Day 9: As we broke down our campsite at the beautiful Chattahoochee Gap, a lady hiked by and announced that there would be hamburgers in Unicoi Gap, which was our ending point for the day, 4.7 miles away. With grilled meats on my mind and the fact that we were hiking a “short” day, I made myself miserable thinking I could get there fast or the hike wouldn’t be hard. It’s always hard for me. Even if it’s downhill and even if there’s the idea of hamburgers at the end. And then I started to think, “What if there are NO hamburgers?? What will become of me??” .
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But once I got close enough, I could smell them, then a little later could see the wonderful sight of a church group (all the way from Alabama) grilling out and giving away free resupplies of food and first aid supplies to a bunch of hikers. .
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Our now BEST friend Kevin was there and gave us a ride into Hiawassee, where we stayed in the wonderful establishment that is the Hiawassee Budget Inn. .
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Around 4, close enough to our dinner time which is about 5, we walked a long mile, which Jacob still says is one of the most painful walks he’s ever walked, to eat Mexican food and drink margaritas. Thankfully on the way back, a really kind man who picks up hikers all the time, spotted us limping down the street, knew we were thru hikers and gave us a ride the rest of the way. #at2019 #livingingratitude

Day 8: We hiked about 10 miles from Hogpen Gap to Chatahoochee Gap (mile 47.8) where we camped for the night. Earlier that day during lunch, we met a man named Kevin (3rd photo) who ended up camping next to us and generously let us use his stove that night and the next morning since ours was broken. .
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And while my knee was feeling stronger and stronger, Jacob had pulled something in his calf/Achilles tendon region, and, boy, was he limpin’! (We are competing for who hurts the worst at this point) .
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My boots also all ready needed to be replaced. (They were kind of old to begin with, I just thought they’d get me a little further) so we decided to make our way into town the next day for rest and new gear. .
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So, I am seeing more and more, you can have a plan out here, but don’t expect to stick to it. It’s much more fitting to see where each day leads, and how you will, once again, be provided for. .
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Shots 6-8 are pics of the trail that day.
#at2019

While the AT is busy breaking your body, God gives you a lot of distractions. Here are some “small” examples. #at2019

Day 7: Hear me breathing heavily, climbing up Wildcat Mountain (mile 37.8). .
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I felt much better on the climbs, trusting that I hadn’t torn my ACL, as I had been so worried I had done only a couple of days before. Instead, wearing my new knee brace, I was accepting that my body was going through what it needed to in order to transform itself to withstand the grueling nature of this adventure. In other words, Trail Legs, I will find you! .
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We ended the day down near Hogpen Gap (mile 38.2), filled up on water, crossed the highway, and talked to a guy who had thru hiked Southbound a few years ago. .
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The challenge of this hike is offset by the wonderful community that mills about these parts, people who have tasted life on the AT, that want to help and talk to those that are doing it right now. Everyone eats, sleeps, and breathes the trail out here, and there isn’t talk about much else. It’s been a nice change of pace. .
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We stealth camped just past Hogpen Gap, where we were able to make dinner just before our brand new stove malfunctioned and broke. I also discovered that my (at least) 5 year old Lowa boots were shot- really thought they would make it at least halfway! To top it off, Jacob’s lower calf was starting to hurt, and I had poison ivy on my legs and arms. .
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As they say, if it was easy, everyone would do be doing it. #at2019

Day 6/7: At Neels Gap, we took our first showers and headed to the outfitters next door where they had a fridge of frozen food. We chose pizza, which they heated up for us, and I bought a Snickers and an obligatory banana. About an hour after we ate, a church group showed up and announced that they’d be serving dinner, which we also ate. They fed all 12 of us staying there, and I was the only girl. They also gave me ice for my knees. Good thing is, when you say your knees hurt out here, about 10 people have some good advice for you, and the outfitters at Neels Gap had a whole wall of knee and ankle braces, from which I made my purchase at the beginning of day 7, a Mueller knee brace. We wore our rain gear as we left the hostel because of light rain, walked through the only building right on the AT, and within about 30 minutes up the mountain, no rain and clearing skies.

Day 6: Up and over Blood Mountain (mile 28.9). There’s a super old stone shelter at the top. We had our lunch up on the rock next to it, the overcast weather perfect for a mountain with Blood in the name. Then down, down, down to our first stop to stay indoors at the bunkhouse at Neels Gap (mile 31.3), which has a tree with boots slung all over its limbs out front, the remnants of bedraggled hikers with bad footwear. #at2019 #at #atthruhike2019

My first Trail Magic*! On top of Blood Mountain!
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*Trail Magic is provided by Trail Angels, wonderful, generous, kind people who walk the trail, especially during the bubble, or busy time on the AT, giving out treats to thru hikers. It is one of the greatest gifts to come upon them, and they seem to know when you need them the most! #at2019

The meandering trail is just as good as the vistas 💚 #at2019 #georgiaat

Day 4 & 5. We took a zero day in the woods at Lance Creek campsite (mile 24 on the AT) because my knee started hurting. I’m doing my best to listen to my body and not just power though, which was hard the first couple of days because of some crazy rushes of endorphins. The first night we hung out around the campfire with a whole slew of other thru hikers, young and old, pretty “normal” and some a little off their rockers. Everyone is a character out here. During our zero day (meaning we hike 0 miles), a man named “Semi” and his sweet dog Rojo walked up and I asked if he knew anything about bad knees. He did in fact and then handed me a little knee brace. We spent the day resting, I “did some laundry” and Jacob made a sling (like David’s) out of paracord. It’s getting pretty Swiss Family Robinson up in here. And I am seeing all the ways that, as Jacob says so often, The Trail provides. #at2019
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I’ll start posting what mileage we are on and when I do, know that it is the mileage on the AT and doesn’t include our total mileage with the 8.8 of the Approach Trail added on.

Day 3: we stayed in the most beautiful campsite, (we think) on top of Ramrock Mountain. Our dinners are always good, especially after hiking 10 miles that day: a meat, a “thickener” like rice, dehydrated vegetables, bullion, olive oil, bagels and always something chocolate. Our food bags are way too heavy though, so we’re going to start resupplying more often. Besides my knees, which started hurting that day, the logistics in planning are the most challenging part to me so far. .
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Side note: I’m not posting in real time because I’m trying to avoid using my phone too much. also not wanting to share my exact location so publicly. It feels super safe out here in a lot of ways, but safety first. .

Day 2 began this way (my old school LL Bean down bag did not hold up! Lololol), but quickly our hike up Springer Mountain- the start of the AT!- started to bring wonderful weather. Quick pic of me on top and then I signed the register. Surreal to be here. Time to chase that white blaze! #at2019

Day 1: Jacob and I started at Amicola Falls which is the start of the approach trail to the AT. It adds on about 8 miles to the overall total, but the falls were incredible and I got this handy thru hiker tag when I registered, something new the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) is doing. Master Splinter registered me, and teared up as he wished us well (he was overcome by how much this all meant- for Jacob who has thru hiked before to show me the way, and what we were about to experience together). Last photos show our first campsite. We hiked 7 miles the first day.