Day 8

Left Lance Creek and heading to Blood Mtn. Was a gradual climb of about 1500 feet.  Supposed to rain tonight so I sleep in Woods Hole shelter dedicated to Roy and  Tillie Wood of Roswell Ga for their service to Appalachian Trail Hikers.  The shelter is typical although a little smaller than some.  Nice quiete location. Appalachian Mountain Drive through!   I stop on a log or rock outcrop like this and eat lunch!  🍰 Note the old logging road running from front left to rear center going down the mountain  Sorry about irregular posts.  But maybe   Internet service is good on peaks. And camping - shelters are on the gaps between.   Which is best time for me to post is in the evening after dinner.   Thanks to everyone who contributed to purchase of my new phone it works great!😎 Tomorrow after rain I hope to crest Blood Mountain. - one of tallest mountains in Ga. 4500 ft.  Site of battle between Creek and Cherokee Indians .  Then down to Walasi-yi hostel or Blood Mountain lodge for a night 

Day 7

Back up Woody Gap to Lance Creek.  Lots of families w kids and dogs hiking up to see "Preacher's Rock". The rock supposedly named because a young minister came here on Saturday's to practice his sermons.   Is about 1000 foot elevation change to get here from Woody Gap so he must have been in real need of a quiet space for practice.  Or he maybe he also came for some inspiration from God.  Quiete a view. The 15 to 25 mph wind from last week has finally died down.  And now that I am further from trailhead very few people and quiete. The President's Day holiday group left behind.  Except for one jogger.  He ran by and back again on his return trip.  I would loved to have stopped him to ask if he ran up Blood Mtn and back.  He wasn't breathing hard or sweating.  After him. The only sounds in the woods are the sound of my poles occasionally hitting a rock.  Four tent pads at Lance Creek.  There were at least fourteen people there.  Many were sleeping in hammocks. Good group to visit with.  Two guys from Marietta, one ATLANTA and two from West Palm Beach. And we had lively evening conversation 

Day 6

Finds me taking cab to Holiday Inn Express for zero day and dry out. Claire and George came up for dinner take home some things to lighten my pack. And re supply food. 

Day 5

Pretty much rain all day. Seven miles gradual 1000 ft elevation change to Woody Gap.  Several hills and small peaks. Rained over night.  

Day 4

Had a long day.  Went over Sassafrass Mountain and Justus Mountain abt 1000 ft climb each and couple of other smaller hills for 6,5 mile day. Lots of pretty views. Started say w sunrise from Hawk Mtn and nice view of the world famous Gumby tree 

Day 3 Justus Shelter, GA

From Lee: Had cold dinner because I arrived late. Three other guys. Two in their 20s /30s one is from France. Not sure abt the other guy. one in 50s from Saratoga. We will all set out tomorrow for Woodys Gap. I will be last. They are all faster than me. It is relatively easy grade. But we all agree after today, we'll have to see if we can get out of bed tomorrow. None of us are sure we will be able to walk.

Day 1: Februaary 15, 2017 from Springer Mtn.

Thank you for your comments, prayers, and generous donations to Lee's attempt to hike the AT to Maine!  It's great encouragement each day to Lee to know you are checking on his progress and wishing/praying that he can continue! The following pictures are from Day 1, Feb. 15, 2017 when Lee and I hiked from the Springer Mtn. parking lot where he posed in front of the sign.  We then hiked 1 mile SOUTH to the southern terminus of the AT where I took the rest of the pictures. We then hiked 1 mile  back---NORTH on the AT which brought us back to the parking lot. We had a snack and water break and Lee headed to the right of this sign towards NC and I returned to Amicalola Falls and to Atlanta.  He then hiked about 3 miles more to Hawk Mtn. and spent the night in a shelter.