Date: 2004-03-22
From: Chattahoochee Gap

To: Cheese Factory campsite 
Miles today: 8.0

12:15 PM Blue Mountain shelter. It was too cold to write last night. It was so cold the pen would hardly write. It is still cold. The alcohol stove takes more fuel in the cold. It didn¢t get the dishes clean last night. I forgot to brush my teeth, but I slept better last night than any other night since I left home. 8:30 ¢ 10:15 ¢ 4:00 ¢ 5:45. I woke twice to pee, but I fell right back to sleep. I have just enough clothes and equipment to stay warm. I am better off than many hikers in that respect. When I got up at 6:00, the thermometer said 15 degrees. It was too cold to make breakfast, and my campsite was not very appealing. I just packed up and set off for the shelter. I got to the shelter at 10:10 AM, but troubles with the water filter and washing dishes, then waiting for cold alcohol to burn, it was 12:15 before I finished breakfast. So much for an early start to the day¢s hike. I will now filter some water, now that the filter has thawed in the sun, write in the shelter register, pee, and take off. I hope to make the Cheese Factory campsite tonight.8:35 PM Today I hiked 8 miles with full pack. I have consistently packed too much water because I was afraid of getting stuck after dark in a place with no water. Today I stopped at 5:30 to make dinner at Indian Grave Gap. It made no sense to push up another hill without lightening my load. I didn¢t want to cook in the dark again. As it was, it was very difficult to light the stove, as the sun was going down, and the temperature 40 degrees and dropping, with the wind coming up. I need to get a reliable wind screen for the stove. I need a better lighter and more matches.I made it to the Cheese Factory campsite just before dark and found the Old Fogies Ltd. (Marty and Nancy), Jeff, and Mike, already set up and sitting by a campfire. I¢m glad I had faith and pushed on up that hill from Indian Grave Gap. I¢m tired of undercooked camp food. I am wishing for oranges and a mess of collard greens. It¢s funny what you can start to think about under conditions of deprivation. The mountains are beautiful, and I am glad I am here. I would like to come back to the Chattahoochee Gap to Blue Mountain area. The steep rocky slopes all covered in moss, ferns and lichen are spectacular. I saw more bluets on Rocky Mountain. This particular campsite is the prettiest yet. I will happily cook a big breakfast, and then set out with only one liter of water. I¢m really going to travel light tomorrow.It is 30 degrees in the tent now. I¢m shivering so it is time to hit the sack again - 8:50 PM8:35 PM Today I hiked 8 miles with full pack. I have consistently packed too much water because I was afraid of getting stuck after dark in a place with no water. Today I stopped at 5:30 to make dinner at Indian Grave Gap. It made no sense to push up another hill without lightening my load. I didn¢t want to cook in the dark again. As it was, it was very difficult to light the stove as the sun was going down and the temperature 40 degrees and dropping with the wind coming up. I need to get a reliable wind screen for the stove. I need a better lighter and more matches.I made it to the Cheese Factory campsite just before dark and found the Old Fogies, Jeff and Mike, already set up and sitting by a campfire. I¢m glad I had faith and pushed on up that hill from Indian Grave Gap. I¢m tired of undercooked camp food. I am wishing for oranges and a mess of collard greens. It¢s funny what you can start to think about under conditions of deprivation. The mountains are beautiful and I am glad I am here. I would like to come back to the Chattahoochee Gap to Blue Mountain area. The steep rocky slopes are (covered in moss, ferns and lichen) spectacular. I saw more bluets on Rocky Mountain. This particular campsite is the prettiest yet. I will happily cook a big breakfast and then set out with only one liter of water. I¢m really going to travel light tomorrow.It is 30 degrees in the tent now. I¢m shivering so it is time to hit the sack again - 8:50 PM