Date: 2012-04-12
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Camp in Spivey Gap. 15.8 milesTriple trail magic dayThree 15 mile days in a row. Another cold night. Probably teens, maybe low 20s with a breeze. I went to bed wearing my Under Armour pants and my socks, which I haven't had to do before. I was still cool. I was up at 6:35 and immediately pulled on more clothes. I didn't rush, but left at 7:10. There is no reason to rush because 2.4 miles north on the trail in Sam's Gap is a Trail Magic breakfast. It starts at 8:15.I was cold when I left, but as soon as I got up on the ridge, the wind was blowing hard again and it was damn cold. So that made me walk fast to get warm. I caught up to Dakota Dan and we reached Sams Gap early at 8:00. Quiet Paul was there and cooking breakfast on a stove on the back of his pickup. Mouse and Lime Green were already there and eating. He was serving a breakfast of eggs, hash browns and potatoes with orange juice. It was delicious. For my non AT hiker friends, Trail Magic is when people give favors or food to thru hikers. Providers are called Trail Angels. They are often, but do not have to be, former thru hikers or friends of the trail who want to give something back. It can be a ride into town, a cooler of drinks and/or snacks left beside the trail, or a meal like this. Quiet Paul is a former thru hiker and this is his tenth day here at Sam's gap giving trail magic breakfast to thru hikers. It also happens to be his last day for this. True to his mame he was not very talkative but his food was wonderful. Thanks Quiet Paul. When I finally left the breakfast I crossed the gap and started uphill and by golly 1/4 mile up the next climb was more Trail Magic left by someone else. A cooler full of sodas and beer plus a cooler full of snacks. WOW, double Trail Magic! I was full from the breakfast so I just took a Dr Pepper and went on. The trail climbed up for miles, but was a gentle slope. By 11:30 I reached Big Bald; a beautiful grassy top mountain with 360 degree views. I pulled on my jacket and sat down for a snack. I stayed for almost an hour until I was just getting too cold. I hiked over to the Big Bald Shelter where I just got water and went on. I spent the rest of the afternoon hiking down to Spicey Gap where Dakota Dan and I planned to camp. When I got there Dakota Dan was not around. I knew he had left Big Bald long before me so I figured he just kept going. I set up camp as planned. A 15.8 mile day. I thought I might be alone for the first night since starting the trail. Then SOS, who is being slack packed by his wife went by and met his wife at the gap. A while later, he comes back looking for Tortoise and Hare who were behind him on Big Bald and said they were coming here to camp. SOS had 3 McDonalds quarter pounders plus water and cookies for them. But they weren't here. He gave me one of the sandwiches to eat and told me to give the other two to them if they ever arrived; if not I get all three. WOW! Trail Magic 3 times in one day! I had already eaten diner but had no problem finishing off the burger. I waited for them to arrive. BP (Bottomless Pit) and Step Ahead showed up a while later. They said they saw Tortoise and Hare camping a couple of miles back. So I gave them the other burgers. They were glad to get them and finished them right off. Another hiker, Yaoman, arrived, so the 4 of us camped there. So much for getting a night alone.