Springer to Dick’s Creek (99% joy. 1% fool)

Springer Mt Shelter to Gooch Mt: Sugar and Salt

28 February 26/15.7 miles Day/15.7 miles Trail

“I sound my barbaric howl over the roofs of the world,” Walt Whitman

And we leave. After a couple of fantastic nights in Dahlonega in the Barefoot Hills and a 7:00 descent to the trailhead at the top of FS 42, the trip began with a 0.9 mile hike to Springer, and my obligatory shout out to Whitman, I started this trip at 8:00 sharp. I don’t want to bury the situation, but this first day combined highs with an embarrassing incident. The best part was that I felt great, with a wide smile on my face during the short walk to the parking lot from Southern Terminus. My body felt great, aside from some annoying joint pain from time to time. Expected. The plan was to walk steadily and reach Hawk Mt Shelter for some snacks and water, stopping for water along the way. Along the way I met Tony Bird (he also has a Trek blog, right here!) Serendipity, but Tony, like me, is a retired military intelligence professional. We talk about things. Very friend.

I felt very strong when walking. Surprisingly. So good that I decided to try a “time trial” on Sassafrass, which is basically a mile and climbs about 600 feet. Sometimes I do stupid things. But it was fun. I go up, I sit down to have a drink and another hiker, Simón, sits on the same log. We chat and I find out that he’s going slower than I wanted and that he needs to get to Woody Gap and get a ride from there. But he didn’t have one. So, it just so happens that Mary, my amazing shuttle driver, had given me her card. I shared it with Simon and he calls her. He makes the arrangements and I was able to greet Mary again.

So I end the day confident, strong, motivated and happy with my fitness. I drop my backpack, set up my tent, inflate my mat, unpack my bag, etc. Basic camp things. I chatted with Mo and Jo, a husband and wife team (clearly the root of a great trail name). I get water from a spring. Everything’s fine. Then I take my lunch bag and cooking gear to the picnic table at the shelter and make my hiker stew, which is basically a side dish of Knorr, almonds, peanut butter, chopped Slim Jims, and tuna. Very good.

I eat. Term. Then I start to feel a little dizzy, a little clammy and breaking into a cold sweat. I’ve experienced this before and realize it’s due to low blood pressure, and I put my head between my legs to recover. Next thing I know, Frost, one of the hikers at the shelter is slapping me and telling me I passed out. I’m on the ground, a little disoriented, embarrassed and tired. Frost helps me onto the platform; and Don from SC gives me a liter of electrolyte to drink. In 15 minutes I’m almost back to normal. I’ve seen this kind of thing in the races I’ve run. And when I do those long runs, I pay close attention to my electrolytes. But today, on a hike, I didn’t do it. Hydration and feeding throughout the day were fine, but I didn’t take any sodium or potassium supplements. It was not dehydration, neither cardiac nor glucose related. Electrolytes. I should have known better.

I would love to see the three guys at the shelter again: Mississippi, Frost and Don, to once again express my gratitude for their kindness and compassion. I am very grateful. That must have been terrifying for them.

All that drama aside, I had a fantastic first day, the pace of the tour returned quickly and the people I chatted to, like Tony, were highlights.

From Gooch Mt Shelter to Bull Gap Tent Site: Nostalgia and Bad Foods That Are Great

March 1 26/16.7mi Day/32.4mi Trail

I woke up feeling energized and strong. The fainting seemed like a feint, a distraction, but it was something real and I reflected on it. But I felt very good. I left camp after Don gave me a few packets of electrolyte powder (see, I learn) and used it very intentionally throughout the day, knowing that if something similar happened tonight, I would have to re-evaluate things. So I combined self-reflection, physical assessment, and enjoying the views while happily interacting with people along the way.

People like Luna/Dog, a twenty-year-old girl obsessed with college applications for the fall. This young man wants to study history and we walked together for a while talking about Hume and Kierkegaard (of all things). Then there was Banshee, a speed demon who moved very fast on the ground and intended to do the CDT immediately after this. All in 2026! That?

We all ended up seeing each other again at Woody Gap and helped Rainman create Trail Magic. I left before I started cooking, but that bag of Cheese-Its I had when I left Woody was manna. Thank you, processed food scientists.

Then I met 2025 through Froggy and Bands. Two great guys who met on the trail last year and are still very close. They were on a weekend nostalgia walk and refining their plans to start a dehydrated smoothie company called Hiker’s Horizon.

Blood Mt was a lovely hike and I enjoyed the views from the top. Crowded too. So I headed to Mountain Crossings in Neel Gap. I ran into a couple of SAR agents looking for a hiker who had been missing in the area for months, Charles Hosch. One of them was a retired doctor and I told him my story of fainting. We talked about it and landed in the same place. Electrolytes. Same thing when I met a paramedic at Neel Gap. My foolishness confirmed it. Then, to test the alternative «happens after eating a large meal» hypothesis, I went to the store to buy some healthy hiker food which included 2 Hot Pockets pizzas, a small can of Pringles, and a bag of Sun Chips. I inhaled them and felt great, if a little guilty about being less Italian. Then I moved on and found a good campsite at Bull Gap, which gave me a 17+ push to Blue Mountain Shelter tomorrow.

