Day 3 - 3/04

Daily mileage: 12.1
Total trail mileage: 23.3
Starting location: Sassafras Mountain
Ending location: Lance Creek
Weather: clear all day, 25 degrees in the morning, high 30s to close
to 60 throughout the day

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=34.683283,+-83.906752 (this is pretty
far off though; I don't think I am getting a gps fix)

Last night I was warm and had my best night of sleep in the hammock.
I don't think I woke up at all. The cold feed syndrome went away; I
think partially because it was a little warmer and partially because I
lowered the foot end of the hammock. It causes me to slide down but
if it keeps my feet warm I don't care.

Today was much warmer. I was surprised when I checked my thermometer
in the afternoon and it was almost 60 especially after having to
painfully put on frozen boots in the morning. I didn't think it was
that warm but the snow has softened up and there was occassionally
this strange brown stuff someone called dirt. So far tonight feels
much warmer than it did at this time yesterday. Maybe tomorrow I'll
be able to use my water bladder again without it freezing.

Lots of views today! The trail started to go up mountains with
lookouts and it was nice to see the landscapes.

Didn't run into any of the guys from yesterday, but ran into Traveler,
Mandy, Sharon, Sheryl, Mark, and a few other section hikers. Traveler
was stopping at Suches Gap. Mandy, Sharon, Sheryl, and Mark continued
on and are camping with me at Lance Creek.

It seems like a bunch of people are headed into Neel's Gap tomorrow.
I think I am going to press on though and try to get to Hiawassee by
early Monday afternoon. I have enough supplies to get me there and
right now everything is mostly dry.

If you were wondering if olive oil freezes, well it solidifies and
congeals. It is still good though ;). I am liking the cold no-cook
breakfasts, even in the cold weather. I can throw a few granola bars
in my pocket, start heading down the trail and begin warming up, and
then eat the food at a small break or even while moving. Now I just
need another bladder filled with granola...The wood stove worked well
again tonight, but it is still a hassle. I would enjoy it much more
on a shorter hike when I have time in the evenings between hiking and
dark.

To address some comments. Thanks everybody! I have been receiving
the comments so far, but responding directly has so far been a no go.
For some reason I can update this blog through email by letting the
outgoing mail sit for a while. But, webpages are very infrequently
loading. I do hope to continue updating this each night, but when it
actually gets posted may be delayed. Doing this is partially for my
memory and partially to let everyone back home know I am still alive.
I do have a feeling though that the posts will get shorter as I get
lazier.