We finally got on the trail the next day with the help of the "Hiker Hostel" shuttle. After a few choice photo ops on the summit of springer as well as signing the registry we headed north to the very first shelter. I slept upstairs and have to admit it was a great shelter. After a few too many hits of Burbon levated had to carry as punishment for missing his bus, we passed out and awoke the next day pretty early.
The next day took us through some pretty tough and steep mountain after mountain. From the shelter we walked 11 miles to a fantastic river near the 3rd shelter. The name escapes me but it was really a great place to stay. I got a bit dehydrated on the last mountain, seems we undershot the amount of water we would need. But all was well once we got to camp.
We tried the pct method of hanging our stuff that night and had some success after getting our line caught in the tree. Luckily levated was able to joust the carbiner and pull it down.
We got up early and headed out to our next water source at lance creek 9 miles up the trail. We thought we would see how we felt when we got there and if we wanted to keep going to the shelter about 2.5 miles up the trail. Of course we didn't want to as soon as we got there. Right by the trail there was a sweet camp spot so we settled down for the night there.
The next morning we headed up to blood mountain, the highest mountain in Georgia. To my pleasant surprise we were able to get up the mountain relatively with ease. At the top we were greeted with awesome views of some fantastic mountains. We tried to yogi (more on this later) but were pretty unsuccessfull. From there we headed down to the hostel at Nells gap. Unfortunatly there wasn't much in the way of food there. And even more there was nothing for the vegatarians. The hostel was interesting as well. It was a decent hostel, but some hippie kids were trying to stay for free and we quite annoying.
More updates soon, when I can get to a spot that's open. Thanks for reading! Gotta help levated hit this burbon now.
Ps to figure out what yogi-ing is think of yogi the bear. Also here are a few pics from springer.
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Hey Vape and Levitation, great post about your endeavors! I totally enjoyed it, but wished you had a pic of some of the mountains instead of that freakish elf laying on the rock. I just read an article in the Knoxpatch News about wildfires in the GSM National park...mostly near Gatlinburg and the West entrance to the park, but also one is in Cherokee NC area, which might be closer to the AT on the East side. I figured I would give you guys a heads up so you can keep an eye on it as you head Northwards.
ReplyDeleteDated 04/29 at 11:44AM Eastern.
The park is also watching a fire near Cherokee, North Carolina, which is partly within the park boundary. It's being managed jointly with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The fires have prompted a number of trail closures:
Laurel Falls Trail
Roundtop Trail
Little Greenbrier Trail
Little Brier Gap Trail
Cove Mountain Trail
Hopefully those are on your maps so you can see specifically where they are.
happy walking, and make sure those fires are put out Misters!
Hey thanks a ton, we are getting closer to the area and will keep an eye out! Thanks for reading.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but what about that freakish elf? Dayyum! That would have scared me straight! Thanks for the extra mountain pics though. Looks like the trees are just getting leaves up at your altitudes. Any snow mixed in that rain?
ReplyDelete