March 24, 2016 - Day 6

This morning started the same...teamwork coffee (Jill's camp stove, Ken's fuel, one of the three to provide the water and instant coffee)...

Reading of Our Daily Bread daily devotional scripture and the daily devotional story.  They use Ken's small camo New Testament Bible that had been blessed and provided by our local church, The Lawrence United Methodist Church.  They take turns reading and are amazed at how the day's scripture fits in with their recent experiences.  We all know this is part of God's plan and they feel His presence... 

Breakfast of whatever sounds good from their packs.

More 'trail magic' at lunch time...at the Chattahoochee Gap, a Christian group from Alabama had a set up and made all the hikers the biggest hamburgers they had seen...with all the fixin's!  Plus many other goodies.  This group has their own Facebook site (https://www.facebook.com/mindthegapsvbc/) and took pictures of the hikers...Ken, Jill and Dennis were one of them! 



The day got exciting when they were approached by a ranger early afternoon who told everyone to get off the trail and into town as quickly as possible...a storm was coming and it was a bad one.


They made it to Unicoi Gap (Mile 53 - see picture left) and at the GA-75 crossing started hiking the 11 miles west into Hiawassee, GA. 

















They hadn't gone very far when a truck stopped and asked if they needed a ride into town.  Trail towns along the A.T. are very friendly to Thru-Hikers and will always stop and ask if they need a ride.  They enjoy the hikers and look out for them.  There have been times when shelters, hotels or hostels are full and they will take hikers home with them!  Ken, Jill and Dennis were able to get rooms at the motel.   Ken was able to get a signal outside the motel and while sitting there, it started to sprinkle and then it was a gully-washer!  It started raining and blowing hard and they were (once again) warm and dry for the night.

Unicoi Trail Angels

By now, over 60% of the Thru-Hikers have washed out and would not complete the hike.  Many had to leave the trail due to knee injuries caused by the steep terrain.  Ken's knees started to ache and so (as a precaution) he purchased knee bracing.  They have made a big difference and will (hopefully) save his knees for the many miles to come.

Good weather is anticipated for tomorrow and they will resume their hike.