Day 2... Hawk Mountain Shelter to Gooch Mountain Shelter (7.7 miles). The sky was clear and sunny. 45 F.
Last night was pretty cold in the shelter. I wore everything I had in my pack. Apparently I slept pretty good because in the morning everyone told me I was snoring like a train!! Lol.
This was a very difficult day for me... The terrains were rough but the trail was beautiful. It was a struggle climbing Sassafras Mountain, 1 mile straight up with limited switchbacks. I crossed some very pretty wild flowing streams. The water was crystal clear and tasted awesome.
An awesome thing happened to me today... While climbing Sassafras Mountain I sucked down 1.5 liters of water. When I reached the summit I was down to three gulps that I saved for an emergency. I looked at my guide book and I was sad to see that the next water source was 4.5 miles away!!! I would never make it that far without water. I began to worry while decending Sassafras. When I reached the bottom at Horse Gap, some kind trail angel had left 4 gallons of fresh water for thru hikers!!!! I almost started to cry I was so thankful. I filled my bottles and had lunch. Before I left, I wrote a thank you note to the kind soul that answered my very prayer.
I'm updating from Gooch Shelter. The are about 12 hikers here including about 6 thru hikers. I will stay in the shelter again tonight. Tonight's forecast is rain starting around midnight.
Well I need to go get water and make some dinner... Beef stroganoff tonight!!
Enjoy the pics...
