Date: 2009-11-02
From: Tenting on top of Big Cedar Mtn, GA

To: Tenting on Wolf Laurel Top, GA
Miles today: 13.0

I woke up at 6am to an owl hoo-hooin'. The wind died down after the sun went down last night. It was a nice bright night because of the big moon. I had two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while I watched the horizon turn morning pink, then brighten up, then it started getting windy and a fog blew in about 6:30am. I started packing up at 6:45 and was walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 7:10am. It was a nice walk this morning. The sun poked through the mountain top fog and I could see fog in the valleys below me. When I looked back at Big Cedar Mtn, I could see it was still covered with fog. I passed by Dan Gap, then up Burnett Field Mtn and on to Jarrard Gap. I had stopped a while before Jarrard Gap at a small stream where I sat down for a few minutes and drank half a liter of water and refilled one bottle. I climbed up to the trailhead to Woods Hole Shelter. There were five guys just getting packed up...it was 9:45am. I should try that some time. :-) I stopped to get water just before I started climbing Blood Mtn. There was a Trail volunteer there working on the water flow. We talked a while. He pointed out the old AT that went to Slaughter Gap. I always wondered where that was. I made the climb to the summit of Blood Mtn. Blood Mtn ShelterThere was a guy still there that had spent the night. He said he was only going a couple miles today to Neels Gap. I climbed up on the rocks and sat down to eat a snack and enjoy the view. It turned out to be another beautiful day! I headed down to Neels Gap after a bit. I passed a few day hikers on the way down. I got to Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap just before noon. It was great to see Cola Monkey, Alpine, Jennifer and Pirate again. They were expecting me. Each one of them told me I had a package there waiting on me. :-) Alpine said he had to go into Blairsville. I asked if he wanted company and he said sure. We stopped at Aviator Restaurant and I had lobster bisque in a fresh bread bowl and a Philly cheese steak. It was nice to have a chance to talk to Alpine. He and Jen just got married two weeks ago. They are planning on a few weeks on the AT in VA later this month. We stopped by Home Depot and picked up the items he needed, then headed back up the mountain. Winton was there when we got back. I congratulated him on being a newly published author, "Just Passin' Thru". He offered me one of his books to take on the Trail, but I told him I'd come back another time to get it. My backpack is just too darned heavy already. (I was much happier carrying the chocolate chip cookies that Mrs Gorp sent me) Thank you, thank you!....they are delicious!! :-) I charged my phone a little, talked to Pirate for a while, then said goodbye to everyone and headed up the next hill. I left Mountain Crossings at 3:15pm. Originally I thought I might tent at Bull Gap, but it was much too early when I passed by there. I kept climbing on up to Levelland Mtn, then down to Swaim Gap and I stopped at a nice spring at Rock Spring Top and filled up two bottles for the night. I kept walking passed Corbin Horse Stamp and spotted a nice tentsite when I got to Wolf Laurel Top. I forgot that my tent was still soaked from that fog that blew through this morning, so I set up a wet tent. I blew up my portable Hampton Inn blow up mattress, sat on a stump and enjoyed some fine tasting chocolate chip cookies while watching the sun set. My tent didn't dry too much, but that's okay. I crawled in and got set up for the night. This has been a fun day! The only bad part was when I went to get out of Alpine's car and my left heel was hurting pretty bad. The heel hasn't been too bad...just getting a little sore after 8 to 10 miles, but I sure felt it then. The heel seemed okay on the last four miles out of Neel Gap this afternoon. I'll keep stretching it and pampering it as much as I can. :-) I think the 2009 Leaf Catching Game is over already. There just ain't no leaves left in these trees up high in the mountains. I bet Liteshoe has her tarp all set up under her maple tree at that lower elevation. She probably has her lounge chair set next to it and poor Michael ready to fetch her tea and scones. Yep, now that I think of it, the Leaf Catching Game is over...and since I have five confirmed very dangerous bicycle riding leaf catches, where I almost rode into the C&O Canal going after those leaves, it's only fair that I am once again the champion! I really did almost ride into the canal chasing leaves on my bicycle...ask Mrs Gorp. Stumpknocker....the 2009 Leaf Catching Game Champion! That has a nice ring to it, eh? :-) Another great day on the Appalachian Trail! :-)