 'almost'. It was definitely more down than up but today had had enough climbing already. I was getting tired.The wind started blowing pretty hard at that point and I had to add some more clothes. A chilly wind. It forced me to put my little gloves on and even my warm hat.Finally I reached Dicks Creek gap and to my surprise it was only a little after 5 pm!!! I could have taken it a litle easier and made it more enjoyable. Oh well, I made it. The hitching went smooth. I only had to wait about ten minutes or so. The guy dropped me off right at the Hiawassee Inn. I had thought about going to the hostel but that's a couple miles out of town and I needed to go grocery shopping so that didn't work. The people at the motel are extremely hiker friendly. I think that they wanted to loan me their car for the grocery trip but me not knowing how to drive kind of messed that up. The one guy drove me around town instead, showing me where everything was and dropping me at the mexican restaurant.In the meanwhile we had started my laundry and I was wearing some sweats that he lent me. Dressed in my not so elegant but clean outfit I had dinner and went grocery shopping. I bought only one trashy magazine and got complimented on my warm hat. I only needed four candy bars, bread and some chips since I had still a lot of food left over. I also remembered to buy some fruit and juice. Yay for me!After watching some t.v. and reading the magazine I am now trying to catch up on my journal since I haven't written these last three days. I'd rather go to sleep but wouldn't want to dissapoint my fans ; )Oh and my legs and feet are TIRED !!!