03-30-2014 A.T. WOODY GAP TO GOOCH AND BACK 7.5 MILES I pity the A.T. hikers this past weekend and I only went through a fraction of what they did. After two days of rain and cold at least today they didnt have the rain to contend with. Just 40-60 mph winds! When I got out of the car at Woody Gap near Suches, Georgia the wind whipping up through the hollers was as loud as a locomotive bearing down on us. Id never heard wind that loud before. It was unreal! We were headed to Atlanta in the afternoon so we decided that I would hike from Woody Gap to Gooch Gap and back while Melvin had a small Trail Magic at Woody Gap. When we got out of the car we just about changed our minds but even after the two hour drive it was still only 7:15 am. Melvin would be able to get in the car if it was too cold and I figured that I would warm up after I got moving. After all the REAL A.T. hikers were out there hiking it! Fortunately as soon as I crossed the road and rounded the mountainside it blocked the wind and it wasnt as bad as I first thought it might be. Of course I came back into it off and on throughout the hike.....brrrrrrr! I had hiked this section from Woody Gap through Gooch Gap and on to Cooper Gap, an eight mile section before but without my buddy Pam Gettigrew to shuttle with today it was an in and out for me. That was cool too because you always see things differently from the opposite direction and Id never done the Northbound route. Its been a few years since we had hiked it and as I walked I was simulaneously surprised and yet felt like I was with an old friend that I knew well. Every detail of the woods seemed familiar but it was still like seeing it for the first time. As I hiked I thought of the thousands of kids (and older folks too) who had walked this great pathway and then of the Indians who had lived there and walked though the land before that. The mountains are as old as time and make you feel a part of something much bigger than yourself. Its a humbling experiance and exhilarating. As usual, but especially when I hike on the A.T. alone I am sad when the hike is done. I can imagine myself going further and further each day. Exploring every mile of the trail until Ive gone the whole way. I want to see it all. I want to walk forever. But my husband, dog and life waited for me back at Woody Gap and the journey was over for the day, but not the adventure. I had only passed a lone boy, two tents with two boys and nearing Gooch Gap a girl and boy. I was really impressed with the boy and girl. Even though I still had a half mile to Gooch Gap and then back I thought I might catch them on the return trip. After all I was flying without a pack and they would be much slower with their bags on their backs. It wasnt until about ten minutes from Woody Gap that I did catch them and may not have even then if they hadnt stopped for water when I did catch them. Of course they had a thirty year edge on me so my no pack equaled out their youth...lol! I promised them Id wait at the gap so they could have their trail magic too. Meanwhile I figured that Melvin hadnt had anyone since Id only seen those few but he did have a total of fifteen and actually saved a couple from hypothermia. An older couple (Joe and Sue) from Rhode Island had started out on Wednesday. As I said earlier the past two days had been rainy but they now had freezing weather and howling icy wind to contend with. They had gone one mile further North on the trail to Preachers Rock to spend the night, only to wake up with icicles inside their tent. With all their gear wet and no gaurentee of a place to spend the night or able to dry things out they decided to backtrack to Woody Gap and have Sues brother from Atlanta pick them up and then get back on the trail the next day. By the time they made that one mile walk they were freezing to death and had quite a wait to boot. Melvin cranked up the cars heater and they were sitting in there thawing out when I arrived. The young couple also got in to eat and warm up when they arrived. I dont know if that helped or just made it more cruel to have to get back out...lol! We told Joe and Sue that we were going to Atlanta anyway and could drop them there but her brother had already headed out so we took them to Dahlonega to at least save him twenty miles up the mountain driving. Everyone enjoyed the food but I think they were more grateful for a reprieve from the bitter cold. It had been a good day and a good hike and it was still only 10 am. Were dedicated...lol!
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:01:31 +0000
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