March 25, 2015: Campsite south of Tray Gap to Dicks Creek Gap (Top of Georgia Hiker Hostel 1/2 mile below Dicks Creek Gap), 13.0 miles, 9:10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Nice grassy campsite at old cheese factory site in high gap. Stars were out and cool winds were blowing when I went to bed at 8:00 pm. Read some of The Hobbit, then tuned in the mini radio for some music and news. Don’t think I lasted very long. Slept solid until 3:15 then rolled around and slept a couple more two-hour stretches. Sometime in the night it began to rain so I pulled the pack in close to the tent and zipped the tent fly closed.
Still raining at dawn, heavily at times. Not terribly interested in getting up, so I lay still and just listened to it rain. Around 8, got in gear and packed up. Stowed wet tent and set stove ablaze for coffee/cocoa mix. Donned rain gear, ate a granola bar and took off in the rain and fog.
Not a bad ascent of Tray Mountain, 1000 feet up but got there just fine. Couldn’t see a thing of course from the summit rocks so carried on. Passed up side trail to Tray Mountain Shelter. Hit the Swag of the Blue Ridge and just kept on trucking. Wonderful roller coaster walking, gap then peak, gap then peak. Shed the rain gear early on. Occasional bursts of showers only rest of day’s hike. Lunch at Addis Gap, then big grunt over Kelly Knob, the second 4000-footer for the day.
Original plan was to stop for the day at Deep Gap, but bypassed the shelter and kept on the long and winding and up and down road to Dicks Creek Gap and US 76. Both Addis Gap and Dicks Creek Gap brought back big memories of 1977 hike. Stayed at Addis and lunched at the concrete picnic table at Dicks. Last time I saw Mike Collins that year. Trail angel had bottles of water at the gap.
Ten minutes later the shuttle guy from Top of Georgia Hostel showed up and carted a group of thru’s to the hostel a half-mile west. This place I heaven on earth. Assigned bunk, jumped in hot shower, gathered up laundry in basket they gave me (they do it for you for $5). Got a cold Coke upon arrival.
Caught 5:30 dinner shuttle van into Hiawassee, about 12 miles west, provided at no charge to hostel guests. Chowed down big at Hardee’s. Lots of hikers smiling back at hostel. Got my name in for breakfast. Tried to dry the tent outside, but now it’s raining again. Maybe tomorrow. Arrived here a day ahead of schedule so am taking a zero day here tomorrow. That means I’m staying put. Relax, write, do not too much. Nice.
