March 12, 2018

11.8 miles

Dicks creek gap (mile 69.00) to muskrat shelter (80.8)

It was a miserable morning, cold and rainy. I was not really in the hiking mood, and I was very tempted to take another rest day at the hostel. But I had to keep moving, so out I went into the cold, wet dawn and scrambled into the shuttle.

My ankle was still hurting so I took it slow. After about ten minutes it started snowing. Very pretty, but cold.

I passed an older lady who had set up camp practically on the trail. I said a ‘howdy’ and kept on walking. The lady’s trail name, I was to learn later, was Marmot and I would be meeting up with her on and off for the next few days.

It warmed up in the afternoon, it almost looked like spring was springing! I crossed the Georgia North Carolina border which felt pretty good, though I almost missed it. The sign was pretty small and was opposite a potential water source. I had a long serious look at the water, decided I had enough for the now and turned to keep walking. It was only then that I saw the sign. One state down!

I was feeling pretty good. Then I got to Bly gap. There was a small rise to get to the gap and I could see the trees on the other side were covered in ice and snow. The wind was howling something fierce, and snow was swirling in the air.

So my side, almost spring. Side I had to go to, winter hellscape.

I put on everything (still in my kilt though) and ventured over. It was like stepping on to another planet. I screamed “Holeeeee shiiiiiiit!” but you couldn’t hear it over the wind. It sounded like that fake wind effect you hear in movies when they want you to know that its really fucking windy.

The climbs were really damn difficult as well. It felt like the state was saying, “Welcome to North Carolina. Bitch!” So far North Carolina felt more like Hoth.

I stumbled into camp at around 6. I was too cold and tired to cook anything so I set up the tent in the snow and jumped straight into my sleeping bag. I feel asleep shivering, wishing there was a nearby Tauntaun.