Date: 2015-03-27
From: Neels Gap

To: Tesnatee Hap
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: light snow

We hiked the trail from Blood Mountain Cabins to Mountains Crossings to begin a short 6 mile hike today. We have a pickup at 3pm to bring us back to the cabin because a very cold front is moving in. We got a late start because of our first trail injury. I sliced my finger while doctoring my pack to hold my bladder. My husband sent me my water bladder because I find I really miss having it. Originally I thought maybe it was too big-it can hold a gallon- but I want it. It is a military issued bladder, loaned to me by my friend Joe. It is part of a day pack issued to marines. It has been to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places Joe won't tell me. It will not leak, it will not break. It is badass- like Marines. I like having a piece of equipment that has a story. Thank you Joe! Anyway, that cut could have used a stich or two and I didn't have any superglue so we had to wait for it to stop bleeding before we headed out. First people we bumped in to were Peaches (him) and Steelfoot (her). They were each holding a big beer and it was about 9am. Hiker carb loading. They had opened them the night before, didn't finish them and decided to finish them in the morning. Fun couple- check out my pictures to see them. We hit the trail and started slow. We do like our baby steps on the ups. Several young hikers flew past us and we continued our Yoda walk up and up. That is a tough little climb out of Neels Gap! Soon we had wind gusting to 40-50 MPH and the temps dropped. My fingers became numb, then they burned like crazy when I put gloves on and warmed them up. A little rain- not enough to break out my fabulous homemade pack cover- came down frozen. I was glad we had a ride back to a cozy warm cabin. While we were heading north, Dons Brother was heading south. He had been corresponding with Katwalk and was hiking to meet her and walk with her a while. He finally found us and we all walked together. Dons Brother hiked the AT in memory of his brother Don, who died of ALS. He has just finished a book and is doing book signings in the area. Look for him here on trail journals . His journal is awesome. He is writing another book now that is going to be a big hit for folks who like hiking but don't want to camp every night.We had some fantastic views on the top of Mt. Levelland. I wondered if I would ever get tired of looking at those views on this journey, if they would always be beautiful and fresh, like that smell babies have when they are freshly powdered and in their snuggies. That never gets old.Hiking here is like being on a Stairmaster all day. But the Stairmaster determines the difficulty- regardless of how you are feeling- and you can only get off when it lets you. I could never tolerate a simulation of this exercise on a Stairmaster though because that only engages your body. On the trail, your body and your brain are equally engaged. Your brain is processing millions of bits of information and making decisions about where and how you step, when you duck, how you shift your balance. It is a mind body spirit experience that is immensely satisfying.Back at the cabin, we found that our heater was broken. The knd folks at Blood Mountain offered to switch us or give us space heaters fans wood for the fireplace. We chose the latter and soon our little cabin felt like rockin ' sauna. We grilled steaks in twenty degree weather with snow flurries and enjoyed a meal with Sam Duke, shuttle driver extraordinaire and all around good guy.Miss my family and thought about their faces until I drifted off to sleep. Going to zero in the cabin tomorrow and wait out the cold snap.