Make it count: Day #3

Day #3 - Sunday, March 15th

Miles hiked today - 12.9 miles
Total miles on AT - 15.7/2,193
Stover Creek Shelter to Gooch Mountain Shelter (camp at Gooch Mountain Shelter)
Total ascent- 2,605’
Total descent- 2,982’

“Georgia. Georgia - the whole day through. Just an old sweet song - keeps Georgia on my mind”
What an elegant, classy song by Ray Charles - “Georgia on my Mind”. Well —— Georgia might be sweet in this song - but it’s currently kicking my butt. The mountains are steep and treacherous. Throw in a constant rain - and it’s tough sledding out there.

I’m currently in my tent at Gooch Mountain Shelter - 15.7 miles into the AT. I hiked 12.9 miles today - from the hours of 8am - 3:15pm. A constant rain left the course treacherous. Uphills were steep ( so slow). And the downhills were slick (so slow). That adds up to a pretty slow, lengthy, hiking day

I did my chores with tent setup, water purification, cooking dinner, clean up, bathroom — I’m just settling in around 7pm to check-in. Sorry about no cell signal yesterday - I was able to post yesterday’s blog on top of one of the mountains today.

This shelter site is packed. The shelter itself is wall-to-wall people and almost every tent pad is full. I bet there’s 50+ people here. It’s a major party up at the shelter. Alcohol flowing, magic shows on display, etc. I’m hanging low today. I’m tired - and old. I’m in the geriatric tent division. (I didn’t say that - but the couple dudes around me told this to one of the trail runners). People laugh at me when I say I’m an old soul. See — even these guys are including me in their group. It was actually cool talking with them. 1 guy is doing the AT to complete the triple crown of long distance hiking in the US. The Triple Crown includes: the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail - made famous by the movie Wild), the CDT (Continental Divide Trail - Mexico to Canada thru the Rockies), and the AT. I had a lot of questions on general hiking/camping efficiencies - they were nice enough to give me some pointers

I’m hanging low tonight partly because I have a big effort ahead of me tomorrow. About a 16 mile day - up and over Blood Mountain (highest pt on AT in Georgia). It’s sort of mandatory. There is a 6-7 mile section tomorrow that requires a bear canister if tenting in this area. Since I don’t have a bear canister (only Ursack - nobody carries bear canisters on AT) - this means I have to power through. The goal is to be at Neels Gap tomorrow night. This is the area that tons of people back out of their thru-hikes and toss their shoes up into a tree. Let’s hope I’m not that guy tomorrow!

I didn’t take hardly any pics today because of the constant rain - I’ll post a couple things around camp.

I gotta keep inspired & motivated. At one point today - I was taking a famous ROCKY quote and turning into a hiking quote: “You know - when I’m out hiking those hills - and my legs hurt so bad I can hardly lift them anymore - I’m thinking - Man - I wish a bear would just eat me and get this thing over with - but then - there’s this other side that comes out - this side that wants to hike more, wants to hike that 1 more mile - because hiking that 1 more mile when you don’t think you can - that’s what makes all the difference in your life”. Inspiration comes in many places!

Good nigh from —— Sweet Georgia, ooooo Sweet Georgia — Sweet Georgia on my mind!!!

Add-on. Just went up to the privy and saw Nora and Everett. They were at the shelter last night. It was like old friends. It’s kind of a cool hiker community. They call it your Tramily (Trail Family). Nora and I were talking about how it kind of feels like when you start a new school or new job. The dynamics of the group are really interesting. We are both more introverted and it’s not as easy to just be the focus —— state your name, occupation, where you live, and dreams in life. Remember those first days in school - potentially awkward depending on the person