4/19/13 - Day 4

Gooch Mountain Shelter to Lance Creek
8.5 miles, 24.3 miles total

CAUTION: THIS POST CONTAINS JUST A LITTLE SARCASM

Downpour. All day. Literally. Okay, almost literally. I woke up at 7; it was raining. I had to pack up my tent while it was soaking wet. It was a blast. I made breakfast under the shelter; it was raining. Then I sat around the shelter hoping it would stop. It didn't. I ended up starting to hike around 11, at which point I decided it just wasn't gonna stop.

Today was my first really challenging day. Not physically, the terrain was actually pretty easy, but mentally. I crossed my first pavement road today and part of me kept thinking, "Man, it's probably nice and warm in those cars."

Anyways, it didn't stop raining until 2PM or so. But before that happened I reached the top of Big Cedar Mountain where the rain decided to go sideways. Fun. Also, the overlooks & views at Big Cedar were amazing. At least I assume they were. There was a huge white thing blocking my view. Although at one point, I did see a grey cloud BELOW ME within the white cloud, so that was kinda cool.

For all of you camp people out there: camp songs can really lift your mood. One cool thing I realized is that camp songs will cheer you up no matter what is happening. Even if it is raining sideways, 50 degrees, and you're on top of a mountain with no shelter because the trees are still bare.

Once I got to Lance Creek, I set up camp, hung my wet clothes to dry (it had stopped raining by then), put on dry clothes, got in my sleeping bag and took a nap. It was lovely. The only bad part is that my hiking shoes decided NOT TO DRY, so that will be fun tomorrow.

Tonight there are three others camping here. Alana, and two guys who I haven't seen before, but they seem pretty cool. Paul and Sarah decided to get a shuttle to the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega so that they could get out of the rain and so that Sarah could heal up her knee a little.

PS. Guess what's behind the rainstorm... a cold front!!! It's supposed to get down to 35 degrees tonight! Woohoo! My brand new pullover that my wonderful girlfriend LAUREN got me for my birthday is going to come in handy the next few days! Thank you, Lauren!