Date: December 06 2000
Trail Day: 189
Miles Today: 17
Location: Near SR 60
Section Mile: BMT 17
ECT Mile: 2837
First a note on the Benton-Mackaye trail. Benton Mackaye is considered
the father of the AT. He envisioned a network of trails. The BMT is an
attempt in that direction.
It was a beautiful morning. Took some shots -
1
2.
The first 5 miles criss-crossed
the AT 3 times. Then it ran along the AT for a mile before veering off
for good. Took a shot at the junction and said a sad good bye to the AT.
Shots of the sign.
It looks like the old AT used to run along the present BMT for a while.
I could see faint white blazes at places. It ran along several streams
for a while before climbing upto the ridge top. No one has been here
in the past 4 days - there are no foot prints in the snow. Also saw no
one today.
I was anticipating the trail to go North West but instead its going North
East. I decided to get to SR 60 and hitch a ride to a nearby town to call
Vivek. He has an older set of maps that shows the BMT. However, it was
quite late and I could not get a ride.
Decided to set up camp and try hiking another day and see what happens.
The trail almost has to go West now to get to Dyer Gap where it picks
up the Georgia Pinhoti.
The stove tumbled over while cooking twice and set the leaves on fire.
Had to douse it out and salvage my dinner. Hope tomorrow is better.
Date: December 07 2000
Trail Day: 190
Miles Today: 11
Location: Day's Inn, Blue Ridge
Section Mile: BMT 28
ECT Mile: 2848
Slept extremely warm last night although the temperature dropped below
freezing. Its definitely much warmer sleeping outside in a tarp. Got an
early start. Today's section was quite hard. I also had no water because
I had to use most of the water bottle to put out the fire. I realized you
can get tired quickly when you dont have water. I ate some snow along
the way, but you can only eat so much before the mouth goes numb.
The trail went north east but then turned around and headed west - the
desired direction. I got to SR 60. I had some 10 more miles before I
could get to any water. Also I was very worn out, so I decided to
hitch hike to Blue Ridge, some 11 miles away. It took me a long time
to get a ride. Finally got a ride from a local guy who hauls timber.
The truck was beaten down and couldn't go more than 15 mph. It also
made loud clanging noices. It was an interesting ride.
Called Kumar and Suriyan and got a general layout of the BMT. It does go
to Dyer Gap - I was relieved. Also talked to Vivek and he faxed me the
map sections. I am now completely set for the BMT. I have very good
people supporting me, thats for sure.
Date: December 08 2000
Trail Day: 191
Miles Today: 0
Location: Day's Inn, Blue Ridge
Section Mile: BMT 28
ECT Mile: 2848
Decided to take a O day. Did the normal eating, drinking. Took a nap.
Now eager to be back on the trail. It looks like I am done with 4000
footers. I have a couple of 3000's and I will be done with those. Things
are starting to look up.
Date: December 09 2000
Trail Day: 192
Miles Today: 11
Location: Near Fall Branch Falls
Section Mile: BMT 39
ECT Mile: 2859
Got a late start today. Tried to get a ride for a long time. Took about 2
hours to get a ride - I am definitely off the AT. It was a local guy
and he gave me a ride all the way to Wilscot Gap. This was unusual
because I had to take 2 roads to get there. Saw several cars parked there
with BMT and AT stickers. A little down the trail I met a maintenance
crew. They were a very friendly lot. Also met Marty Domini, president of
GPT. Got information on the Georgia Pinhoti trail from him. Another maintainer
gave me the set of maps for the rest of the BMT. So I have now gone from
having no information to having all the info.
The trail continued to be moderately difficult. I realized that I need to
cut my pack weight. I will have to clear the Alabama Pinhoti before I
can do anything.
Even though I did only 11 miles today I was quite worn out. Met another
4 day hikers towards the end. This trail is a lot more popular and well
maintained than I thought. The BMT association has done a fantastic job.
Date: December 10 2000
Trail Day: 193
Miles Today: 18
Location: Near Hatley Gap
Section Mile: BMT 57
ECT Mile: 2877
Last night a dog was barking and running all over the place. Once it came close
to where I was. I shooed at it and it ran off.
Rained a little last night. Started hiking and met 2 hunters / hikers.
They asked me if one of the dogs with them was mine. I said no. A few
minutes later I found that the dog was following me. It was a hunting
dog with a radio collar but no owner info. I fed it some cheese at a
break point. It followed me for a couple of minutes after that and then
disappeared.
Today's trail was a mix of proper hiking trails, old logging roads, dirt
roads and paved roads. The paved road sections have been kept to a minimum.
Also saw Indian Rock shelter. Took a
photo.
It has not gone below freezing in the last several days. I feel quite warm !
Tomorrow I go up Flat Top mountain - elevation 3732 feet. After that
I will be done with 3000 footers.
