Chronological earliest date (top) to latest date (bottom)

Click link to see past entries: Pre-Hike March April May June TBD

March 20 - Hiker Eve

The "Hoots" arrived at the Amicalola Lodge and checked in rapidly as they were anxious to get to the onsite restaurant and get in one last dinner served at a table on plates with utensils, napkins, and drinking glasses. During dinner, there was a pause to take in this site:

After dinner was completed, the hikers commenced to evaluating, weighing, packing and re-evaluating looking for that 0.1 ounce of weight to discard.

0.0 miles complete

Estimated ascent in hike is 0'

Estimated descent in hike is 0'

2193.1 miles to Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine

March 21 - Launch and a Reunion

The Hoots were up early and headed to breakfast with most, excepting Ground Control, expressing a lack of a good sleep as concern over backpack weight, unneeded or needed items, and where an extra ounce or two might be eliminated. Breakfast ended, packs placed in car and they headed to the AT Visitor Center to sign in as AT Hikers ... and, of course, some picture taking.

After the obligatory picture taking, the Hoots loaded up for a little over one hour car ride to the Springer Mountain parking lot via some not very smooth, narrow, winding US Forestry Service roads.

Upon arrival, the hikers commenced the 1 mile "bonus mile" hike to the top of Springer Mountain (Elevation: 3782') where the journey would begin. Arrival at the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail was greeted with, you guessed it, photographs...

After signing in at the top of Springer Mountain, the Hoots began their journey.

The one mile hike down was, other than seeing hikers working their way up to the top, fairly uneventful given they had already seen the terrain.

However, as Five Pair made her way down and towards three hikers on their way up, Five Pair remarked to the approaching female and male hiker that they looked familiar and they responded similarly. Asking their trail names, the response was "We are the "Myakka Mules"", to which Five Pair excitedly responded, "I'm Five Pair!!" Surprised laughter and hugs exchanged, the hikers caught up on each other's lives as much as a 3 minute conversation would permit.

Five Pair had met the Myakka Mules, fellow Floridian thru hikers, in Vermont on July 13 during their 2012 Thru Hike and hiked with them for awhile thru Vermont. 2012 Journal Entry: Click Here

Upon all the hikers having descended Springer Mountain, they strapped on their gear and headed off...

.. 8.1 miles later, they arrived at Hawks Mountain Shelter and determined to tent there. A fire was built and the hikers met a number of others who've set off on their own thru hikes.

Nancy achieves her first bestowing of a trail name on another. See above lower left picture. Gentleman in gray jacket with white hat was found carrying 12 Ziploc bags with different exotic spices for cooking. Now know as trail name: "Spice Rack"

As the hikers began settling in for their first night with the confidence that their well planned and packed backpacks contained all their needs, they became aware of circumstances that remind one of the insightful quote of philosopher Mike Tyson:

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

In this instance, the punch in the mouth occurred as the hikers became aware: (i) Hiker 1 can't find her headlamp and concludes it was mistakenly not packed, (ii) Hiker 2 realizes that she has lost her water filter, and (iii) Hiker 3 can't find her air mattress and concludes it was mistakenly left in the car.

8.1 miles completed today

Estimated ascent in hike is 1,560'

Estimated descent in hike is 2,120'

Total miles: 8.8

2185.0 miles to Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine

March 22 - Root Beer Kiss

When we last left our intrepid Hoots, several critical items had gone missing, namely, a headlamp, a water filter and an air mattress. The good news is that: (i) Hiker 1 found her headlamp in her backpack, (ii) after all hiked back to the last known location of use of the missing water filter and no luck finding it, the Hoots returned to the campsite to see the "missing water filter" laying next to Hiker 2's hiking poles, and (iii) the missing air mattress was in fact mistakenly left in the car but Ground Control had not headed south yet, so he identified a AT crossover point and he would meet up there with the Hoots and handoff the mattress.

A somewhat later start this morning for the Hoots as the process of pack up has not yet been perfected but around 9:15a they commenced their hike of 4.1 miles towards an estimated meeting time with Ground Control at Cooper's Gap crossover at 11:30a.

