Over the Counter with Binjali: Unicoi Gap to a trail camp

Monday, March 23, 2015

Unicoi Gap to a trail camp

3/23/15 - Joyce picked us up from the Holiday Inn Hiawassee at 9:45 and had us at Unicoi Gap about 10:15. It was a good start to the day. Sunny, about 60ish with a light breeze, perfect.

At Indian Grave Gap, former Thruhiker Grits was giving Trail Magic hotdogs, soda (and beer for some reason), while waiting on a southbound section hiker named Doc. A hiker named Ethan (ntn) was there. Ethan is wearing leather dress slip on shoes; says he'll go barefoot later.

We got to Tray Mountain shelter about 2:30, way too early to stop. It's 17 miles from Unicoi Gap to Dicks Creek Gap, too far for a single day yet, but we made it 10.4 miles to Sassafras Gap. Resolute, Full Throttle and Grasshopper, Voodoo and Gummybear, Crusoe Fire and Colt 45, Meadow and I are here. There's a decent spring about 100yds downhill. Full Throttle says he saw some wild boar when he was getting water for supper.

Tomorrow it's 6.3 miles to Dicks Creek Gap and a shuttle Hiawassee. I'm a little concerned about going to the hostel as I've heard there is norovirus in at least one hiker friendly restaurant. It may be at the hostel too. So I guess I'll go back to the Holiday Inn for another night. Or maybe the hostel.