AT Day 6: Unicoi Gap to Dicks Gap

Daily Miles: 16.7, Total Miles: 69.2

Slept in a bit when I realized it was still raining but I still got back on the trail by 9am.

Wow, a good workout today! Three big uphill pushes and a few smaller ones between Unicoi Gap and Dicks Gap, around 5k ft elevation gain. Considering the rain last night, the trail was in pretty good shape.

Turned out to be a great hiking day, partly sunny, cool with some breeze. Beginning to see some green buds on the trees so spring is here. I joined a few hikers on the trail for a quick lunch including one that I met on Springer Mountain with this dad. He seemed to be pretty happy with his new trail name, Trademark. I think he may be a young patent lawyer.

I stopped for good water at a box spring near Tray Mountain Shelter and a piped spring before Dicks Gap. I met a trail steward couple near Dicks Gap and had a nice chat. One of the stewards had a familiar distinct accent – I was right, Queensland, Australia! She was surprised when I told her I had lived in Queensland two different times.

They warned there were a few groups camping just north of Dicks Gap so I found a nice, flat spot on the south side. A little traffic noise but that should quiet down tonight.