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WEEK 1 - March 23 to March 29, 1981 |
March 24, 1981
Just arrived at Hawk Mt. Shelter after a relatively easy hike from Springer Mt. We drove down on Friday 20th and Saturday. I dropped the rental car at the airport and went to the bus station where I missed the last bus to Gainesville by 15 minutes. Frank Weisser and his wife Phyllis served as hosts and I slept in a warm bed while Connie waited at Amacalola Falls. The next morning I took a taxi to the falls. We spent a rather wet night there and, after drying out the next morning, we started up the approach trail. It had SNOWED the night before but was now warmer creating a continuous rain as the snow melted from the trees. At one point I got caught in a miniature ice storm as the wind shook it off the branches. During the night at Springer Mt. Shelter Connie's dog, Celia, tangled with a SKUNK and then dove straight into MY sleeping bag. Today's hike was mostly over rolling hills except for the final ascent. Stopped at lunchtime near a waterfall and arrived at camp about 3 in the afternoon. After dinner Hank and Connie made popcorn for desert.
March 26, 1981
Gooch Mt. Shelter. The sun is just beginning to peek over the mountains (hills?!) to the east. While the first day's hike was in a light snow with leaves and rocks peeking through, the last two days have been perfect hiking weather - 45 to 55 degrees and sunny. Yesterday was a LONG 9 miles constantly up and down hills. The woodpeckers are beginning their day's work (downies, if yesterday's sighting are representative) and a nuthatch is calling in the distance.
March 26, 1981 (evening)
The hike was relatively flat and easy today. The temperature was near 70 degrees with a cool breeze. We hiked only a little over five miles today, primarily to give Connie's sore feet a rest, but I have no complaints about the short day. We stopped about 1/2 mile north of the peak of Big Cedar Mt. with a good view of the mountains to the east just a short distance from camp. I took a couple of pictures and watched the hawks at work.
March 27, 1981
An easy 9 3/4 miles today to Neel's Gap where we stayed at a little lodge and ate frozen pepperoni pizza cooked in a microwave oven. The only difficult climb today was Blood Mt. which was fairly well graded. We sat on top and had lunch and admired the view which includes the AT back to Gooch Mt. I am still straining a little on the hills but feel much stronger after yesterday's half-day rest. We have been matching the pace of a couple from Gainesville, Fla, Tom and Emily Meyers. Fame (or infamy!) of Celia and the skunk has been spreading.