March 28 - Mountain Crossing Walasi-Yi at Neel's Gap

Post date: Apr 11, 2012 4:45:07 PM

Early start from Gooch Mountain Shelter as a long day of hiking lie ahead of the four hikers.

Terri and Torin experienced their first "Trail Magic." Trail Magic are random acts of kindness experienced along the trail. This version saw four ladies who had met while hiking the AT years ago getting together and serving hotdogs, chips and soda to hikers as they came down off Black Mountain and crossed Highway 60. Torin was very excited as he struggled to transition to trail food and the hotdogs came just at the right time as thereafter the three finished their 16 miles including the ascent of the 4500' Blood Mountain which included some boulder climbing.

While hotdogs and soda was a welcomed bit of on the AT Trail Magic, Terri's first experience of Trail Magic came seven weeks before she stepped onto the Appalachian Trail during our first visit to the outfitters store in Orlando, Travel Country. Fantastic store but more importantly... great people working there who are experienced and love sharing that experience to best prepare someone for this type of undertaking. During that first visit, Wayne (trail name: "KrispyKritter") was working with Terri and suddenly stopped and called another customer over and introduced Terri to Paula (trail name: "GramCracker"). "GramCracker" spent the next four hours with Terri helping her with her gear and provided suggestions and within an hour of meeting, "GramCracker" told Terri that she would hike with her as she had launched several other thru hikers and it was her way of paying forward the courtesies that were extended to her when she began her hike. A couple meetings and lots of email later, arrangements had been finalized for us to meet with "GramCracker" in North Georgia to begin the hike together.

Also, a bonus arrived before that start of the hike in the form of Rick, "GramCracker"'s Godson and avid hiker. Rick provided Torin with loads of information about the outdoors he was experiencing on the hike.

The hikers arrived at the "famous" Mountain Crossings outfitters and spent the night in the "Squirrel Cabin."

31.7 miles complete/2,152.7 miles to go