Woody Gap Surge

The high point of the day was lunch on the unmarked summit of Sassafras Mountain. There was a semi decent view, so I took a picture and ate some food. Beef jerkey is a great trail snack, and peanut butter on half a bagel fills me up quick right now, the hiker diet is not quite here yet. I then moved on, going up and over some random bumps in northern Georgia, and descending into some interesting gaps. The trail passes by some interesting creeks, and trees are starting to bloom in the lower elevation areas the trail passes through. Indeed, the trail is a green tunnel in some places, it makes for some nice hiking. I then wandered my way to Justus creek, a nice water source along the trail. I then arrived at Gooch Mountain shelter around 10:45AM. I was planning on staying there for the night, but I decided it was too early to call it a day, so the General and I continued onto Woody Gap, mile 20.1 of the trail. The trail from Gooch to Woody is not that difficult. There are nice views here and there, and steep climbs that made me stop and breath from time to time. Woody Gap is a nice spot for a picnic. There is a gorgous view as you come off the trail, and there are high tech privies. The Hiker Hostel picked me up around 2:30PM, and I was showered and doing laundry by 3:30PM. I am not sitting in a comfy chair eating Chinese food and watching "Total Recall" staring Governor Schwarzenegger. Tomorrow I will start late and go 7-9 miles, giving me a short day into Neel's Gap Wednesday. I was going to try to push to Neel's Gap tomorrow, but I decided I don't want to pay for two nights at Neel's, but that could change tomorrow, I will see how I feel. Life on the trail is good.Kirby

Ga>ME 2008