Day 10 - Sunday, March 31, 1974 - Helen, GA

0.0 miles

Tourist Trap

Spent another day of boredom.  Almost decided to go this noon, but changed our minds.  Still worried about the cost of this whole episode.  But fortunately the people at the motel only charged us $10 for these last 2 nights.  $10 for last night and nothing for tonight.  Very nice.  Said we've gone through so much trouble here that we could probably use the extra money.  So we were pretty happy about that.  It was another beautiful day.  Chance of rain Monday and Tuesday though.  Naturally.  The motel is deserted again tonight.  We are definitely leaving tomorrow morning. 

Let's get out of here, already!

Day 9 - Saturday, March 30, 1974 - Helen, GA

0.0 miles

Tourist

Well, another boring day.  We got my prescriptions filled.  We thought we might go to Cleveland or Gainesville to check out shoes, maybe buy me some new ones, but we decided not to.  So we sat around and read newspapers and magazines and watched a basketball game and I went out and sat in the sun after soaking my blisters.  I hope we can get going Monday or maybe even tomorrow.  We have been treated well here.  Betty at Betty's Country Store gave us 2 pieces of pie tonight.  She's been really friendly to us.  The power went out twice this afternoon.  The wind has been blowing pretty hard today.  

Day 8 - Friday, March 29, 1974 - Helen, GA

0.0 miles

Tourist

Things aren't going too great.  We sat around watching TV most of the day.  It rained hard this morning.  We stopped at Betty's Country Store near the motel and she cooked us some biscuits and sausages for our breakfast.  Really nice.  Got to see a doctor tonight about my toe, thanks to the motel owners, who drove me.  He gave me a prescription for penicillin for the blister and told me to wait a few days before we go hiking again.

 [Spoiler alert:  this is going to continue a few more days - I was having major problems with my feet.  I must have had a really bad fit with my Vasque boots, but I stuck with them because I really couldn't afford another pair at that time.  I was also a real novice hiker, so had no experience with dealing with the break-in part of long distance hiking.  If it was now, I would just persevere through the blisters and sore knees, taking it easy, but knowing that things get better soon enough.  Usually.  Anyway, we will be back on the trail in a few days.  The adventure will continue...]

Day 7 - Thursday, March 28, 1974 - Helen, GA

o.o miles

Tourist

We spent the day buying groceries, being tourists, calling home, and repacking packs.  And this evening the blister on my big toe is really looking bad.  Called a doctor and was told to soak it.  So I soaked it in hot water for most of the evening.  Not much change.  Hope we can get going again tomorrow.  It's going to be like starting over again if we wait another day.

Day 6 - Wednesday, March 27, 1974 - Rocky Knob Shelter to Unicoi Gap (Ga. Hwy. 75)

2.8 miles - 52.7 cumulative miles

Downtown Helen, Georgia

Got up this morning to a cloudy rainy day.  Didn't sleep well on rocky ground.  Heard some owls during the night.  We were sore.  My knee was bad and the hiking was hard because of it.  So we hiked the 2 1/2 miles down to Unicoi Gap.  There we got a ride down to Helen GA from a guy in a new Ford who worked at a Ford dealer in the area.  We got a room in the Chattahoochee Motel.  We are planning on staying tonight and tomorrow night to rest up and hopefully get my knee and blisters to improve.  The 20 miles yesterday was too much.

[Helen was recreated as an Alpine Village as a tourist destination in 1969.  Interesting history here.]

Day 5 - Tuesday, March 26, 1974 - Blood Mountain Shelter to Rocky Knob Leanto

19.6 miles - 49.9 cumulative miles

Sunrise on Blood Mountain

 What a day!  Incredible!

It all started nicely of course.  We woke up about 7 and went outside to see what there was to see on the highest point on the trail in Georgia.  We were actually looking down on a sea of clouds.  They covered nearly everything in all directions, yet we were way above them.  Then the sun rose. It was beautiful.  [This was the first time I had ever seen anything like this and I recall that this was probably the moment that hooked me for life on hiking in the mountains]

We hiked down to the road from there, figuring to eat breakfast at the first spring along the way, seeing as there was no water at Blood Mountain.  Had a late breakfast, washed up and felt much better.  Hiked on, planning to go all the way to Rocky Knob Shelter.  We did it, unfortunately.  It wasn't easy.  I'm super tired and the last three miles I had my doubts about being able to make it.  My knee still bugs me and my other knee is threatening.

