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3/3 -- We got to Suches GA the 20 mile point on the trek.  We got supplies, made some calls, visited the Post Office, then set off north again. We got about 2.5 miles, then set up camp by a stream.  It was a good day.

3/4 -- This wasn't  a good day. It rained during the night.  That wasn't bad.  I stayed dry.  It stopped for awhile; we packed up.  We started off around 7:30 a.m.;

At left, Woods Hole Shelter, where we waited out the first snow-
storm. By Mike Calabrese

then while starting up Blood Mountain it started raining.  It then got windy, the temperature went down, the rain turned to sleet, then snow, then white out conditions.  I was scared.  I was getting wet and cold quick.  I thought I was a goner.  I kept leaning on the trees to gain strength.  By now my clothes were very wet and I was cold.  I then saw a shelter sign and turned in.  There were 2 others there.  It was 11:30 a.m..  The weather got worse and worse.  That night it was still snowing, the temps were 15 degrees with a wind chill of O.  It was a miserable night.  We got 3 to 5'' of snow.  My sleeping was only rated at 15 degrees.  The next morning it was about 20 degrees at 7 a.m. then 50 by 1 p.m.  We hiked the short cut around Blood Mountain called the Freeman Trail, got to Neels Gap and spent the night at the Goose Creek Campground in a double wide trailer.  There were seven of us--Jerry, Marlena, Gee and Jee from Quebec, Don, Roger, and me. We had pizza with our satellite TV!

3/5 -- Got shuttled back to Neels Gap.  I bought a new, warmer sleeping bag and more supplies  because my "Bounce Box" had not made it yet to the Walasi-Yi Outdoor

At right, snow caked to the trees due to high winds.
By Mike Calabrese

Center.  I walked from Suches faster than this box made it!  We hiked 5.2 miles and stayed at Whitney Gap Shelter.  

3/6 --  Rained in the a.m. but cleared up for us to leave.  Did 5.4 miles to Low Gap Shelter due to Robocops blisters.  This was another up and down day.  I have now backpacked more miles (41.3) on this trip than any other before.

3/7 -- Cold morning--easy 8.2 mile hike.  We stayed at Blue Mountain Shelter.

3/8 -- Cold morning again.  Very rough 7.7 mile hike.  Rocky Mountain

At left, a scenic view above Neel's Gap, GA.
By Mike Calabrese

was very rough.  Stayed at Tray Mountain Shelter.  We're shooting for Hiawassee tomorrow.  

3/9 -- It snowed again last night--3-4".  We pushed hard (10.2 miles) and made it to the Blueberry Patch Hostel.

3/10 -- Took our 1st day off in Hiawassee.  (67 miles hiked)

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