Day 5- Rain, Rain, Go Away

Stealth Campsite(41.9) to Unicoi Gap( 52.9) 11mi

Not much to say about today. I hiked in the rain and it was bitter cold, all day long. It was pretty fun, for about an hour. If it wasn't for the rain it would have been an easy day. 

Today was the first day I got up and going at a decent hour. We broke camp at 7 trying to beat the rain. We managed to make it to a shelter to eat breakfast about 5 minutes before the rain started. It rained on and off for the rest of the day. 

Our view all day long

After walking in the rain for 4 hours we stopped at another shelter for lunch. Most of us were close to hypothermia, so we made the decision to go into town for the night. Before we could go to town we had to get off of Blue Mt. 

1,000 foot descent over .5 miles. Not fun terrain 

Going to town was the BEST decision ever. We scored a nice hotel room for $14 each, with a liquor store across the street. The hotel even has an awesome condiment bar with peanut butter packets and hot sauce packets(a big deal for thru-hikers), and continental breakfast with homemade Belgian waffles. If you get the chance to stop in Helen, GA. I highly recommend the Beat Western Hotel. A nice lady from the hotel picked us up on the side of the road. To say we were wet and muddy would be an understatement. We destroyed this nice ladies car. I'm starting to understand the hiker trash mentality. A group a dirty strangers coming together like family has been the best experience ever. The friends I've made in the last few days feel like we've known each other much longer. 

Hiker Trash

Hiker trash Dinner

Although today was miserable, I think it's my favorite trail day so far. 

Sorry for the short post, but lack of sleep and calories has finally caught up to me. 

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” Dr Seuss

Woo