Rain, Rain...

Saturday, March 13, about 4pm, Emily called from the Blueberry Patch Hostel in Hiawassee, GA, while her sleeping bag dried near the wood stove.

On Thursday she had hiked 11 miles in rain to Low Gap, astounded by the amount of trash she's seen along the Trail and in shelters.  She's not preachy, but indoctrinated in Leave No Trace ethics and accustomed to more pristine trails in Maine and New Hampshire, she was moved enough to write about it in one of the Trail registers.

Friday's 15 mile hike in more rain, and thunderstorms, was tremendously brightened after a steep descent from Blue Mountain:  at Unicoi Gap there was a truck draped in a banner advertising AT Trail Magic, a generous array of goodies that don't travel well in packs, including a Tastee Cake (spelling?) that Em was enjoying while she talked to me on the phone.   Thanks to Linda and Wayne of Cleveland, GA, for the boost!  It helped ease the hike over Tray Mountain, "treacherous," Em said, on both sides of the peak:  clear ice patches interspersed with remnant patches of crunchy snow.  During the night at Tray Mt shelter, a huge thunderstorm produced such bright lightning that, with eyes shut, it seemed as bright as daylight.

Saturday the 13th:  11 miles in rain and sleet, around and through a lot of blowdowns.  Apparently it's too early for maintainers to have been able to work on their sections.  This morning she woke up cold.  After three days and two nights in the rain, with high temp's maybe 54 degrees, drying gear inside the sleeping bag at night produced condensation.  She said,"You don't take many breaks.  You just want to hike to your base for the night and get out of the rain."  Her legs are fine, the one blister is no worse, a couple hot spots are under control, and her spirits are very good.  She came off the Trail at Dick's Creek Gap, where a hiker had just given up his seat on a shuttle in favor of an alternate plan, so Em hopped in and got a free ride to Hiawassee. There weren't many other hikers in the hostel needing drying space, so she was able to dry out her tent and fly.

Sunday, March 14, still raining, but back on the Trail to cross the North Carolina border only nine miles ahead.