Woody Gap
June 16, 2005 - Deep Gap Shelter to Tray Mountain
I was up at 5:30 a.m. I am well rested in the shelter alone. I had scrambled eggs and coffee for breakfast and left by
6:30. I had a nice hike today. Kelly Knob wasn’t as bad as everyone had relayed it to me it was. I stopped at Steel
Trap Gap where there was a water sign, and the spring was Big John’s Spring. The spring was pretty and coming
out from under a big tree. I hiked up Tray Mountain and at the top, the trail to the shelter led off to the right. I never
came to this shelter in 1981. I had camped to the south of here after going down into Helen late. This shelter site is
on top of a Ridge with great views 100 yards away. It will be a nice spot after dark to view the valley and lights. The
spring here is over the hill and a boxed in one, made out of concrete. The spring is at the original shelter site. They
used to build the shelters at the water sites but now they like to keep them apart a bit. This day it is sunny, windy,
and warm but a few clouds are coming in now. I have been typing off of my journal. It is full at this time, so I will now
copy off of the back of my mileage chart which I copied before I left Florida. I always keep my original at home to let
Virginia look at where I am. I only copy on one side so I shall write on the other side. I just went through my food
bags and consolidated all of the unwanted paper inside. I burned all my paper and cleaned up around the shelter
and did the same with burnable stuff. This also ran out the bugs that were here. I had picked up a dinner of
dehydrated beans at the Inn and had it for dinner. It was good and I would buy it again if I have the chance. I found
some chicken of the forest mushrooms today and cooked them too. I also found some poke greens which I sautéed
and the greens were good for a change. I had to look hard but I found some small wood for a little fire which I kept
going tonight. A man stopped by the shelter a little while ago and had already done 15 miles. I thought he would stay
but he went on for another 10 miles. He was proud to be going for 25 today. I just looked at him and said to myself.
Why? I then told him it is not a race. He looked back and said it is too! Again I feel sorry for those people who don’t
stop and smell the roses. I have been here 4 hours this afternoon and have been busy the whole time. Many people
feel they are wasting time if they don’t hike all they can. I know I mentioned earlier but this is one of the most scenic
shelter locations on the entire trail. The beautiful day adds a lot to this too. I believe I can see Helen Georgia from
up on the rocks here. This will definitely be a place to return one day. Triumph was here 10 days ago. I would have
liked to see him again before he went back to England but he is surly done by now. He made connections with
someone and they would take him back to Atlanta where he would fly out to his sister’s house in Minnesota. I may
see him again someday but I will keep in touch by the global email. I will probably go into Helen for a few things and
an afternoon off to revisit a neat little tourist town. I need to get some booze for my celebration on Springer Mountain
in a few days. These short days allows one to play a little. I do miss home though so I’ll kick it in a little when the food
bag gets lighter. All of the fake meat in the chili and the mushrooms gave me killer farts! I went up to the overlook at
dark and at 10:30 p.m. and the view was very beautiful. I got a good night sleep in the shelter alone.
I was up at 5:30 a.m. I am well rested in the shelter alone. I had scrambled eggs and coffee for breakfast and left by
6:30. I had a nice hike today. Kelly Knob wasn’t as bad as everyone had relayed it to me it was. I stopped at Steel
Trap Gap where there was a water sign, and the spring was Big John’s Spring. The spring was pretty and coming
out from under a big tree. I hiked up Tray Mountain and at the top, the trail to the shelter led off to the right. I never
came to this shelter in 1981. I had camped to the south of here after going down into Helen late. This shelter site is
on top of a Ridge with great views 100 yards away. It will be a nice spot after dark to view the valley and lights. The
spring here is over the hill and a boxed in one, made out of concrete. The spring is at the original shelter site. They
used to build the shelters at the water sites but now they like to keep them apart a bit. This day it is sunny, windy,
and warm but a few clouds are coming in now. I have been typing off of my journal. It is full at this time, so I will now
copy off of the back of my mileage chart which I copied before I left Florida. I always keep my original at home to let
Virginia look at where I am. I only copy on one side so I shall write on the other side. I just went through my food
bags and consolidated all of the unwanted paper inside. I burned all my paper and cleaned up around the shelter
and did the same with burnable stuff. This also ran out the bugs that were here. I had picked up a dinner of
dehydrated beans at the Inn and had it for dinner. It was good and I would buy it again if I have the chance. I found
some chicken of the forest mushrooms today and cooked them too. I also found some poke greens which I sautéed
and the greens were good for a change. I had to look hard but I found some small wood for a little fire which I kept
going tonight. A man stopped by the shelter a little while ago and had already done 15 miles. I thought he would stay
but he went on for another 10 miles. He was proud to be going for 25 today. I just looked at him and said to myself.
Why? I then told him it is not a race. He looked back and said it is too! Again I feel sorry for those people who don’t
stop and smell the roses. I have been here 4 hours this afternoon and have been busy the whole time. Many people
feel they are wasting time if they don’t hike all they can. I know I mentioned earlier but this is one of the most scenic
shelter locations on the entire trail. The beautiful day adds a lot to this too. I believe I can see Helen Georgia from
up on the rocks here. This will definitely be a place to return one day. Triumph was here 10 days ago. I would have
liked to see him again before he went back to England but he is surly done by now. He made connections with
someone and they would take him back to Atlanta where he would fly out to his sister’s house in Minnesota. I may
see him again someday but I will keep in touch by the global email. I will probably go into Helen for a few things and
an afternoon off to revisit a neat little tourist town. I need to get some booze for my celebration on Springer Mountain
in a few days. These short days allows one to play a little. I do miss home though so I’ll kick it in a little when the food
bag gets lighter. All of the fake meat in the chili and the mushrooms gave me killer farts! I went up to the overlook at
dark and at 10:30 p.m. and the view was very beautiful. I got a good night sleep in the shelter alone.
