Day 26

Had examination with orthopedist and no obvious signs of major damage to my ankle so will start physical therapy for strengthening.   At this point feels more like a sprain than the sharp pain I had with heavy pack on rough terrain.  Hopefully I can return to the trail next month.  Thanks for following the blog and all your support and prayers. !   😀 I posted below photos in last couple of days on hike and am reposting as I forgot to mention to note the damage from this summer/fall's wildfire.  It was evident along lots of areas on the hike, but particularly on the trip around Stsnding Indian.  Literally tens of thousands of acres have burned in the National Forrests and designated Wildernesses. Most of the fire damage can be seen along the Forrest floor.  Where the deadfall and organic debris buildup burned down to the soil base. In several places the trail is now a foot higher than the Forrest floor where the buildup of leaf debris was particularly deep  You may want to view photos on computer screen to see full scale of fire damage. Cudos to Forrest Service and firefighters for their efforts to build backfires and protect the shelters and campgrounds.  All for now. 

Day 24/25

Made trip back to ATL and resting till Doctor appt on Monday. 

Day 23

Camped in Rhotodendron thicket. Overnight at Bear Pen Gap had rain and a major thunderstorm.   Nothing like sleeping inside a cloud full of lightening bolts!  🌩 Pretty morning and took some pain meds and did lots of stretching in tent to make sure my ankle was recouperated.   First footstep outside of tent my ankle pain was no better. So I decided I had to get off the mountain for medical attention.   Made the trip with assistance off mountain to Franklin NC. Visited the local emergency room.  Which did X-ray to confirm no broken bones. Which I was pretty sure was a ligament type of injury.  Stayed overnight at Budget Inn and Nancy made appt in Atlanta w orthopedist specializing in feet for Monday. 

Day 22

Leaving Carter Gap Shelter in am hoping to summit Albert Mountain this evening difficult climb from Mooney Gap towards Albert Mountain.  On climb up to Bear Pen Gap I felt and heard something snap in my right ankle.  Tented at Bear Pen Gap. 

Day 20 b

Left plumb orchard Gap Shelter and steady until hill climb to Bye Gap for camp overnight. Complete the Ga section of the trail today.  So in conjunction w my previous section hiking I've walked all of GA, NC and TN to VA state legislature be.   Another landmark on the state line is the "Narly Tree" Some views of trail through the woods. 

Day 21b

Overnight the shelter was at capacity of five and we were joined by seven college spring break students in the Sierra Club from Mich State  They arrived soaked from cold rain and we made room for all twelve of us in the shelter to stay warm and dry overnight.  Views of trail and vistas from top of Standing Indian Mountain. 5500 ft elevation.  The climb was long but gradual with good weather and views.  I made Carter Gap Shelter for night and slept on in tent.    A few people at the shelter I had visited with before including Big Foot and Little Foot. (Lady and five year old son through hikers)!  

A few pictures

Here's a few pictures from when George, Ruby, and I went to visit my dad in North Georgia! We picked him up at Unicoi Gap on February 26th and took him to nearby Helen, GA. We walked through the town and then enjoyed a tasty German meal! My dad was happy to see his grand dog, and Ruby was very happy to see her fellow red beard!

 

Day 20 A

Data service has been poor so not able to update last few days.  I'll catch up w photos when I gets better connection.  

Day 21 a

The data service has not been great the last couple of days.   I'll post for the last few days when I get better setvice. Rained this am so walked in rain and clouds from Blye Gap. Georgia -  North Carolina state line to Muskrat Creek Shelter.  This am. And looks like rain tonight and tomorrow so I'll hang here till the rain passes.   I'll update last few days w photos as soon as I get stronger data connection. 

Day 19

Starting in Hiawassee this am heading back to Dick's Creek Gap to resume hike. A few words on the bathroom facilities. Just like Forrest Gump said. When you got to go.  You know you went.  The GA and NC "privies" are similar to the farm outhouses.  They all have some  form of composting or molding process to breakdown the waste.   The privies Ste actually very nice and appreciated.  A couple of the ones in GA didn't have roofs - which was kind of odd. - seemed like a major flaw to many.  

