Date: 2009-03-28
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: moderate rain

Hello from Neel's Gap.I left Amicolola Falls State Park on the 24th and hiked the approach trail to Springer Mt. with another hiker, Mac, I had just met at the visitor center. I was the 347th thru hiker registered there and my pack weight was 52 pounds, the heaviest that day so far. As other hikers passed us during the day they kept asking if I was the one with the 52 pound pack. The day was partly cloudy and mild but the hiking was uphill for 8.8 miles. Mac and I stayed together the whole way and took pictures at the top of Springer. We then tented at the Springer Mountain Shelter area. That night it started raining and I had to break camp with a wet tent which only added to my pack weight. The next 4 days it continued to rain, at times very hard and I sought out accommodations in the shelters. The shelters are just 3 sided structures sometimes with lofts but sometimes not. They sleep from 7 to 14 at a time and were always full.Hiking to Neel's Gap, I stayed at Hawk Mountain, Gooch Gap, and Wood's Hole Shelters. The hiking was OK considering the wet conditions and it wasn't that cold, mostly in the 50's. At Wood's Hole, a shelter half a mile from the trail, we had 11 people in the space designed for 7. Three hikers slept under the porch of the shelter on the gravel.The trail does have odd effects on you as you hike. The first day when I stopped for afternoon break after a particularly difficult uphill section, I dropped my pack and went to stand up but could not. My back would not straighten out and I was in a permanent 25 degree forward position. After a few minutes and some walking and stretching the back relaxed enough to be able to again stand erect. Another day, I took my pack off for a short break. After setting it down, I took a first step and was immediately propelled forward more that 5 feet as though I was shot from a cannon. But no one was behind me.It was at Wood's Hole that Mac found his trail name. After that first day, he and I mostly hiked our own pace and would see each other off and on during the day. Then we would always be at the same shelter and we got to know each other well. Now as I write this from Hiawassee, we are sharing a motel room (separate beds) for the night. Anyway, he drags himself into Wood's Hole Shelter after walking all day in the rain saying he has been craving the taste of blue cheese. Well after a short back and forth with the rest of the gang there he was dubbed "Gargonzola" and those of us who have known him since then call him "BlueCH"The last day into Neel's Gap was 4 miles of the wettest weather yet on the trail. From Wood's Hole, the trail ascends to the top of Blood Mountain, the highest point of the AT in Georgia, then down some rocky barren sections and straight down to Neel's Gap. The wind had increased with the rain and had turned much of the trail descending Blood Mountain into mud and a slippery mush of water, dirt, and leaves. At times the trail was completely covered in water cascading along under my boots. Footing was terrible. Gorganzola and I pulled into the outfitter at the gap and I stayed the rest of the afternoon and evening at the hostel there. The experience was somewhat unforgettable and I have written a poem "The Fury of Blood Mountain" that I will post soon.As I write this I am actually in Hiawasse and am trying to get caught up with my journal for this account. Bare with me but I may be a much as 7 days ahead of these entrees. E-mail me if you want more specific info.