Saw some fantastic views today.  It was foggy in the AM for a while after coming down from Blood Mountain.  But it cleared and was sunny and warm all day.  Perfect hiking weather.  Six people at the shelter when we got there near dark.  Had to pitch tent.

Rocky Knob Shelter

Day 4 - Monday, March 25, 1974 - Suches, GA to Blood Mountain

7.9 miles - 30.3 cumulative miles

Blood Mountain Shelter

 

"Got up this morning to cold wet foggy rain.  What a bummer.  3 days in a row like this.  Went over to the store and bought a few things, including our breakfast for the day.  My knee was killing me.  All last night and this morning it hurt bad when walking.  As the day wore on it got better, but it still bothers me at times.  The farmer gave us all a ride up to the gap - all 5 fo us in a little Jeep with our packs.  As we climbed into the mountains there was ice and a bit of snow.  It stayed very cold and wet and foggy all day.  We planned to go down to the Lake Winfield Scott Recreation area, but failed to find it open and so continued on.  We climbed Blood Mountain and are staying at the Blood Mt Shelter, which is a 2 room stone cabin with a fire place right on top of the mountain.  Our 3 friends have moved on ahead of us, so we may not see them again.  There is no water up here.  Weather report predicts lessening chance of rain or snow tonight.  Hope it clears up tomorrow."

This was supposed to be a spectacular view

     Home Sweet Home

A warm fire on a cold damp night

Day 3 - Sunday, March 24, 1974 - Hawk Mt Shelter to Suches, GA

12.8 miles - 22.4 cumulative miles

Our accommodations in Suches, GA

"Woke up at 3 AM to the sound of bombs and machine guns.  Army training down a ways from us.  We were warned [This part of the AT goes through an Army Ranger training area].  Got up at 7:30 or so and got going about 8:30.  Was clouded or fogged in and cold and rainy.  Stayed that way all morning until about 1:00.  Eventually cleared up but stayed cold and windy.  Trail was up and down most of the day.  Made it to the shelter at 2:30.  Moved on to Route 50 and down that to Suches Georgia.  Trail from shelter to Route 50 was real nice.  Not too many climbs, mostly level around sides of the hills.  Some great views after it cleared up.  Felt a lot better.  Hiked 14 miles plus 1 1/2 into town.  Blister on my small toe on right.  Left big toe sore.  Store in Suches closed so asked farmer next door if we could stay in barn full of hay.  Real nice to find such friendly people.  Bulls are eating hay from hole in side of barn.  It's still cold and very windy.  30% chance of rain tomorrow.  Shoulders are sore as well as feet.  In bad shape but should improve.  Staying here with Charlie from upstate New York and a couple from DC."

The Hay Barn

Day 2 - Saturday, March 23, 1974 - Springer Mt Shelter to Hawk Mt Shelter

Springer Mt Shelter to Hawk Mt Shelter
9.5 miles - 9.6 cumulative miles

Hawk Mountain Shelter

"Got up about 8:00 this morning.  Cold and cloudy.  Didn't sleep too well last night.  Mice in shelter, skunk passed by.  Started out about 9:10.  Easy hiking this morning, mostly down hill.  Passed thru area of streams, brooks, waterfalls and laurel.  Very wet and cold.  After lunch the sun came out and it got warmer.  Rough climb up Hawk Mt.  Shelter on other side near field full of Boy Scouts."

Three Forks near Winding Stair Gap

Hickory Flats Cemetery

Drying socks at Hawk Mountain Shelter

Day 1 - Friday, March 22, 1974 - Springer Mountain, GA

Starting out - we look like Ed Garvey clones, the way we were dressed.

 - Springer Mountain, GA
 - 0.1 miles - 0.1 cumulative miles (plus ~ 3.0 mile approach trail)

"Got up at 8:30 and made final preparations.  Left about 10-10:30 and stopped in Dahlonega for lunch in the Smith House.  Family style meals with lots of plates of all kinds of food for $3 per meal.  Went to Amicalola State Park and found approach trail 7 miles to Springer.  Went around to the 3 mile approach up long dirt road.  Rough ride.  Started hiking about 2:30.  Hiked to the trail beginning at about 5 or 5:30.  Out of shape.  Had a hard time.  Signed register and took pictures.  Stayed at first shelter (Springer Mt. Shelter).  Nice.  Spring near by.  Had a can of baked beans left at shelter.  Lots of food left by someone.  Five other people joined us at shelter.  Turned in at 8:00 o'clock.  Getting cold."

The view from Springer Mountain

Signing the register

 

Springer Mountain Shelter