Day 179: Stealth Site

Start: Wayah Gap (AT mi 115.3). Stop: Stealth Site (AT mi 96). Today’s miles: 19.3 miles. Total AT mileage: 2097.1 miles.

Mom woke me up at 8am and we walked to the lobby for the included breakfast. I got biscuits and gravy and two pancakes. We ate and then by 8:30 we were back in our room, packing. I can’t believe our time together was over so fast! I had asked mom on Friday how she felt about leaving late on Sunday and slack packing me, so I could make up some miles. Because of the incredible woman she is, she agreed.

She dropped me off at Wayah Gap with my day pack, and the plan would be for her to meet me at Mooney Gap to get my pack and then keep hiking 1-4.7 more miles (depending on time). While I was hiking, she’d be out exploring the mountainside towns and country roads, for roughly 7 hours. It worked beautifully. After making sure she had the address of where to meet me between 4-5pm, we hugged and I was off.

It was cold and acted like it was going to rain, but it only misted here and there during the morning before robins egg blue skies showed up to stay for the rest of the day. I was shocked at how easily the terrain was going by, I never once felt winded and even on inclines per the elevation map-they didn’t really feel like climbs at all.

The morning stayed damp in the deep woods with the hint of views between the trees at times. I didn’t really get any views until almost 4pm at the fire tower on top of Albert Mountain. I finally had a reason to climb a fire tower! And I was so thrilled I did.. the views were spectacular! If I didn’t have mom waiting on me at a road crossing several miles away, I would have stayed up there longer, but knowing she was waiting and couldn’t start her 2.5 hour drive home until I got there, I got pictures and video, then made a dash out of there.

The climb up to Albert was a good climb I had forgotten about, it did make me wonder how long the climbing would last but it wasn’t hard by a long shot. However, coming down the other side was rocky and slippery from the damp conditions, and it slowed me down more than I expected it to. I had been cruising along all day at 3 miles per hour, and then that chunk made me get to mom 30 minutes after I thought I would.. still, 4:30 was within the window I told her, but I was secretly aiming for 4 so she’d have more sunlight on her way home.

When I got to Mooney Gap, she wasn’t there. I started to panic a little-then realized I had service. She was there within a couple minutes.. she had gone to get me a Mountain Dew and Reece’s cups to have as a snack before she left. It hit the spot! I repacked my day pack into the big pack, filtered water I had in my CNOC bag, and then we said our sad goodbyes. We hugged and I was off.

The terrain was still relatively easy, even with my full pack and 4 days of food in it. I decided I was skipping the first campsite a mile after the road crossing, and aiming to get to Carter’s Gap shelter. However, 2.5 miles into the late afternoon.. I saw a gorgeous stealth site with pristine views and a perfect bear hanging tree for my food. I thought about continuing on, it was close to 6pm, I had my headlamp in my hip belt.. but then I figured I should stay and enjoy this site and the sunset.. my camping days on this trail are coming to an end.. I plan to finish November 6th at Amicalola State Park, and while shortening my miles may make that turn into November 7th.. the days of camping on the AT during my first thru hike are almost over.

So, I stayed. I threw my food line first, then set up my tent. Once everything was unpacked, I put on some layers and went to cook my dinner sitting on a rock with a stunning view of some mountains. The sun was setting on the other side of the mountain I was sitting on.. but watching the colors of the sky change in front of me was just as special as seeing the sunset from the other side. I ate as the sky changed to a pink hue, then slowly changed to navy blue and then black with stars twinkling. By this point I was shivering, so I hung up my food then got strait into my sleeping bag.

I’m huddled here now, chilly but comfortable because of the heavy sleeping bag. I’m hoping my phone finishes charging quickly so I can unplug it and get some shut eye. I’m going to do my best to get up early tomorrow and bare the cold so I can get at least 22 miles in, if not a bit further. TownLegs, who I haven’t seen in MONTHS, is finishing soon (the next couple days I’m pretty sure), and her husband is in Hiawasee waiting to pick her up at the finish. They have offered to pick me up from a road crossing to slack pack me and to have dinner with them! Because of the miles I have to make, it’s a bit tricky to work out, but I’m hoping we can make it happen! I want to hug her neck so bad!

Speaking of friends that have finished recently, I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned those that have.. Curmudgeon finished last Monday I believe, and then TBird finished the day after him.. Towelie finished today! Then it will be TownLegs followed by me, then Lizard. As long as FarOut’s knee cooperates, she and Sauce will be finishing not too long after that! Finch is finishing sometime soon too, he’s ahead of me by a day or 2 I’m pretty sure. I swear I want GPS trackers on everybody so I can find them when I want to! Lol Cactus, Butterfingers, Sounscape and Jerzy are all a day or so behind Lizard I believe, so they’ll be finishing up in November, too.

Ok. I think that’s everything for today. I’ll be done in 6 days! SIX DAYS. Just.. wow. Also, I cross into Georgia tomorrow! My goodness, I cannot believe it’s coming to an end. It feels like just yesterday that I started, and also like I’ve been out here for years simultaneously. Ah, anyway..Goodnight, y’all. Sweet dreams and stay warm!