Date:
Trail Day:
Miles Today:
Location:
Section Mile: GPT 12
ECT Mile:
Had a light rain last night. It was very foggy in the morning. Started the
climb up Fowler mountain. Found a little stream on the way up. These
have become very rare. I was also out of water - again.. Took a break and had
breakfast. It became more and more misty as I climbed. Then a ridge run
with 500 ft ups and downs and a last small climb to Flat Top mountain.
Then came a descent to Dyer Gap.
All of a sudden there were no blazes near the gap. Found them again
down the road. Got to the junction with South Fork trail. My BMT section
ends here. Took a photo (The BMT goes on all the way to the Smokies). There
are no blazes on the South Fork trail, but its very short. Back on FR 64,
a 3 mile walk and then the Mountain Town Creek trail. This is another trail
with no blazes.
The maps I have got from the Georgia Pinhoti association are horrible.
Its a photocopy and its barely useful. I had to squint for some 5
minutes at a map to see that a point was Cave Springs - a decent sized
town. Streams, roads, contours etc are undistinguishable. The only thing
that stands clearly is the trail which is marked with a color pen.
However there is no map for this section. The written description
asks me to go 4.3 miles along the trail and "Turn right off trail prior
to creek crossing. Travel cross country south to ridgeline. Turn right
on old logging road near ridge line". The description also calls it a
trail of many creek crossings. So its not just one crossing that I come to
but have to decide from numerous.
I covered 4 miles or so and started looking for appropriate places to
bush wack south. But all the places led me directly across the creek if
I were to head south. Continued on till I was sure I had over shot.
The trail ended in a dirt road. Asked directions from a guy in a jeep
and continued. Another couple of miles and I got to road signs that
are mentioned in the description - I was back in known territory.
Continued for a while and set up camp. End of a rather long day. Switched
from the BMT to the GPT and also got done with everything above 2500 ft,
I believe.
BMT is a nice trail worth hiking. It has a good mix of trails, old
logging roads and dirt roads. I like this aspect of it. You get to see
more of the local people.
The GPT is off to a bad start. I hope it improves and some of the trails
are blazed.
Date: December 12 2000
Trail Day: 195
Miles Today: 32
Location: Day's Inn, Dalton
Section Mile: GPT 44
ECT Mile: 2931
A very long day today. Set a personal mileage record - 32. The previous was 27
on a roadwalk on the IAT.
It rained last night but I stayed dry and extremely warm. The temperature
dropped to about freezing. I got up early, even before the sun rose and started
hiking. It was quite foggy when I started. Roads I walked - Shakerag road,
Conasauga road, Highway 2/52, Alt 52, Route 52.
Climbed to Fort Mountain state park. There was leftover snow in this height
and the trees were covered with ice. People in cars seemed mixed. Many smiled
and waved, some looked puzzled - a throw back to the IAT road walk. Almost
none of these roads are designed for pedestrian use. If you have a stalled car
and you have to walk 2 miles to get some gas you take your life in your hands.
Shows how auto-centric American culture is. No wonder we are all so fat.
Had lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Chatsworth. I have been wanting to do
that since I started the AT but there were very few opportunities to do so.
Relished the meal. Ordered a second lunch. The waiter asked - "To go". I
said - "No, for here". He had to make an effort to keep his surprise from
showing. The service was very good. This area seems to have a decent hispanic
population. I am glad to see a somewhat cosmopolitan place after the almost
all white scenario since Canada.
Decided to bounce my sleeping pad. Bounce means to mail stuff to a new location
and if not needed there, forward it to the next location. I dont think I will
be needing the pad any more. I am tyring to cut out the weight
as I dont think I will be facing the 15 F temperature I faced in the Smokies.
I had no intention of walking to Dalton, but as I kept walking the traffic
picked up and I realized it was city traffic. Also, I decided to get a
motel and they were all on the other end of Dalton. Walking at night is
also possible in a city because of all the lights - in fact its downright
interesting. I find the reactions I provoke from drivers and passengers to
be the most interesting. Each demographic has a general reaction - Country,
City, male, female, young and old.
Stoppped at a gas station to get me directions and withdraw money. As I put on
my pack outside and got ready to move on a guy drove up to me and said - "Hey,
looks like you could use some help" and offered me 5 dollars. I refused saying
I was just a hiker. He was a little disappointed that his generous act had not
worked out. I found this to be a small moral dilemma - should I have accepted
the money just to make him feel good even though I did not need it. Was I in
fact justified in taking it because he offered it to me. Had it been an old
friend offering me food/drink for 5 dollars, I would have accepted it
immediately. What is the right thing to do - I wonder.
Got de-natured alcohol at the "Super" K-mart. The merchandise available for
sale is just astonishing. There is no doubt in my mind that the materialism
has gone way overboard and is now functioning to fill the voids that modern
life has created in us. The crap that will be exchanged and discarded promptly
during this Christmas will be proof enough.
Got to Day's Inn and was glad to sit down. I am quite tired after a long long
day.
