On the Road!

Greetings, all, from Neel's Gap in Blairsville, Georgia!

Well, this is the most challenging, physical thing I've ever done in my life, carrying 40 pounds up and down mountains in north Georgia. Every step has been a chore for the past 46 miles. The good news is that on day 5, I'm finally starting to feel like I'm making improvements in my fitness. I'm still out of breath after every 200 feet of climb, but I'm recovering faster and hiking faster each day.

The first few days were very rugged. The beginning of the trail is notoriously challenging as are the hills, but especially since most hikers are just getting started. Those of you familiar with my rotundness can appreciate my thoughts on this.

Neel's Gap is the first psychological goal to those hiking South to North - It's around 4-5 days of tough hiking during which the hiker really understands the meaning of 'too much weight.' Usually after a day or so, we begin to realize that we really didn't need that extra shirt, pair of socks or 5 pound canned ham. So the Walasi Yi center is the first opportunity to mail home all the extra crap we really don't need and to have our pack dumped out and examined by their staff to tell us additional stuff that we really don't need.

Walking into an outfitter and shop like that, geared specifically for hikers, is awe-inspiring in terms of all the hiker food, gear and other items which stock the place from floor to ceiling. By the time I reached the center by around 1pm, I was already dehydrated and tired from 7 mile hike which included Blood Mountain, the highest point of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and which is topped by a stone constructed hut/cabin with sleeping platform inside. There is also a family of skunks which live nearby and which come inside the shelter at night surprising the hikers inside. Every once in a while, a surprised hiker will awake to see the skunks next to them and try to chase them out. Well you know what happens when you excite skunks, so the rest of the hikers are none too pleased. I passed on staying to see a beautiful sunset and sunrise to get a private room at Goose Creek Cabins nearby the Walasi Yi Center.

I took today off to go through my gear and rest up and reward myself after 6 challenging days, but tomorrow it's back on the trail with my new gear, a rested set of legs and one last sleep in a comfortable cabin.

Will post some pictures as soon as I can in my gallery section.

To those folks continuing to donate to the Russell Home in whater form, thank you so much! I will be in Helen, Georgia next, Alpine capital of the southeastern U.S. in about 3-4 days.

Safe travels!

Ron (Muddyshoes)