Day 5

Lance Creek campsite to Bull Gap 8.5 miles – AT mile 32.4

Card of the day – The Chariot

So at camp tonight I had my first disagreement with a hiker.  I did not like their vibe and they had a very different moral compass to me.  It was bound to happen at some point I suppose and I doubt I’ll see them again.  What I can say is that it was the warmest night yet and I only put one top on!

It was a glorious campsite after a short ish day but Walker and I needed the time to chill.

Walker became Underhill!

The most important thing that happened at the camp site, called Shangri-La by the ridge runner as it’s a little down the way from the main camping area, was that we finally gave Walker the Trail Name Underhill.  And that makes us the fellowship.  He has a app tracking our progress against Frodo going to Mordor, and he has the ring to boot!  We have set the rules of joining The Fellowship that you must be able and willing to pack out a 6 pack!

The morning was a perfect morning for hiking.  Cheeto who was hammock camping first told me to turn around unless I wanted a free show as he was getting changed, I guess there is no privacy in a hammock?  He then cracked a beer as it was his 31st Birthday!  What a guy!

As we were hiking up Blood Mountain we ran into the trail angel Thor, class of ‘99.  I got a Mountain Dew from him and it was rather amazing!  We also ran into Scott, who was also handing out trail magic and who gave me a fig roll pack.

The views on blood mountain were out of this world!  We had a clear day and you could see for miles!  Ultimately we smashed that hike!  Whilst the ups hurt, on the levels I recovered well and the downs were ok too.  Don’t get me wrong those switch backs were more than welcome!

On the way down we got a little lost!  The blaze were not clear but we all agreed a way and so were equality responsible.

At the top of blood mountain Kegstand, who we had met at camp the day before caught up and she is hanging with us.  She is Kegstand because she likes to do handstands on the edge of cliffs and likes beer.  She may become a member of The Fellowship!

Half way down blood mountain we ran into the Ridge Runner Chelsea recomended we hit Helen instead of Hiawassee.  She said it was more a hiker trash kinda town!

We brought into the idea and have changed our reservation.

I got really sunburnt today!  But it’s due to rain tomorrow so it is what it is.

When we got to Bull Gap we made camp.  We got a camp fire going and there were maybe 6 or 7 cool people chilling around it by the end.  I gave a Tarot reading to Underhill, and we hit the sack by hiker midnight.

The last task of the day was to hang out Bear hang!! Underhill was right on it, he found the tree and was the guy that got the line around the branch.  Unfortunately there was a broken line but we got there!

We were able to get two lines up and I did the PCT hang!  Go me!  But Team Effort!