Date: 2019-03-29
From: Lance Creek campsite

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 7.3

March 29 (Day 6): We improved our leaving time today and got onto the trail at 8:47. The hike wasn't as bad as we thought, alot like Springer. We watered up at Jerrod because we were worried about the water at Lance Creek. The water at Jerrod was great. Someone had put a PVC pipe there to funnel the water and give good water pressure. We cameled up and then filled an extra bag of water since there wouldn't be any water sources until Neels Gap.Used my GoGirl for the first time on the trail. It worked great. You'll have to look up what that is if you don't know. ;)It took us about 4 hours to get to the top of Blood Mountain. At the top was a beautiful stone shelter. We were told it was a really cold place to stay which probably explains why someone had set their tent up inside the shelter. We also learned later that the shelter used to have shutters on the windows but someone took them off and burned them because they were cold. Now the wind blows through it and makes it colder.The views were beautiful! We stayed and had lunch for 12 hour (tuna and tortillas) and then started down. At least the first ¢ of the hike was giant rocks to scale down. Thank goodness it was dry. I can't imagine hiking down in the rain.We have developed a pattern in our hiking. David leads going uphill because he is faster. I lead going downhill and on the level because I am faster. It works out well.On our way down we met another Trail Angel. Her name was Melody. She asked if we were thru-hiking and we told her yes. She told us to wait because she had trail magic for us. She gave us each a can of Mountain Dew, an orange, and some Snickers bars. We took her picture and she asked to take ours so she could prove to her co-workers that she had done trail magic on her day off.We continued down Blood and got to Neels Gap about 3:30pm. There is a outfitters there called Mountain Crossing and it is built literally right on the trail. The white blaze mark (that denotes the AT trail) is painted in the middle of the building. They carry all kinds of resupply stuff and anything to get you on the trail. They will also do a shakedown on your pack if you want. David had them shake his down and give him some tips on adjusting his pack to carry better.) Lexie was already there. There were physical therapy students offering massages for a donation for a trip they were planning. We planned to get one but time got away from us. Amy came up the stairs and said she had a cabin at Blood Mountain Cabins and if we wanted laundry done they would wash it for you for free but we had to get it to them by 5. It was about 4:25 so we had to hurry and shop and get to the cabin (named Raccoon) before 5. We had to walk along the road for a couple minutes and then there was a path to the cabins. They washed and dried our clothes in 2 hours. They smell so good! We all took showers and then cooked up the frozen pizzas we had both at the store. After eating, David and I patched up the rain tarp with the repair kit we had also purchased. Then we sat around and relaxed and laughed with Amy, Lexie, Katie, and Sarah. It was great. We love our tramily (trail family)!We hit the bed about 9. Oh the soft sheets and cushy mattress¢¦.