AT Unicoi Gap (GA) to Deep Gap (NC) - July 8, 2014 - Member Trip Report
| Hike Name: | AT Unicoi Gap (GA) to Deep Gap (NC) |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Georgia |
| Trip Rating: |  |
| Trip Date: | July 8, 2014 |
| Duration: | 3 days |
| Trail Conditions: | Good |
| Trail Traffic: | Light |
| Trip Weather: | Partly Cloudy |
| Trip Winds: | Light |
| Trip Precipitation: | Showers |
| Trip Temperature: | High: 81-90, Low: 51-60 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Trip Report: | July 8-11/14 Unicoi Gar to Deep Gap SC 32 miles Tuesday 7/8/14 Amy and I left the house around 8am, staged a van at Deep gap, and proceeded to backtrack to Unicoi Gap to start our three day section hike of the AT while the kids were at camp Winshape. We met two trail workers returning from clearing overgrowth up Tray mountain. It was nearly 1:30pm when we started and we hoped to make it to Sassafras gap that night to camp. It turned out that we were in not as good hiking shape as we had anticipated and after going up Tray mountain quickly realized that we were not going to hike the planned 10 miles. We made it to the Tray mountain shelter to eat diner and met "big brother, little brother". A former thru hiker in the early 2000's with his "little brother" who was 14. They had been on the trail for a few days and had taken it easy that day. As we were leaving a solo hiker showed up in good spirits. He was a farm worker who had a month off so he hit the trail for an unknown amount of time and unknown agenda. We hiked about another mile and then it looked like rain so we set up camp somewhere between the Tray mountain shelter and Blue ridge Swag. Couldn't find the toothbrush that I swore I packed. Sure enough it started raining directly after we set up camp and rained most of the night which was great for sleeping. Wednesday 7/9/14 Got up early and it was wet but not raining. We knew we had only done 6 or 7 miles and needed to make up the difference so we ate breakfast and headed out. We hiked past Blue Ridge Swag and Sassafras gap where we were meant to stay the night before. I was hiking ahead of Amy and made it to Deep Gap (GA) where we were going to eat. No one was there and when Amy arrived we feasted. We proceeded on and made it to Plum-orchard Gap early in the evening. Did 14 miles and several butt kicking climbs but we made it. We decided to stay in the shelter for the night. We had a very good night with good company. Kilt and Camo had hiked started at Springer and from the reports of the others were learning on the way. Kilt had previously been hiking in a Kilt after throwing away his stinky clothes prior to hitting Neals Gap and camo had on fatigues. There gear was very heavy but they were young and carefree. They were going to try to make it to the state line before dark, which seemed impossible, but off they went. "Whichway" was a school teacher from Maine who was section hiking southbound and was almost done. She had hiked the AT over many years and wanted to get done before she was 60 I believe. She was in great shape and doing 20 mile days but had her husband and friends meeting her at Hiawassee and would slow her down going on to Springer. We asked her about her favorite parts of the trail and all sorts of other things. She had ultra lightweight gear and reminded me of one of my old neighbors, Wendy. "Ranger Kurt" and his wife "Twisted Ankle" were also there. They were both ex military and he had a rare form of brain cancer he was sure occurred in Iraq. She has twisted here ankle mildly and was wondering how to proceed. It did not look swollen but she had twisted it several times during the hike. We also forgot toilet paper so we "yogied" some baby wipes for the future. We ate, talked awhile and tried to sleep. Neither Amy or I slept well even though this was the one shelter on the AT without mice. It was nice. Three levels and clean, just noisy with people moving around in their sleep. Thursday 7/10/2014 Got up early, found the toothbrush finally and got on the trial. Fairly difficult hike to the GA/NC line and I hiked with Ranger Kurt most of the time. We stopped at the line and waited for the girls. They arrived and we proceeded toward Bly Gap. We past the tent that Kilt and Camo were in. It appeared they hiked well into the night and were still asleep when we passed them. Amy and I proceeded to Muscrat gap and I did a side trail to "The Cliffs" which was very scenic. This is the area that Amy had worked on several years ago with the Kanarock (sp) crew The last few miles into Deep Gap were rocky and a little scary in terms of ankle twisting potential. I got to Deep Gap about a half an hour before any and talked to "The bear man". I'm sure hikers have a name for a vagrant that lives on the trail in different parts of the country and that was this guy. He really really disliked bears and claimed to have been attacked several time. Amy arrived and I was glad to cut my talk off with "the bear man". Very little wildlife this year that we saw and definitely need to remember toothbrushes and TP. Amy needs to wear hiking shoes and not tennis shoes. Bad blisters this time for her. Remember next year we start with a tough climb up Standing Indian. We got into Amy's van and noticed we had a friend. A mouse had gotten in while it was parked. We couldn't find it until the next morning after I put out a trap. |
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