Date: 2009-03-02
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

This is going to be a long cold day. Began at 9:15 at 21 degrees and very windy. It was clear though, for the first time in 3 days.Said good bye and thank you to Leigh and Josh from the Hiker Hostel as last night was the last night I would stay with them. What great ambassadors they are for southern hospitality and the hiking community. Thanks for getting me off to my hike in grand fashion. Leigh had all my uncarried gear, split between my new pack and a large black plastic trash bag, since I was still slackpacking, and brought it to the Hiawassee Inn. I was being transferred to new hosts!I immediately had to dress warmer when I stepped out of the car. Added my Polar Tech Baclava, gloves, and Dri Clime Shirt. Cold to begin but, as seems to be the norm, I started out immediately climbing and warmed quickly. Had to leave the Baclava on for quite a while because my ears were cold. I felt good except for my left knee which was hurting pretty good. Not muscularly but something else under the patella (knee cap). It wouldn't work out as I went along and hurt progressively worse all day.Finally able to see the great views along the way. There were three big climbs on todays stretch and there were good views from all three peaks. There were several smaller climbs to go with the big three.Hadn't sleep well last two nights, excited about the next days activities I suppose. Due to the cold I didn't feel like stopping for breaks. When I did stop I had to force myself to eat. I just felt slow but was still making good time for the first 2/3 of the day. Could only eat a small portion of my lunch. Ate snacking as I hiked. Kept my hydration up fairly well, All 60 oz that I had carried, finishing it about 1 mile from the end of the days hike. Still I didn't feel like I had any reserves by 3:00. I ate because I knew I absolutely had to. It was difficult to generate energy to hike and to heat myself on the amount of food I was eating and slowed considerably by days end. Saw no through hikers and 4 day hikers at various times of the day. More evidence of pigs but no sightings.Spoke with Ron and Sam from the Hiawassee Inn twice along the way as instructed. They try to estimate your rate of hike by seeing how fast you get to various points so they could estimate what time to pick you up. I knew I would be in good hands just by talking and getting reassurance from them through the day. We established a pick up time of 6:00 based on my progress. Straggled out at Dicks Creek at 5:38. (8:45 hours on the trail today and still the first week more than I think is prudent especially with my knee acting up). Sam was waiting for me at the trailhead and we drove to the Inn. Ron had a huge bowl of steaming hot beef and noodles waiting for me and insisted I eat right then. Not much of a fight from me. I was cold, tired, and sore. Had a little vino to go with my meal and actually started feeling pretty good again. Got into my room and sat in the tub with water as hot as I could stand followed by a hot shower. MMMMMM bed.Man am I meeting some super people on this hike. See you on the trail.John