Date: 2009-11-20
To: Springer to Neels Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Herewith some thoughts on the first section out of Springer Mountain -- a 31 mile hike that I do over four days:Springer Mt. to Hawk Mt. Shelter ¢ 7.6 miles; Hawk to Gooch Mt. Shelter ¢ 7.1 miles; Gooch to Woods Hole Shelter ¢ 12.1 miles; and Woods Hole to Neels Gap ¢ 4.1 miles. The first day¢s hike is relatively easy. The second day includes Sasafrass Mt., which makes it a good conditioning hike. The third day is not as hard, but longer. The Woods Hole Shelter has a privy, but its 14 mile off the AT, so you may want to go just a bit further and use the camping area at the creek. The climb up Blood Mt. first thing on day four is not as bad as some of the guides make it out to be. (The Blood Mt. Shelter IS, and there¢s no water there.) I could probably do this section in 3 days, but the first two shorter days give me time to socialize and get to know my fellow pilgrims when I get into camp, and the longer third day positions me for a short hike into Neels Gap. In general, it's good to have a short hike when going into town, giving you ample time to re-supply, get chores done, have a good dinner, and get to bed at a reasonable hour. (I try really hard not to offer advice to others, besides the absolutely standard ¢hike your own hike¢, but if there is a cardinal mistake to avoid it is trying to go too far, too fast, too soon.)When you come down off Blood Mt., the trail runs right through the Walasi Yi Trail Center, which houses both a hostel for over-night stays and one of the best outfitters on the trail: (http://www.mountaincrossings.com/)Plan to have Win(ton) or one of his expert staff (mostly past through-hikers) ¢Tuckerize¢ your pack. You may end up dropping some bucks at his well-equipped store, but I guarantee you will leave there with a lighter pack. I have not stayed at the hostel, though I have heard nothing but good things about it. In fact, I generally avoid hostels and shelters unless they¢re the only option, since I have been known, on occasion, to snore. I¢ve done everything I know how to minimize that issue, but it¢s just not fair to the other hikers to keep them up all night. I¢ll leave that to others¢¦ For the un-initiated, if you¢re planning to stay in shelters and/or hostels ¢ TAKE EAR PLUGS!Both times I¢ve been through Neels Gap, I¢ve stayed at the cabins down in the valley. You can organize a small group to share the cost, and still arrange for separate bedrooms for those who want them. There¢s a shuttle to and from Neels Gap to the cabins, and a shuttle into the nearest town for dinner at an all-you-can-eat, ¢southern style¢ buffet. For those on a budget, you can simply re-supply, get a shower and do laundry at the hostel for a reasonable price, and then head out to the next shelter or camping area. Oh, and congratulations! If you¢re still on the trail, you¢ve achieved a major milestone. Celebrate. Take pictures. Eat Pizza. Note: Starting from Springer Mt. during March, and especially on a weekend, you are likely to find a sizable group heading to the same sheler each night. This is great for camaraderie, but be sure you have a tent or tarp, as there won¢t always be room to sleep in the shelter. To enhance this camaraderie, bring a large bag of marshmallows. To REALLY impress your new best friends, bring graham crackers and Hershey bars, too. (Keep that little ¢airlines bottle¢ of Bailey¢s Irish Cream for yourself.)