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Log: September 13, 2005. Day 1 = 10 Miles (2 X 2.5 miles to start + 7.5 to finish) net 12.5

Stuff to remember next time: my Thermarest pad chair frame, my ductape on a pen. Also consider crazy glue, blister pads and surgical tape (pick one).

Plumorchard Gap Shelter @ 1PM. HR 96BPM – No Sleep last night

Had a tough time getting ready last night and yesterday.  I really should have started Sunday or Saturday but with Stephanie away it was just too much to get into it mentally. Went to bed at 2:00AM – got up at 5:30AM. Left the house at 6:10AM after 3 Eggs, Toast and got a Coffee at Starbucks on my way to Unicoi Gap. Wess Wisson, the guy Shuttle Operator picked me up at 8:00AM in his Jeep Cherokee. We arrived at BlueRidge Gap at 8:45AM.  Wess was a good guy – he retired 20 years ago to the mountains and has been shuttling for 18. He is Ex-Coast Guard His boy is in the Guard now. He said the $3.00/gallon gas has hurt his business because he has had to raise his prices. He charged me $45 and it would have been $25 last year.

I headed to the NC/GA border “North” from there. It was not too bad of a walk but I made a critical error in judgment.  I have this great pack that the top comes off and converts into a fanny pack.  I figured it wouldn’t’ be a problem hiking the 2.5 miles to the border and 2.5 back with nothing but water.  I should have taken the fanny pack with my first aid kit.  1.5 miles into it I developed blisters. I pressed on and by the time I got back my feet were raw. Blisters.

I was done with this section by 11:00AM and had a snack: sausage and cheese. Then headed towards Plumorchard.

The walk here was pleasant. The blisters on my heels were a nuisance. Forget to moleskin this morning and already told you about the fanny pack mistake. By noon one broke. Knee felt great at first. It is a little stiff now. But I’m not in great shape anyway. Some sharp pain under the cap. Could be tracking funny with my quads where they are. I’ll keep stretching.

Here at Plumorchard I’m eating a little Tuna/Pita and Lemonaid. I used the tuna in water in the foil pack and mixed in two mayo packets. Should have drained the water out first – was concerned about bears though.  Great Privy here at Plumorchard – I think that’s the first time I went on the first day (smile). It was clean and roomy. Gotta love the open air and cedar chips for the smell.

Little Bald Knob @ 9:00PM

Arrived at campsite around 5:30PM so my average was a little over 1.5 miles per hour. Setup the tent and hit the sack for an hour. Woke up to footsteps outside at 6:30PM. I was walking alone all morning – these guys came from the south.

The first guy I met was this guy Rich – originally from Newark, NJ but living in Southern Florida now. Rich is a kind of marble-mouthed frumpy goofy guy but I think looks are deceiving. Dumb like a fox as we say here in Georgia.  He is in town for three weeks on vacation. He is spending two on the trail and one Bow-Hunting with some friends he met and now visits from time to time. After talking to him a while I excused myself to make some dinner. 

I made some of the dehydrated rice and chicken for one. And some olives and peppers, Green Tea for drink. The Jet-Boil worked great! It setup in a flash and boiled in minutes. Food was ready, cleaned up and done. I could have eaten the larger pack for two.

My mobile phone worked so I called Stephanie and the kids. Probably talked too long and used up battery but it was nice hearing their voices. As I was talking two “orange men” came to camp. Two big yahoos in orange shirts. They immediately began talking loud, looking to build a fire and get water from the local stream. It was around 7:00PM. It got dark on them and it was a pretty good walk to the water source. They were out of water, had some contraption to collect water and filter it at camp – And were annoyed that it was a steep, dark walk down.

I introduced myself and one was chatty but frustrated. One was from Chicago and another from D.C. One was kind of the brawn the other the brains – a professor or something. I walked away and went in the woods to hang my bear-bag food from a tree.

The tent is sufficient. Not sure if is worth the lower weight – I brought my Kelty “dart” two man “tube” this time. I can sit up but my head is then at the top and I cannot see around. Its cramped and somewhat claustrophobic. With my head up I can see out the window and look around. I’ll finish my tea, read and get some sleep.