When reviewing the options for the meetup, Ground Control did not look at a topographic map and consider the elevation change the Hoots would encounter in estimating time. As he arrived at 11:15a so as to not miss their arrival and the time passed, he then took the time to take a look and recognized the name of the mountain that they would ascend and then descend before arrival and recognized his mistake.

Around 12:30p the Hoots began to come down off the mountain and, as other hikers who had arrived earlier, find a spot to eat and replenish.

Nancy's remark after arrival and reminding Ground Control of her belief that she possessed a decent level of fitness given her running and fitness regiment:

"I never imagined it would be this tough."

Air mattress received and lunch consumed, the Hoots moved on towards Gooch Mountain but decided to move past the shelter there due to the crowded conditions and stealth camped near Cooper's Gap road as were a number of other hikers.

Day ended and the Hoots considered the goals for the next day as weather was predicted for the 24th and there was no enthusiasm for camping or hiking in the rain so a longer day was planned to get to the legendary Mountain Crossings at Neel's Gap.

8.8 miles completed today

Estimated ascent in hike is 2,800'

Estimated descent in hike is 3,030'

Total miles: 16.9

2176.2 miles to Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine

March 23 - F@#%ing Georgia

The Hoots decided to increase their mileage and hike to Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap so they might have one of the cabins there as rain is coming.

The hike in the morning was "pleasant" enough with an elevation change of approximately 450' up to elevation of 3,250' over the first mile and half and thereafter, they hiked in a ascent/descent range of 200' skirting Black Mountain to the south and around its east side then a descent of 1000 feet to Woody Gap Overlook (2390') where they stopped and had lunch.

After lunch their attention turned to the almost 11 miles they need to accomplish to get to Neels Gap.

After resuming and a short hike from Woody Gap, the trail turned decidedly upward for as the hikers scaled north of 800' of elevation in 1/3 of a mile to the 3726' Cedar Mountain. Afterward, the hike stayed within a range of 200 feet in elevation undulating up and down and around Baker Mountain (included as shout out to four following along) for several miles at around 3600 fee in elevation.

The hike (read: climb) quickly intensifies with the added hiker joy of rain. Through tight switchbacks across wet rocks and boulders the hikers climbed 1400 feet of elevation in the 2 miles to the summit of Blood Mountain, at 4459 feet it is the AT's highest elevation in Georgia.

As much fun as ascents can be, particularly in the rain, descents pose even more challenges given wet rock and boulder surfaces they must traverse. Their destination was slightly over two miles away and a drop of 2400' in elevation, so down they "trudged" to the legendary hiker store, Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap.

Jeopardy Detour: "Classic Modern Cinema for $800 - and the answer is: One of this movie's characters, Geoffrey Chaucer, provides the definition of trudging as... "To trudge: the slow, weary, depressing yet determined walk of a man who has nothing left in life except the impulse to simply soldier on."

Happy to arrive at Mountain Crossings, the inquiry about accommodations resulted in concern when the hikers were advised that no cabin accommodations were available. Enter the "Misty Mountain Inn".

The Inn was kind enough to send a car for pickup and whisked the Hoots to their accommodations and as the location was close to civilization, delivery pizza and drink were enjoyed by all.

In reviewing the hike and in particular, the wet, slippery rock ascent and descent at Blood Mountain, it was described as "brutal." One particularly animated hiker asserting that Ground Control needed to alert cartographers around the globe as Georgia is being renamed to "F@#%ing Georgia".

Hikers met today:

Todays Items of note:

1. Georgia's "Average Elevation Gain and Loss" per mile is 307 feet second only to the acknowledged toughest state to hike on the AT, New Hampshire and its famed White Mountains at 329 feet per mile.

2. It has been reported that in some years upwards of 25% of hikers planning to undertake a northbound AT thru hike, do not make it through Georgia.

3. The Appalachian Trail runs right through Mountain Crossings hiker store.

4. The title of March 22 - "Root Beer Kiss"? Sassafras was used in the production of root beer until the FDA indentified compounds within Sassafras as carcinogens and banned it. The kiss? Well, reread the entry.

