Date: 2016-03-05
From: Stover Creek Shelter 

To: Woody gap 
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 2 - Mountains and Magic Last night was just about the coldest temperatures I'll be expecting on this part of the trip, just about freezing. It's so early in the year that it got dark around 6:30, and even with our fire, none of us wanted to stay out. So we packed in at 7:30 in the pitch blackness. I was cold getting in my bag, but knew I would warm up as the down worked its magic. I woke up a few times in the night, Feelin toasty except for my legs (on which I should have put my rain pants). Getting up was a different story. When it first got light out, it was the coldest part of the night. My teeth chattered as I got out of my bag. 50 jumping jacks seemed to help. Only Andrew stayed in bed past 6:30 or so. Everyone seemed to have a similar end in mind: Gooch Mountain Shelter, about 13 miles away. I was second out of the shelter a few minutes after Willard, hat and gloves on. The trail down here is GORGEOUS. Wide, good tread, nicely graded. The trails tend to switchback up around mountains or glide across contours. It is different hiking than I have ever done. I keep a fast pace nearing three miles an hour and barely have to look down at my feet. I came upon Willard in a few minutes changing some clothes. He claims I would've seen his naked ass had I rounded the corner a minute earlier. We started walking together (the trail here was wide enough for two) and seemed to keep a similar pace. He pulled away from me somewhat but then stayed about 200 feet in front for a long while. Eventually we just collapsed together and we paced each other the whole day. Willard and I are very compatible. We both push each other, he on the flats and downs and I on the up hills (where my giant thighs serve me well). He is a few years older than me, and we have a similar sense of humor, and seem to want the same amount of talking on the trail. I can see myself hiking wlh him for many days to come. The morning was lovely and easy, gliding over mountains covered in a small layer of snow and down into warm valleys crowded with laurels. We passed by a number of other folks who must be on day 3. We seem to be among the most fit hikers for the moment. The hardest hike of the day was Sassafrass Mountain, which was just consistently uphill switchbacks for a mile. But then on the other side: TRAIL MAGIC! MacGuyver and No Name, two hikers from last year's class, were cooking up sausage and egg sandwiches, and had candy, fruit and water for everyone who passed by! It was a great first Magic for us and made our day much brighter. The trail around Justus creek might be the prettiest stretch of hiking I've ever done. But soon we were at Gooch Mountain Shelter for lunch. We have decided earlier in the day that rather than give ourselves a rough 15 miles ending with Blood Mountain tomorrow, we would push on through the gorgeous warm weather and camp later on. But our hard push that morning landed us in a new "bubble:" the people who started from Springer yesterday (i.e. Didn't do the approach). There were about ten or so people eating lunch there who began their day at Hawk Mountain Shelter. We are our lunch quick and headed on through a surprisingly taxing set of bumps, while the weather became warmer and warmer. When we got to Gooch Gap, another surprise: MORE MAGIC. Some local folks were giving away gatorades and nips of whiskey. I downed a Gatorade and grabbed a Fireball and headed out. Georgia woods are unlike what I've ever seen. The trees are old, tall and far apart, and with their leaves off, we can see the outlines of the surrounding mountains Even when the trees are in the way. The miles before Woody Gap were along a precipice down into a valley and were exhilarating. Willard pushed ahead of me for the first time since the morning. Apparently he got in the zone. The Woody Gap parking lot was packed with cars, dogs, people and hikers. Many hikers decided to spend the night here. After laying out in the sun for an hour with Willard I picked a spot for my tent set back from the road and up on a bluff. We met some of the hikers in our new bubble, James from DC and Hanna from Colorado Springs. Someone even left magic here, in the form of bread, water, fruit snacks, Ramen Noodles and hot dogs for hikers to enjoy. Willard and I guessed that Saturday is probably the most popular day for magic, but still: three in a day is quite a bit. Tomorrow will be spent almost entirely in approaching and climbing Blood Mountain, the first really serious peak of the trail, and the highest point on the Georgia AT. Then it'll be down into Neel Gal, where I'll buy some food, and decide whether to stay the night in the hostel. Gnight!