Day 4-6

Day 4: Distance hiked: 11.5 miles. I started off from Neel Gap with Leon and Le-dizzle. We made good time and arrived at the Low Gap shelter at 2:30, just before the rain. I quickly set up hammock and took a nap through the rain period. The log book from the shelter said a bear had wandered through camp the night before so expectations of a possible encounter were high. Unfortunately, not as much excitement for us. Crazy Beard broke out his banjo though (that's right, he carries a banjo if little else) and so I sat around and listened until I retired for the night.


Day 5: Distance hiked: 15.4 miles. I hiked all day by myself and despite my knees killing me on the downhills I still managed to do just over 15 miles. I arrived at Tray Montain shelter in time for sunset and admired the view briefly before eating two packages of pop tarts and calling it a night. Meeting Yoda and Pacman at Tray Shelter was a plus.


Day 6: Distance hiked: 11 miles. This day began with excrutiating pain as my knees tried to make it down Tray Montain. Somehow I found the will to keep going and met up with Pacman around mile 5 and finished another 6 miles with him to Dick Creek Gap. I came across some bear droppings during the first five miles but still no bear sighting while hiking (saw one coming into Amicaola). I'm currently at a Budget Inn in Haiwassee, Georgia and I just ate an huge all-you-can-eat buffet dinner at Daniel's Steakhouse. I'm taking a day off tomorrow to let my body/knees recover from the 70 mile hell I just put them through. Things I've learned: 1. I'll take uphill over downhill anyday. 2. Elevation matters--climbing up and down the equivalent of the Willis Tower four or five times a day wearing a 40 lb pack hurts. 3. I need to drop more pack weight no matter what the cost to creature comforts.