The following has been transcribed directly from the journal that I kept while hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT).

Sunday, April 30, 2000
6:13 am. Woke up in time to wait on the sunrise. Got out of the tent and walked over to the other tent and unzipped it so they could see the view also. Not cold at all. Watched the ridgeline to the east get brighter and brighter with orange and pink, we took a picture and then the sun poked up from behind on of the distant saddles. Within minutes the sun was fully up.

48 degrees but seems much nicer this morning. Very lazy feeling so far but we have to drop down 1,000 feet into Unicoi Gap and then take the long climb to Summit Tray Mountain at 4,450 feet. Only 8 miles or so then we plan on staying at a shelter-mice-nasty. (Note on the shelters: Every shelter log that you read talks about how the mice are abundant and not afraid to run across your face while you sleep...or don't sleep)

Beautiful blue sky. Took a picture looking up at some trees.

Need water badly. Have to walk .8 miles to the water source: other one that was supposed to be near by doesn't seem to be there or at least it wasn't last night when Mike and I took a walk to find it. We found something, but there was no flow, just mud.

9:05 am. Got to the muddy spot that Mike and I were at last night. There is a bit more water now. We climb down a steep bank for some water. Took a picture with Mike's camera.

9:48 am. Walk on. Up a few hills then up to the top of Blue Mountain and the Shelter. Left a message in the shelter log then cruised on. Shake down after a few more hills.

*Shakedown is something that I read about on the Internet. It is an unstoppable need to conduct bodily business NOW! Shakedown is real!

Extremely steep descent into Unicoi Gap. Heard lots of cars as we came down the mountain. Took a break before the ascent of Rocky Mountain.

40 minutes to climb 1,000 feet up, 1.3 miles UP! Stopped for lunch on top of Rocky Mountain looking south to Yona Mountain. Clear-no clouds. When things are quiet we can actually hear the buzzing of the flies! Lots of them but I must smell pretty natural cause they aren't bugging me.

12:51 pm. 78 degrees. Headed down to Indian Grave Gap then right back up 1,300 feet to the top of Tray Mountain.

Tray Mountain. Long ass kicker. Passed a water source that I was looking for (didn't realize it was the LAST ONE until the other side of the mountain!) and had to continue to climb and summit the mountain. Were a lot of rhododendron and laurel thickets to provide shelter from the sun along the way. Definitely sweating a whole lot today.

The view from Tray Mountain was breathtaking! Could see all the terrain we had previously walked as well as where we were going. Could see the mountain ranges in North Carolina also. Totally clear day. Bad bugs: gnats, on the top of the mountain.

**Hiccup cure: Hold your breath until you absolutely can't go any longer then swallow the air then let your breath out really slowly...GONE!

From the mountain we descended out of the bugs and the flat, rock summit down to the shelter for some much needed water.

***Wow, you can really smell the clean people as they pass you-doesn't seem like we smell but I am sure we do.

Anyhow, we got to the shelter at 2:45 pm and went down to get water (always down a considerable slope) a ways down the hill. A guy said, "It's (the water) coming out of a pipe, you don't need to filter." Yeah, sure. Always filter-not worth getting sick over. At 3:05 pm, Todd and Skye joined Mike and I at the water hole. Mike suggested we all wash up so we did! washed hair, body etc..feels great! Took some candid pictures of that event too!

Finally back up the hill and we left a note for Donny. Continued walking down the other side of Tray Mountain looking for a campsite. We found a place to sleep and set up camp. Arrived at 4:40 pm. Still hot.

Mac-n-cheese for dinner.

Miles today: 9.1 miles

Overall Total: 65.7 miles