14.4 miles completed today

Estimated ascent in hike today is 4,160'

Estimated descent in hike today is 3,980'

Total miles: 31.3 miles

2161.8 miles to Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine

The Hoots are beginning to settle into a routine regarding breaking down their campsites, packing and getting onto the trail. One of the Hoots has established herself in regard to the speed in which she accomplishes getting onto the Trail and starting.

Trail Name Alert:

jack·rab·bit (jăk′răb′ĭt) intr.v. jack·rab·bit·ed, jack·rab·bit·ing, jack·rab·bits To move or begin to move rapidly or suddenly.

Four days into the hike and Karen has been bestowed her trail name "Jack Rabbit" for her speed at getting on and down the Trail (Okay, the definition shown is a verb but this is the Appalachian Trail, not English class so just go with it).

But as this is the Appalachian Trail, enter Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy and the 2007 movie "Wild Hogs". Didn't see it? You are not alone (Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 14%). Hikers are a wonder and a group of cyclists from NY stopped and of course, pictures followed...

Misty Mountain Inn pickup, arrival at accommodations, cleanup and the Inn shuttled the hikers to dinner at a local Blairsville restaurant where there was a significant battle for attention of the photo taking Hoot between the skeleton adorned decor and the local karaoke which was reported as being far scarier than the skeletons.

After dinner back to the Misty Mountain Inn where the rain and thunderstorms are predicted and radar confirmed rolling in.

Todays Items of note:

1. Yesterday's Jeopardy answer: What is "The Knight's Tale"? "To Trudge" Link

6.9 miles completed today

Estimated ascent in hike today is 2,360'

Estimated descent in hike today is 2,040'

Total miles: 38.2 miles

2154.9 miles to Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine

Anchorage Rocks Detour:

During a pre-hike run in Florida in February, Jack Rabbit ran across an item known as "Anchorage Rocks." The description of this activity states: "We are a communal art project spreading love & joy through the simple gesture of painting rocks & "hiding" them for people to find." Jack Rabbit brought the rock to the AT and on second day of their hike placed it near a tree resulting in some non-consumable "Trail Magic".

March 26 - An Anniversary And Then There Were Four

Tina departed and the remaining four Hoots boarded the van to be shuttled back to Hogpen Gap.

The sun was out and there was evidence of the amount of rain that fell yesterday with a veteran hiker who lives in the area remarking that he has never seen so much water coming down the mountains in the five years he has been there.

The hike began with a straight up climb of 650’ to a ridgeline that they followed with various ups and downs between 3400’ and 3600’ for miles. During this hike, Maggie’s singing and gyrating down the trail and up the inclines resulted in her being bestowed the trail name: “Soul Sista”.

March 27 - Morning Dew and Then There Was Three

The Hoots were up fairly early and hit the trail which saw them hike down 1000’ feet over the first two miles to the Unicoi Gap crossover.

“Backtrack” and “Shuffles”, thru hikers in 2017 from St. Petersburg, FL, were there with their dog serving up Trail Magic in several forms. Of particularly note, a favorite beverage of “Jack Rabbit” during her morning runs (and that of the favorite cross country coach of the Hoots) was available. In addition, Ground Control noted that the Magic cooler contained various beverages from the Flying Fish Brewing Company. Kudos to “Backtrack” and “Shuffles” (and their dog) for considering the carbohydrate needs of hikers.

The thing about gaps and crossovers is it generally means the hikers are looking at ascents as they restart, and this one was no exception. Over the first 1.3 miles the hikers enjoyed 1,100 feet of elevation gain and then 900 feet of descent over the next mile to Indian Grave Gap.

Another gap, another ascent. As the hike wore on, light rain commenced and the hikers quickly donned their rain gear. Another 800’ feet in elevation over the next 1 ¾ miles and then the trail turned steeper, with the next ¾ mile 600’ feet of elevation to the 4,421’ foot summit of Tray Mountain.

March 28 - Wind, Rain and Sleet

Weather beyond the cold temperatures descended upon the Hoots overnight and by the morning they had experienced significant wind gusts, constant rain and one collapsed tent.

Water's penetrable force was in full display. As a home contractor once remarked to a homeowner in Florida asking if his roof and windows will leak:

"Unless you live in a submarine, water finds its way into all homes."

