Date: 2021-09-22
From: Whitley Gap Shelter

To: Stover creek shelter 
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a great last off-trail night at the Above the Clouds Hostel in Suches, Ga. Lucky and Nimrod own the place and though they¢ve only been open a year, they have it all down pat. Nimrod hiked the AT for the first time 45 years ago and possesses a wealth of knowledge about the trail and the hiking community at large. I got a bed, shower, laundry, stories, dinner and breakfast for $60. We also talked with five women who are section hiking thru Georgia on a program run by the hostel. I¢d highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to dip their toe into hiking, backpacking, and the AT. So this morning I was unusually relaxed as I packed up to leave, normally I¢m a bundle of nerves for reasons unknown. Not today. I was looking forward to my last full day of hiking and the downpours forecast for the morning hours. Quiksilver and I got a shuttle back to the trail from Nimrod at 8:15. Iceberg was taking a later shuttle and planned to get dropped off and meet us about 12 miles up trail. He¢s allowed: his thru hike is complete and he hiked this section last year. So he¢d instead hike the last 5 miles today with us and then hike the final 2.8 miles on Thursday.As forecasted: the rain started right when we began hiking and would continue for the next four and a half hours. At times it came down in buckets and the trail became a ruddy, bloody, muddy quagmire. The good news was once your feet are soaked thru, any pretense of avoiding the puddles goes out the window and it¢s STOMPSTOMPSTOMP through everything.  We crossed two rain-swollen creeks running chock-a-block above Norman levels, the second of which required a knee-deep fording. This is fine. We reached the Hawk Mountain shelter just before one and found a shivering Iceberg huddled inside. After a 30 minute lunch break the three of us headed out for the final 5 miles of the day. It was like old times up in New England as the we hiked and talked. We took a side trail and to see the Long Creek Falls and then shortly after passed 45 Army trainees and their instructors on maneuvers in full combat gear, as the trail runs right next to the base where Rangers and the 10th Mountain Division train. Man oh man, did they look young. We reached the shelter at 3:30 and set up camp for one, last, time. We then sat and ate dinner (I ate waaaay too much because stoopid Quiksilver was making fun of me for potentially finishing with food in my bag. But I still couldn¢t eat it all. Now I¢m going to have to have stoopid breakfast in the morning).  Lastly we each had a celebratory beer that Iceberg had packed out from the hostel. This was more than fine!Having Iceberg here at the end is very special and I¢m happy he could make the trip - though seeing him in a blue shirt instead of the threadbare red shirt that was his trademark is a bit disconcerting. When I took of my soaking wet socks and sock liners I put right into my trash bag due to the holes in them. I got one last blister today thanks to that. Tomorrow I¢m hiking in my sleep-socks. Everything is stored for the night (food in a bear box, pack hanging from a bear cable) and it¢s just one more night until this journey is at an end. I¢m actually at a loss for words. We¢re planning to head out at 7:30 as my wife Jessica and Quiksilver¢s wife (Lamb¢s Ear) and parents are going to be at the summit of Springer Mountain at 8:30. I¢m so exited to see Jessica and while I¢m sad the trail is at an end, I¢m looking forward to being back home soon. I want to add to my thank you list:Patricia and Michael for hosting me for 8 days up in Hanover, New Hampshire and making me one of the most fortunate hikers on the trail. All of the thru hikers I met who always had a kind word of encouragement to share. Bonsai in Uniontown who shared his hospitality and genuine Christian spirit  at a time when I really needed it. The innumerable section-hikers whom I encountered - their perseverance is inspiring.Lynn in Lehigh who made me laugh with her motivational words and her kind comments in the Guest Book.Everyone who took a moment to drop me a line either by the Guest Book, text, or personal message passed along by another. All of you who have been following this journal - weather daily or by binge-reading. Knowing you took an interest continued to inspire and motivate me every, single, day. That¢s it for now, it¢s getting dusty in my hammockI¢m once again without cell signal so this post will *hopefully* go up early morning on Thursday, the 23rd of September. I should have a summit post up by Thursday night.