3/19/01
The wind was howling all last night and the temperature was below freezing, but I was toasty in my zero degree bag. Chip left camp before me, as I was moving slow trying to do everything to pack up within the comfort of the tent before battling the high winds. I started hiking at 7:30 a.m., 27 minutes after Chip had left camp. I caught up to him 25 minutes after I started. We now have trail names! I am "Rabbit" and Chip is "Creeper". These were derived from our hiking habits as I am a fast uphill hiker and usually leave the crowd behind. We caught up with and met several thru-hikers today that began a day or two earlier than us. While it is great to do so much mileage the last three days, it has taken its toll. I have blisters on both heels as I suspected I would based on past experience. Kinda depressing as physically I am capable of big mileage, but my feet just aren't ready yet.
We met "Slow" and "Steady" from Kansas City, "Abol" and "Bean", Dan from Boston, "Rosebud" and "Josie", "Miel" and "the Chef", "Red", and caught up with "Yolo". Most people have a trail name by now but a few are yet to be cast. We made a decision to get off the trail tonight with bad weather coming in. We're staying at Goose Creek Cabins near Blairsville, GA along with 24 other thru-hikers. We took a shuttle to town and ate a great meal, just got back to the cabin. Tomorrow promises to be interesting with my blister problem, coupled with snow and sleet and high winds. We plan to venture out, but at least our gear will stay dry in the pack and our goal is a shelter to get out of the weather. Today's statistics: sunny, high 52 degrees, low 27 degrees, mileage 10.0 (cumulative 30.7)
