Appalachian Trail, Days 2 and 3

Day 2: Hawk Mountain Shelter to Woody Gap. 12.7 miles

Well that was a cold night. Temps dropped in to the low 20s. I slept about as well as expected, which is to say poorly, but that’s not my sleep system, just me. The wind was howling all night. Sometimes the sound would intensify in the trees, and you could hear it passing through as if it were a train moving across the sky.

Had breakfast and then drank two cups of warm water to help hydrate. My water is ice cold and I need to start the day hydrated.

It was a great day day of hiking with Leprechaun and newly named Pooh Bear.

We hiked to Gooch Mountain shelter and stopped for lunch. Leprechaun and Pooh Bear stopped there for the day. I hiked on to Woody Gap and had the great pleasure meeting the famous trail angel Miss Janet. I will talk about trail angels in a later post. Jeanie picked me up and we went back to the Airbnb for a shower and dinner in town.

Day 3. Woody Gap to Neel Gap. 10.8 miles

It was a beautiful cool morning at Woody Gap after a good nights sleep.

The trail at Woody Gap starts with a gentle climb which gets steeper as you go along. I finally caught my first great views of the Georgia mountains facing southeast at a location called Preacher’s Rock a large area of exposed rock with open views. To my left, you would be looking towards Helen Georgia to the right Dahlonega

I Ran into my first hikers today heading southbound. They had bounced forward to Neel Gap to avoid some weather and were hiking from Neel Gap back to Gooch Mountain.

The climb over Blood Mountain was interesting. Here’s the history.

I finished the day at Neels Gap where you find an outfitter called Mountain Crossings and the only spot where the trail passes through a structure.

Jeanie picked me up again and we went back to Dahlonega. She will gone soon and then I’m on my own