Appalachian Trail 2019, Day 3: Gooch Gap to Lance Creek

After the long 15.5 mile push over Sassafras Mountain on day two, day three was shaping up to be the easy one - just 8 miles from Gooch Gap Shelter to Lance Creek campsite. I took full advantage of the shorter mileage and let myself have a slow morning for once. Watch the video below, then read on for how the day actually went.

Recapping a Good Day of Eating

Before getting into day three, I gave a quick tour of my two-person tent - shoes tucked in one vestibule, water in the other so a spill wouldn't end up inside, and my pack doubling as extra floor space in the middle. Plenty of room for one person, though it'd be tight for two. Food-wise, day two had gone well: a cold-soaked protein oatmeal with dried apple slices and a meal-replacement shake for breakfast, a Clif Bar mid-morning, leftover couscous with a hickory smoked tuna creation for lunch, a Snickers bar in the afternoon, and a Mountain House lasagna for dinner. Good eating, but also a sign I'd packed more food than I needed - which meant an easier resupply waiting for me at Neel Gap.

A Slow Start on a Short Day

With only 8 miles planned to Lance Creek, I let myself sleep in and ended up being the last person out of camp, rolling out around 9:30am. I hadn't even eaten my oatmeal breakfast yet - it was still sitting in a jar in my pack - so I grabbed a handful of trail mix just to get moving, planning to stop and eat properly at a gap with a parking lot about a mile in. After the big mileage day before, no blisters and no complaints - just a good excuse to take my time.

Switching Back to Contacts

I flipped the camera around to explain something you might've noticed - no glasses today. I'd worn them the day before to save time, but the prescription is weaker than my contacts and I found myself straining to see things. The moment that sealed it: at a creek the day before, another hiker spotted a big black snake - at least three feet long, narrow head, solid black, likely a black racer - and I couldn't make it out well enough to see it until I rushed over. Non-poisonous, thankfully, but lesson learned. Contacts for the rest of the trip.

Hiking Alone Through the Flowers

I hadn't seen another hiker in the first 30 minutes on the trail that morning, just enjoying some quiet solo miles. The wildflowers were putting on a show too - I'd spotted some reddish ones on previous days, but this stretch had its first burst of orange blooms, a nice bit of color along the trail.

A Rocky Ridge Walk to Preaching Rock

Around official AT mile 21 - not counting the approach trail miles from Amicalola - the trail climbed onto a rocky ridge that turned into one of my favorite sections so far: big trees, rock cliffs, and a trail that stair-steps its way up the rock. I met a few other hikers at some overlooks along the way and finally started getting real views after a stretch without much to look at. The climb kept going, steep in sections and scattered with more wildflowers, before topping out at what I believe was Preaching Rock - a genuinely phenomenal viewpoint and a great reward for an otherwise relaxed day into Lance Creek.