Day 11

Blue Mountain Shelter to Tray Mountain Shelter 8.3 miles – AT mile 58.4

Card of the day – The High Priestess

Last night was so cold, in fact it was soul-destroyingly cold, but then there was a beautiful bright red sunrise, and almost all was forgiven.

It warmed up and became a rather beautiful day for hiking.

Camp Life

Let’s talk about Full Privies!  Privies are little wooden shacks that have a composting toilet.  Whilst very basic and often smelly, they are more preferable to the alternative, which is digging a cat hole.

However, the last few shelters have had rather full privies, and I’m not quite sure of the etiquette.  I mean, do you just push it down further into the hole?  After all, it’s not too nice sitting on a cone of poop!

I had been wondering about why they were getting so full when I got an email alert about a stomach bug that was going through Georgia!  Thanks for the info, ATC, and remember to wash your hands, folks!

Let’s also talk about filtering water

Trust me, there is nothing finer than drinking cold, cold stream water!  It tastes out of this world.

The one small problem is it’s usually 0.2 miles down a steep hill from camp!!

Oh, and then there is all the time actually filtering your water, and for all you know your filter is busted because it was -2 over night!

But hey, it’s still one of the daily chores to be done.

During the day I carry about two liters of water and so far I’ve not ran out.

At Unicoi Gap we got more Trail magic, this time provided by a group of ladies that like to go hiking!  Shutterbug adventure on YouTube took a video of me introducing myself.  I’m still amazed by the generosity of these people.

Today’s hiking was hard ups and downs over Tray Mountain, but was in many ways quite delightful and the weather was sunny with a gentle breeze most the day.

At some point we ran into a young hiker called Bard; when asked where he was going to stop tonight, he replied, “Stop when your body tells you.”  What a perfect answer!

We made camp around 1600, and as usual got a fire going.   Kegstand, having been into town for some treatment, hiked in just after 1800.  It was a beautiful location with views over the valley into Hiawassee.

Spring Equinox

After we had all eaten, Underhill, Kegstand, Bard, and I sat round the fire and held a little spring equinox ritual.  I had them write their seed thoughts for the year ahead on paper and had a smudge stick that I brought in Helen.  I talked them through a ritual opening, recited the Druid Prayer, and each of us offered our seed to the fire as I offered the sweet-smelling stick as a gift.

I was really touched that these people would be open to participate in a Pagan ritual.

Hiker midnight came and we all went off to bed.