Out of Hiawassee into Dick’s Creek Gap.

After a very relaxing zero in Hiawassee we caught a free shuttle back to Uniquoi. When we hit the parking lot the same trail Angel was there and excited to see us - as if we had helped him. We made small talk and finally he said be real careful they are have bear problems in Rock Creek Gap. There is still a rogue bear there that bit someone on the ass last year and he's stealing food again.

Cornbread said, "I hope he doesn't come at us - all I have are these two fists". The ole man said what do you have Rhino? I said, "I've got this Marine".

We made it about 8 miles to Steel Trap Gap after passing up a full shelter on Tray Mountain. We set up camp, ate and hung our bear bags. It was a poor hang but we went through the effort. A bear bag is supposed to have all your food and anything else that might attract a bears attention like scented wet wipes. It's supposed to be hung high in a tree and at least 6' from the trunk so the bear can't reach it.

As I was drifting off to sleep I was reminded of something Cornbread said on our last night in the hotel. He had on some Marvel movie for background noise as we were drifting off to sleep. It was mostly Manderine and had subtitles which I wasn't looking at. I said it would suck if you couldn't read because you wouldn't be able to enjoy a movie like this. He said - not if you learned Chinese. It still cracks me up.

Anyway, we made it through the night without a good mauling and the food was still there. But it was frigid again.

We had to sleep with our water filters in our sleeping bags. If they freeze - they no longer filter and you won't know it till you have giardia or dysentery. Not comfy to sleep with but better than the alternative. We take a lot for granted in our modern lifestyles.