Day 18

Interesting and practical design for Deep Gap Shelter.   Overnight was below freezing but pleasant to be out of high winds.   Walked 4 miles out to Dick's Creek Gap and took shuttle to Hiawassee for resupply and overnight in hotel.  

Day 17

Overnight thunderstorms and high winds.  This morning cold and below freezing headed out early for 7 mile hike to Deep Gap. here is picture of Tray Mtn shelter Walk to Deep Gap was nice.  A Few knobs to climb but a cool sunny day and arrived to find the Deep Gap Shelter a new design and on the eastern slope so out of nightly high winds from the west Restful night with small group of hikers from around the country and one from Switzerland 

Day 16

Weather forecasts not good.   Rain fog thunderstorms.  So I decide to stay at Tray second night.  I'll get blog caught up, rest and read.   View from Shelter at ten  am.  And weather supposed to worsen.  Hope the other hikers all make the next shelter ok.  

Day 15

Hiked short but steep grades to Tray Mtn Shelter.   Here is view of typical campsites on between shelters  Started to rain in afternoon and windy and rainy overnight.  Fun group of hikers here at Tray.  Five of us spent the night here at Tray entertained by ukulele and singing by Evan and Rose from Maine.   Ages 18 to 68. Typical trail along the ridges between the the ascents and descents. View from top of Tray Mtn. Elevation 4430 ft

Day 14

Took taxi back to Unicoi Gap for morning climb of 1000 ft in 2 miles. Over Rocky Mtn.  And on to cheese factory campground.  I'll look for ruins tomorrow.  Supposed to be site of a cheese factory in 1800's View from top of Rocky Mtn  Rained in afternoon 

Day 13

Down in the twenties overnight on Blue Mountain So I was pretty cold until the gusting winds settled down in the middle of the night.  The Blue Mountain is aptly named from this blue mans perspective. Walked down to Unicoi Gap and C & G gave me ride and visit in Helen for dinner shower laundry etcrugged trail from today and yesterday afternoon ice still on trail in afternoon 

Day 12

Rained overnight. Showed to be gentle grades from Poplar Stamp Gap to Blue Mountain Shelter.   In am followed old logging roads and afternoon some tuffer walking  Following old logging roads And tunnels of mountain laurel and rhododendrons  Pretty vistas but afternoon on the western sides of ridges with 25 mph plus gusting winds all way to Blue Mountain. 

Day 11

Cloudy and foggy this morning.  Left camp late.  Walked in clouds for most of the morning.  Beautiful sunny day in the afternoon.  Walked from Poor Mountain to Poplar Stamp Gap.  Stopped at Low Gap Shelter for lunch, water and visited w other hikers.  Short day but will give me time to blog recharge batteries, gear check and reasonable hikes tomorrow n Sunday Several interesting trees today I saw first birch trees yesterday on climb out from Neal Gap.  Not found in Georgia except for higher elevations in the mountains.  

Day10

Stayed overnight last Night at hostel. Walked from Neal Gap to Poor  mountain.  Abt 9 miles.   Here is picture of outfitter store. Hostel underneath to the left.  I think was built by CCC. Several pretty vistas of surrounding countryside  Late dinner after long day and straight to bed 

Day 9

Rain over night at Wood's Hole.  Fog, drizzle and windy leaving Woods Hole north for Blood Mountain.  All three overnight occupants of Woods Hole elected to take the Freeman Trail around Mountain rather than over the mountain for safety concerns as northern descent would be windy, wet and has some steep rock outcrops that would be difficult under the weather condition.   Here is trail and fog clearing on north side of Blood Mtn approaching Neal Gap Arrived Neal Gap 80 % of Thru Hikers abandon their trip here.  I'll head north in the morning.  Many trees are bent over and re-root as signposts marked trails by Indians and early settlers.  But I never saw on looked like two trees grafted?