And thus was the case for the Hoots and their tents with the wet, gusty conditions that occurred all night.

As the morning arrived and the Hoots face damp gear, Ground Control was called upon to bring his Platinum Blaze skills to bear and find worthy accommodations in nearby Hiawassee.

As the Hoots hiked their way down the mountain to the appointed pickup spot, the skies opened up again and a tremendous amount of rain fell and as they continued their descent, sleet arrive to spice up the weather onslaught. The three were thrilled to get to the pickup spot and find their way into the transportation and onto the Holiday Inn Express at Hiawassee.

As they entered the Holiday Inn, other hikers were there and arriving as clearly the weather was enough to also drive them to a drier environment. After check-in and setting out a whole host of items to dry out and managing laundry, the Hoots minds turned to food.

As the three walked across the street for some local dining and entered the establishment the décor triggered a recall of memories by Five Pair as she dined "Daniel's Steak House" on her first AT adventure.

The day ended with three gastronomically satisfied hikers with drier gear and cleaner clothes.

Apologies for no pictures but apparently the hikers just are not being sensitive to our photographic needs when its storming. Go figure :)

6.3 miles completed today

Total miles: 69.2 miles

2123.9 miles to Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine

March 29 - Good-bye Georgia and Thru Hike Assessment

As the morning arrived, the Hoots determined that they needed to push forward as the forecast predicted a larger storm descending so they went off with a renewed urgency.

So having bid a happy, fond farewell to Georgia, North Carolina beckoned and the Hoots moved forward into the Nantahala National Forest . . .

A casual stroll at 3800' turned decidedly more difficult for the last 3 1/2 miles (as evidenced by the watch).

The Hoots hiked over 4700' Courthouse Bald through another Sassafras Gap and to the summit of Bushy Mountain where the Muskrat Shelter was found.

The description of their thoughts regarding this particular shelter: "After a long incredible hike up, up, up, to a crappy shelter and a disgusting privy full of trash, clothes and a sleeping bag... like someone died and left all their stuff behind."

As the sun went down, the hikers settled into cold weather. As they discussed their day, the difficulties encountered during the hike, and now with increasing confidence that severe weather was soon to arrive (now predicting snow/frozen rain in the elevations), in response to a half hearted rallying cry, the response heard: "Thru Hike My Arse!"

11.8 miles completed today

Estimated ascent in hike is 4,480'

Estimated descent in hike is 2,560'

Total miles: 81.0 miles

2123.9 miles to Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine

March 30 - Storm Shelter, Trail Folks and A Name

The morning brought increased weather concern from both the hiker side and Ground Control as the amount of rain to fall has increased and the decision was made to look for transportation that would collect the Hoots from Deep Gap, four miles from their current location and drive them to Franklin, NC, and they would ride out the storm there.

After several calls looking for transportation and a referral, connection was made with Beverly and she was happy to drive to Deep Gap and pick up the Hoots. She was very easy to work with, timely and transported five hikers off the trail and delivered them to their destinations. Five Star service and Ground Control recommended: Beverly 850-572-7352 (she is unavailable from April 7-14, 2021).

So with transport arranged, the Hoots took off for their 4 mile, relatively easy hike, to Deep Gap to await the ride.

Part of the joy of the Appalachian Trail is meeting other hikers and other folks along the way, so without further ado, its "Meet The Hikers (March Edition)":

Finally, on the 10th day we have a trail name for Nancy.

Nancy has a sporty GPS watch which provides many statistics as they hike and she is constantly examining an AT map. As a result, Nancy provides her hiking companions on a continuous stream of data...how many miles they've hiked, how many miles to the next stop, how many miles to their destination, etc, etc., so given that conduct, "Mileage" is the trail name. However, Five Pair being one that embraces brevity, has taken to the use of the nickname "Miles".

4.0 miles completed today

Total miles: 85.0 miles

2119.9 miles to Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine

March 31 - Franklin Zero

The front rolled through and it rained all day. The Hoots stayed warm and dry, restocked food, relaxed and readied for return to the AT tomorrow.

0.0 miles completed today

Total miles: 85.0 miles

2119.9 miles to Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine

Click Link to see past entries: Pre-Hike March April May June TBD