Date: 2016-02-18
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

Hard to believe that a 27 degree night could be so comfortable. Subman started the morning with a proposal to share a cabin between the three of us with his intention of filling the cabin with four of us. Given that this is our third day, a hike of more than 10 miles is beyond the norm from the perspective of easing into mileage per day. Subman's proposal meant a 15.9 mile hike but since this was my initial plan, I readily agreed. This decision meant separating ourselves from Spirit of 76 because Spirit didn't want to go that far today. It must seem odd to read about it being difficult to separate from someone you just met the day before, but believe me that it was. Hiking for hours together. Stopping to catch your breath on an uphill. Taking in the beauty around you as it changes from you viewing it from below and then either being level with it or above it. Combine all those shared experiences with pretty continual conversation about your lives, it really presents a sense of sadness to know your decision is responsible for the separation. So we exchanged a hug and admitted that we were each other's first AT friend, exchanged contact info, and agreed that we hoped the AT would bring us together again somewhere down the trail.So off we go - which was more like where did they go? Subman successfully thru-hiked in 2003. He and Suds each do their tasks and they get going quickly. Me? I don't mean to go slow but the reality is that I am slow. So while I was getting water to filter from the spring-fed tube, they were on their way. Fortunately, I caught up with them. Subman has hiked his home state of Georgia so often that he can talk about what is coming up with ease. I kept asking if we were on pace to get to Neel Gap and he kept saying that we were so I didn't worry about making it.Subman said they intended to dry their tent on Preacher Rock so we agreed to meet there and assess our progress. Preacher Rock turned out to be a pulpit of sorts as it provides an inspiring 180 degree view on a beautiful sunny day. My thoughts quickly turned to my deceased Dad because he was a Presbyterian minister. It was a special moment for me. I can't fully understand how being so far away from someone just seems to melt away as you hike in solitude, but it happens.Our group was formed with the addition of Papa Monkey. We're calling ourselves the TrailJournals Crew because all of us are posting regularly on TrailJournals. I had a resupply box at Neel Gap's Mountain Crossing store - so I took off trying to get there before it closed at 5:00. I think I had it until I saw a blue blaze and had to turn around to get back on the AT's white blazes. Nuts, I wasn't lost after all, but I lost time going back to make sure I was still on the AT. Compounding my concern was that I had to go up next over Blood Moutain en route to Neel Gap. Further of concern was daylight ending sometime after 6:00. And just to create more concern - is that a baby bear's track pretty consistently appearing on the trail to Blood Mountain? Okay, so Papa Monkey and Suds both got a laugh at my expense - it was a dog's footprint, not a bear's. I know - I am dumb.Blood Mountain was incredible. I have to get back here again to share the 360 degree views with my family. The trees don't have leaves yet. There are multiple spots that are stunning. Both of my children are now thinking - Okay Dad, take a panoramic photo like we showed you. I mistakenly drained the cell phone battery earlier this morning as I was getting ready to start the day's hike. I know - I'm dumb.So I didn't get to Neel Gap until 5:20. Pretzel, a thru-hiker of the AT and PCT who works at Mountain Crossing, retrieved it for me after hours. Nice, interesting guy. He looked at my backpack in a way that I've seen before. More about that tomorrow.The TrailJournals Crew all safely got to Neel Gap. Subman got us a cabin for $72 at Blood Mountain Cabins, specifically Rabbit cabin. Heads up to future hikers. Split 4-ways, a cabin here is a steal. It is literally less than a 5-minute hike from Neel Gap.What a day. Does my way always have to be the dumb way? I am having a blast taking this all in. The people, the scenery, the exercise - it's all good.