Since March of this year I planned to depart Springer Mountain on 06 Feb 2017. Polka Dot caused me to reconsider that date - iteratively. After she told Coach that she wanted to complete the GA Section this year and that she saw my schedule as a possible match, he contacted me. As he often does. After a call or three I gradually saw the light - up to then I was a one-man team. To meet Polka Dot's work scheduled and hike window I elected to start a day earlier and slow my initial pace - but only
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