Day 4

Woody Gap to Lance Creek campsite 3.5 miles – AT mile 24
Card of the day – The Star

Today started with some news: Elie was going home.  I’ve mixed feelings about this but it’s the right thing for him.

Before we part, we go to a Walmart for resupply.  Whist in the store I turn down a row and see shelves and shelves of guns!  I’ve never seen anything like it, and this is supposed to be a grocery store!

Walker and I got an Uber back to the trail to continue north.  The trail gods smile on us and give us a nice climb with lots of switch backs, which are essentially zig zag walks up the side of a mountain instead of going straight up!

The view from the high point of the day was simply stunning!

As we continue on our way we meet my first trail runner, these are people that are paid to hike up and down a section of trail to help out hikers, offer advice, and basically make sure that people are following leave no trace in a friendly way.  Chelsea was lovely and gave us some sound advise, especially at the campsite as there is no privy available! (This means that if you need to poop you need to dig a hole in the ground.)

It was only a short walk and we were in camp early, another lazy day.

The next section up and over blood mountain is about five miles and you are not allowed to camp overnight without a bear canister, due to bear activity, which I won’t have.

In camp there are a couple of prison officers for NJ, so we were exchanging work stories, which is nice.

Walker and I have a plan to take a zero in Hiawassee over the Paddy’s Day weekend! Should be a blast!