From the Bull Gap Store Site to the Blue Mountain Shelter: The Monarch and the Count of Monte Cristo

March 2 26/17.9mi Day/50.3mi Trail

I woke up at 6am, got up, did my mornings and hit the trail at 7am, feeling wonderful. Movin’On and husband and wife duo Darby/Monomona slept in and enjoyed the morning. I’ve noticed that my camping rhythm isn’t completely set yet. My backpack isn’t finished either. Working on it. However, I added teriyaki jerky to my snack game. Umami and salt. Perfection.

At one point I met another former hiker named No Care Bear (there are so many of us!) walking his 14-year-old pit bull, June. June loved the salt dripping from her legs, as well as the blood from some fresh scratches. Enjoy.

Shortly after June gave me a tongue bath, I ran into another NOBO, Monarch. She is a 65 year old retired NH science teacher who is here alone (her husband is not crazy) and is dealing with it. She was charming. We were talking about books, podcasts and things like that and I told him that I was listening to The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas and that I only had 4 hours left. It was his favorite book! Nice.

We stopped at Low Gap Shelter for water and a payday and met Mudder Goose and Newfie, a mother and daughter from…yes, Newfoundland. We talk about seafood and maritime folk music.

Then we came across Compact, also NOBO. He is a young man from Myrtle Beach, originally from Delaware, who is making his sixth attempt. Very friend. Serious. Honest. Straight. I hope you overcome your challenges and make it this time. It also has some great hiking tights.

My watch’s battery alarm went off at the end of the day, so I basically ran the last 2 miles to camp so I could capture that segment before the watch went off. Successful.

Blue Mt Shelter to Dick’s Creek Gap – Attracted by Pig

March 3 26/19.1mi Day/69.4mi Trail (and a zero on March 4)

Oh man. The weather guys were wrong. Last night at Blue Mt was cold, rain-soaked and presented challenges for motivation. But I got out of my tent (a BA Copper Spur 2; I like it, but I don’t love it) and started the day. I again felt great, looking at a 16-17 mile to Deep Gap Shelter followed by a 3.6 mile nero to Stanimals and Hiawassee the next day.

It was difficult to understand the layers, but I finally figured it out, cursing the cold mist every step of the way. I was delighted to meet up with Perri-Mamba (the genesis of this trail’s name is not for public display) and we walked and talked together for about 8 miles talking about Europe, food, and veterinary medicine. He was a retired veterinarian.

Perri and I had seen each other a few times during this trip, but we met more formally at, get this… a hiker-fed mondo breakfast burrito on Tray Mountain! This was put together by the good people of Hostel Bootsup in TN. Alright, and I augmented that meat fest with regular Cheet-ohs, Fritos, and Lays. I saw Banshee there, Perry, and met a triple crowner, Jolly, who was with his mom and dad, from Alabama, running a section. I love when magic hits and enchants.

I got some great information at the burrito stop, Banshee. He told me that Stanimals was hosting a rambler broadcast with guest stars Sir Stops-a-Lot and Miss Janet. Well, I was planning on staying at Stanimals the next night anyway, so I opted to add another 3.6 miles to my planned day and get to Dick’s early and transfer to Stanimals. They settled me into a bed and now I will do a long day and take a cero, instead of a nero.

So, I arrived at Dick’s about 30 minutes before my pickup (still feeling great). I chatted with a couple of brother hikers while I waited and they picked me up at 4:15. I arrive at the hostel, dirty, smelly, tired (the 19 miles of the day wore me out), and voracious. I arrived and smelled the roast meat and began to salivate. I took a big tour of the place and it was full of hikers, non-hikers, and dogs. Beautiful chaos. Happy people with a shared trail culture. I had a couple of beers after my shower while I waited for the laundry to finish and just chatted in the great room waiting for dinner. I met section hikers, multiples like me, a 19-year-old kid who was uncomfortable and nervous, but I know he’ll be fine.

The pig feeding was epic. People approached the grill when the bell rang. I easily ate half a kilo of meat. The body knows what it needs. Many thanks to Stops and Miss Janet!

And guess who my roommate was? Cheerful! What a great guy. He is also known as Jason Mimosa. Jolly has a hiking clothing business, which you should look into and consider. Go here to cheerful and see. Witness and be surprised by the sun dress.

Stanimales It’s fantastic. I highly recommend a stay. Super friendly, helpful, experienced, knowledgeable and committed to his clients. Additionally, people have additional functions in place. #rgladelbidé

As for my zeron in the city, let’s say it can be captured by shopping at Ingle’s, and this:

Thanks for reading.

YAWP

Nor’Easter