Chicken of the Woods
June 17, 2005 - Tray Mountain Shelter to Blue Mountain Shelter
I was up before daylight and left shortly thereafter after a quick breakfast. I went to the outhouse and almost got lost
getting back!! It was a beautiful hike up over Tray Mountain. Coming off of Tray Mountain I made a huge mistake by
taking my eyes off of the trail for a nana second. I stumbled head first into a tree and fell very hard. It bent my roll
bar on top my pack. I lay there for about 5 minutes before I could get up. After I finally got out from under my pack I
noticed my left ring and pinky fingers were jammed bad. I could not believe how fast this fall happened. I was still in
shock and the hand was numb so I grabbed each finger and pulled them out. The little finger was the worst. It
popped back out in three large pops. I got a little nauseous and had to sit for 15 minutes before continuing. I had
hiked over 3000 miles of the A.T. and this would be the worst fall I have ever had. I sucked it up and headed for
Helen for some whisky to ease the pain!! In the fall my hiking stick snapped in three pieces. It was the old style one
piece type too! The reason I fell was a domino effect. I was looking under a log which had fallen long ways of the trail
to make sure there wasn’t a snake under it. I then tripped over a three inch high stump. I started to fall, planted my
hiking stick and the stick went into a crevasse. I then tripped over the hiking stick which was stuck in the trail. All of
this happened in less than a second. I am sure I would have broken my neck if the roll bar had not been on my pack.
Thank you old friend!! After looking myself over I am dinged up a bit with a few scratches and a bruised knee but I
should be fine in a few days. I hiked on off the mountain after I pulled my aluminum top bar back out and I had to rig
my straps on my pack because I had crushed them and they now didn’t work. I got to Unicoi Gap and got an
immediate ride down into town by a Croatian man who said he never passes a hitch hiker and he dropped me off on
far side of Helen at the liquor store. I got my soreness medicine and went to Wendy’s where I had lunch. I then
walked through town and tried to find an outfitter which I discovered went out of business and decided to call Virginia
and head out of town. I did get a quick ride from the people who had owned the outfitters store and I was on the trail
10 minutes later. My pack should hold together till I get to Neel’s Gap where there would be another outfitter which
may have the buckle I need for my pack. As I hiked up the hill out of Unicoi Gap I began feeling real sore and achy. I
will probably have a rough night but I will make it. Two people came by the shelter and they had hiked the trail last
year. They were concerned of my situation but I assured them I would be alright. I stayed here alone in the shelter.
I was up before daylight and left shortly thereafter after a quick breakfast. I went to the outhouse and almost got lost
getting back!! It was a beautiful hike up over Tray Mountain. Coming off of Tray Mountain I made a huge mistake by
taking my eyes off of the trail for a nana second. I stumbled head first into a tree and fell very hard. It bent my roll
bar on top my pack. I lay there for about 5 minutes before I could get up. After I finally got out from under my pack I
noticed my left ring and pinky fingers were jammed bad. I could not believe how fast this fall happened. I was still in
shock and the hand was numb so I grabbed each finger and pulled them out. The little finger was the worst. It
popped back out in three large pops. I got a little nauseous and had to sit for 15 minutes before continuing. I had
hiked over 3000 miles of the A.T. and this would be the worst fall I have ever had. I sucked it up and headed for
Helen for some whisky to ease the pain!! In the fall my hiking stick snapped in three pieces. It was the old style one
piece type too! The reason I fell was a domino effect. I was looking under a log which had fallen long ways of the trail
to make sure there wasn’t a snake under it. I then tripped over a three inch high stump. I started to fall, planted my
hiking stick and the stick went into a crevasse. I then tripped over the hiking stick which was stuck in the trail. All of
this happened in less than a second. I am sure I would have broken my neck if the roll bar had not been on my pack.
Thank you old friend!! After looking myself over I am dinged up a bit with a few scratches and a bruised knee but I
should be fine in a few days. I hiked on off the mountain after I pulled my aluminum top bar back out and I had to rig
my straps on my pack because I had crushed them and they now didn’t work. I got to Unicoi Gap and got an
immediate ride down into town by a Croatian man who said he never passes a hitch hiker and he dropped me off on
far side of Helen at the liquor store. I got my soreness medicine and went to Wendy’s where I had lunch. I then
walked through town and tried to find an outfitter which I discovered went out of business and decided to call Virginia
and head out of town. I did get a quick ride from the people who had owned the outfitters store and I was on the trail
10 minutes later. My pack should hold together till I get to Neel’s Gap where there would be another outfitter which
may have the buckle I need for my pack. As I hiked up the hill out of Unicoi Gap I began feeling real sore and achy. I
will probably have a rough night but I will make it. Two people came by the shelter and they had hiked the trail last
year. They were concerned of my situation but I assured them I would be alright. I stayed here alone in the shelter.
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