Been in Helen, Georgia since Friday afternoon. Was on the trail for 7 days. 8.8 miles from the visitor center to Springer Mountain. 31 miles or so from Springer Mountain to Neel Gap. 20 miles or so from Neel Gap to Unicoi Gap.  Met a lot of great people.

It was raining before i even started walking. So i got wet right away. Met Alex on the stairs of the falls...at the top of the stairs he went to the all you can eat lunch at the lodge. lol (was funny, but its his hike) Met Rory after the rain stopped and we hiked the rest of the way to Springer. When I got to the top of Springer I met up with Jann, who I'll be hiking with on the trail. We are just going to be hiking the same mileage everyday and stop at the same places. So I got to the top of Springer...set up my tent. Met some other hikers...then we started to gather and whiskey was being passed out if you had your cup. Met Zach, Justin, Cocopelli, Pharmacy, and Twisted Sisters (they might be off the trail though. haven't seen them since Gooch gap. think one hurt her ankle). We had a great time...lots of laughs with people I just met. I had 4 shots and was feeling good cause I hadn't eaten dinner, but I was just fine lol. So the next day...Jann and I set out a little later then everyone else. We got to Hawk Mountain Shelter set up our tents. Hung out with the same group that was on top of Springer. It was tent city there. Next day we made it to Gooch Gap. Same thing as before. I ate dinner...then was handed rice that was already cooked...then chilli. lol  Next day we made it to Lance Creek. Cocopelli and I got there first and got tent platforms. I made room for another tent since my tent is small and most of the other tents are as well. So the other guys roll in and Zach takes the spot next to my tent. That night Zach made tacos and he gave me a couple...then Jann gave him some red beans and rice. He dumped it in the remaining taco meat (was vegetarian meat) and gave me the last tortilla. he had some Hot Sauce and a block of cheese that was still good after 4 days lol. Was some awesome trail tacos. Next day i got my trail name "Fast Back". Yes its like the Mustang. I passed 10 people throughout the morning and for some reason I thought of my favorite car...the Mustang Fast Back. I was like that would be a good trail name, because I'm flying by a lot of people. I passed 15 on the way up to the top of Blood Mountain. So I started telling people and it was immediately liked. I got to Neel Gap and sat around waiting for Jann before we went to get a cabin. The cabins accommodate 4. it had everything....kitchen, shower, satellite...it had 2 double beds, Futon. Cocopelli, Brightflower (Jann), Sit-a-bit and I cleaned up and dropped off our laundry to be cleaned. We were waiting for the rest of the guys to come down and get a cabin. They made it...then Zach's dad showed up with Pizza and Beer. He drove 1.5 hours to bring it to us. AWESOME GUY!!!!!!! So some of the guys we met on the trail came over and brought more beer. We had a great time...one of the best times ever lol. I was a little drunk...feeling good...I still left with Brightflower at 8:30pm or so because I knew if I didn't leave with her...that I probably wouldn't leave. Party went on till 10 or so i guess. But we had to be up early to start hiking again. Zach, Lastout (Justin), Rory and Alex were taking a zero day on Thursday. So no hang over in the morning...the other 3 left before me, but of course I passed them. We hiked in the fog and rain to Low Gap Shelter. It was the last night on the trail before Helen, Georgia and our zero day (no miles). So I ate 3 packs of easy mac...and a little bit later i had to eat a peanut butter sandwich. I could have still eaten more but I didn't. Friday morning pack up wet tent...no breakfast. Start walking in the fog and rain. Brightflower left camp before sun up. I left 45 mins or so after her...took me 2 hours to catch her. I got to Unicoi gap...and waited for Brightflower. We got a ride to Helen and ended up at Huddle House. Then our host picked us up and then the eating was on lol. In 1.5 days...tripple cheese burger and fries..16" pizza..eggs and biscuits...fajita's and then steak, salad and pasta. mmmmmmm

Back on the trail tomorrow. I'll post again when I can and have time. If you have any questions. Feel free to ask. And enjoy...because I do lol.

Later
Fast Back

Good Times

I just started this blog because I'm about to start hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) on Saturday. Plus it sounded like a good idea. I'll be "Thru-hiking" the AT from Georgia to Maine. That's 14 states and 2,184 miles in 6 months. You don't have to take 6 months to hike the AT. But I'm going to average 15 miles a day. 

I chose the title of my blog from a poem I wrote while in the navy. The poem is about a Boy Scout trip while hiking in "Philmount Scout Ranch" in New Mexico. Its about the last morning of a 10 day hike and we were on the "Tooth of Time". The Tooth of Time faces east and looks over the Scout Ranch. Enjoy.

Never Forget

Grant Shelton

Every sunrise is different.

No matter where you're morning is spent.

There will be many days you won't be able to see it.

But every morning the sky will be lit. 

From waking up at 4am with a yawn.

To sitting on top of a mountain before dawn.

My eyes on the sky.

Wishing I could fly.

To the sunlight hitting you're face.

As you look at the countless water holes all over the place.

With you're friends all around.

You take in the moment with out a sound.

Realizing this might be the last moment you share with these guys in this troop.

You remember each one of them and laugh because you couldn't have asked for a better group.

Time keeps moving as you sit still.

You don't want to leave, but it takes all of you're will.

Back on the road and on you're way home.

Looking back at the wild, where you're heart will forever roam.

You'll be back to you're regular life next weekend.

Because you're journey with them has come to an end.

Years will go by.

But you'll "Never Forget"....and that's no lie.