July 4th, 2010...Happy Birthday America!
So after an awesome nights sleep, (why do I even think about taking a tent, when the hammock is SOOOO much more comfy?) I heard talking and knew it was time to drag my lazy butt up and get the day started. One of my favorite things about hammock camping is that it literally takes me 10 minutes to pack up the sleeping bag, tarp, pad and hammock, and even better, I don't have to kneel on the cold, hard, rocky ground to roll stuff up. I changed back into the hiking clothes, drank some water, and headed over to a fallen log to eat breakfast. I am not a big fan of cooking in the morning, so I had a couple of granola bars, some jerky, and a few slices of dried mango. Everyone else was boiling water for oatmeal, or something else, so I decided that I would go ahead and start out, because I knew we had a big climb coming up first thing this morning. I have hiked with Sweet Pea a couple of times before and knew she was a strong and fast hiker, and from watching Smores and Waterboy the day before, I knew they were too.
I got started around 7:30 and made it the 1 mile to Indian Grave gap by 8:00. I took a quick restroom break, drank some water, and started the 900 foot climb up Rocky Mountain. I had been climbing around 20 minutes, so I decided to take a quick break on a nice rock, and not 3 minutes later I see Sweet Pea coming up the mountain. Very soon, Smores and Waterboy catch me too, so I let them all pass, and I continue my slow, turtle-like pace up the mountian. I got close to the summit, and found the other 3 taking a snack break on some rocks towards the top, but I knew the summit was still about 10 minutes away, so I kept on going. I made it to the top at 9:32, and found a nice grassy area to sit and take a longer break. I was really low on energy, so I ate a nectarine, (fresh fruit is really a treat on the trail), some trail mix and drank a half liter of Propel. I was running low on water, but knew there was a stream near the trail on the descent of Rocky Mountain, so I drank the rest of the water I had with me.
Sweet Pea comes along after I had been there for about 10 minutes and sat with me for awhile. We had a big descent coming, then another huge climb, so I was trying to get my energy built up. We headed down Rocky Mt, and I was already feeling some tiredness in my legs, so I was worried about the rest of the day. In retrospect, I don't think I am getting enough nutrition in the morning, so I am going to have to find a better breakfast. Granola bars just aren't the ticket. Maybe some grits and shelf-stable bacon would work, I will have to give that a try. We got to Unicoi Gap around 10:15, where two young women who were hiking with their two dogs asked me how to get to Unicoi Lodge. I told them the best way was to walk to the road and stick their thumbs out....I don't think they liked that answer. Neither one of them had a clue where they were, where the lodge was, or how to get there. They had no map, no idea of where the AT went or anything. I gave them a couple of options, wished them luck and watched them head up the trail. I hope they found a way to the lodge.
I told Sweet Pea to head on out, I was going to take a significant break, because I was already tired, and knew the climb up Blue Mountain was going to suck. I took advantage of the time, and phone signal to touch base with folks at home. In the midst of all this, my left hip started bothering me a good bit. I started the climb up Blue Mountain, which was almost 1100 feet up a steep, very rocky trail. I took a break about every 15 minutes to catch my breath and kept climbing. Every step felt like my hip was being hit with a good sized hammer. Finally I broke down and took some Vitamin I, hoping for some relief. I passed several people coming down the mountain, one family group told me my friends were waiting for me up at the shelter. I think it was around 2:00 when I finally saw the sign for the shelter. I stumbled down the blue blazed trail, and finally I was there. I took off the pack, my shoes, used the privy, and ate lunch. Then I sat for a good 30 minutes to try to rejuvinate myself. At the shelter we met a really cool hiker named Paul with Bunions, who had hiked all the way from Harpers Ferry, West Va. He was really nice, and read us a really cute poem he had written about the AT. He said he wished we would stay there over night because we were really entertaining him with our banter. But, we had several miles to go, hopefully to reach Low Gap shelter. I could tell the others were ready to head out, so I loaded up again, and off we went.
We stopped just a bit down the trail from the shelter to load up on water and headed off. I was really struggling, and was walking very slowly. I would look up the trail, and see the others waiting for me, and I began to get really mad at myself. I never want to be in a situation where I am the weakest link, but I found myself filling this role on this day. I know everyone was concerned about me, Sweet Pea had even tried to call me on my cell earlier to check on me, but I keep it off to conserve the Iphone batteries, which truly suck! I know they were just looking out for me, but it began to really piss me off, I mean I know I am slow, I know I climb like a freaking snail, but I will eventually get where I need to be, I just won't do it fast. I kept telling them I would be ok, I was a big girl, I had all my gear, and even if it was 10pm, I would find them at camp, or if I couldn't make it, I would stop and set up camp, and catch them in the morning. Finally we made it to Red Stamp Gap, where I promptly threw my hiking poles on the ground, then took off the pack and threw it down too. I walked away from the group and just sat down on the ground. I know I made Sweetpea nervous. She said she didn't know what to do, and asked me what SHOE does when I get like this. I really didn't have an answer for her. I just got mad, shed a few tears, apologized to them for like the hundredth time about slowing them down so much and then clammed up. Against my wishes, Sweetpea and Smores took some of the stuff out of my pack. I was mad at them at the time, but with the extra weight being off my hip, the pain began to lessen. So if either of you ever read this, thank you so much, and I will gladly repay the favor anytime you need help. I let them head up the trail, then I followed. I had set the goal of making it to Low Gap Shelter, but I knew that wasn't going to happen.
We hiked a few more ups and downs, again I would look ahead and see someone waiting for me, and finally pulled into Chattahoochee Gap. I decided I was going to sit here for as long as it took for me to get my head on straight. Sweetpea and Smores left, and I had a nice chat with Waterboy, he really is a very, very nice man. He finally left, and I decided to sit in a different spot than where I was. I moved over there, and my eyes caught a penny on the ground. My mother is convinced that whenever she is down, or feeling sad, my brother who died 6 years ago sends her pennies from heaven. I have always indulged her in that belief, if that is what she needs to believe, who am I to say it isn't true. Well, I picked up the penny, turned it over, and I heard his voice, as clear as could be say, "Kellye, get your head out of your ass and catch up to Fab". Well, any of you that know him, would absolutely believe that is exactly what he would say to me, so I kinda laughed, said "thank you Chris", took a couple of deep breaths and put the pack on and headed up the trail.
Finally after miles of hiking on big ass rocks, the trail smoothed out, was fairly level, and I began to get my strength back. I caught up to the others taking a break, who said that they were only about 10 minutes ahead of me, and we headed down the trail. I had told them about a spot that the Traildames had camped last year, so we made that our destination for the night. We finally make it there, and set up camp. Again, I am thankful for the hammock, as there weren't that many good tent spots, but Sweetpea and I both found great places to hang. Took care of camp chores, rehydrated this really good pasta meal that I kinda invented, ate, built a fire to take care of the bugs, chit-chatted, and headed to bed.
Shortly after I got settled we heard a crashing sound very near where we were camped. I heard Sweetpea call my name, so I knew she heard it too. I got out of the hammock to see if I could see anything, but I didn't. I then set out to convince everyone that it was not a bear, it was moving too fast, and was probably a deer. I don't know if I convinced anyone, but hey, it sounded good right? I got back in the hammock, played a couple of games of bejeweled, turned on the tunes, and drifted off to sleep.
Stay tuned for day 3.
You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.
- Rosalyn Carter
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