Date: 2017-05-31
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.7

May 31, Wednesday: Unicoi Gap (52.9) to Dicks Creek Gap (69.6) for 16.7 total milesI had a great night of rest. I was tired. I got up at 5 AM to prepare for my day. I wanted to work on my right foot so it could get me through the 16+ miles today. I packed my day pack (food, power pack for my phone, 1 liter of water, filtration system for additional water, rain jacket, and first aid kit). I think my day pack weighed about 4 or 5 lbs. I am spending a second night in the same hotel so I can leave my full pack today. I will shuttle back to town. I had breakfast of eggs, sausage, pancakes, an extra sausage biscuit and coffee at 6:30. John. my driver picked me up at 7:15 and dropped me off where I left off yesterday. So I hit the trail at Unicoi Gap at 7:35 AM. I had a lot of ups and downs ahead of me for the next 16.7 miles.I started out my day with a 700 foot climb over Rocky Mtn (pictures) and a 1400 ft climb over Tray Mtn in the 1st 5.2 miles. I reached the top to Tray at 10:10. I reached a group (father and 17 year old son) that I met at the hotel this morning about 1 hour in the hike. They left 30 minutes ahead of me.I was moving at a good pace today. As I was passing Tray Mtn Shelter, Max (a person I had met a few days before on the trail) and Packman (a 25 year old that had been in the service and was looking for a job but could not find one so decided to do a thru hike on the AT) leaving Tray Mtn Shelter. I talked to them for a while but told them I was going ahead. Max passed me about 1 mile later and Packman caught up with me when I was taking a break. Packman had a crazy story. He started from Springer Mtn 1 1/2 weeks ago and got to Unicoi Gap last Friday and decided to catch a shuttle to Hiawassee, the same town I am staying in, to take a break. He was at a local Subway getting something to eat and a 69 year old woman asked him if he needed a place to stay and he did not need to pay just do some yard work. He stayed with her over the weekend and got back on the trail Tuesday. He tells me today, the AT is too hard and he was quiting. There are lots of crazy stories out there on the trail. I did not meet anyone today on the AT going south. I did pass 4 people going north. The mornings are great with the cool temperatures and the birds singing. There were some great views both east and west plus lots of flowers along the trail. I had originally told my driver, John to pick me up at 6:30 PM today at Deep Gap (3.5 miles left). I called him and told him I thought I would arrive at 4:15 or 4:30  PM. He said he would be there at 4 PM so I would not have to wait. I decided to pick up my pace so he would not have to wait. I arrived at 4 PM at Dick's Creek Gap. I was on the trail for 8 1/2 hours today and covered 16.7 miles, the longest single day of hiking I have ever done. (I did not have a back pack today but still a great day.)The 16.7 miles had 4500 feet of elevation gain. That is huge. I got to the hotel at 4:20 and did laundry, took a shower and called Marilee. I went back to the same Mexican restaurant I went to last night since it was very good. I got to my room at 8 PM. I will do my journal and pack for tomorrow and hopefully will be in bed by 10PM. Another great day on the AT. Thanks.