Date: 2011-03-12
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

I¢m in bed with my bare feet hanging out of the hammock so the breeze can blow on them. What a difference today. I didn¢t get out of Neels until 12:30. I had to pack, shower, check out, hit the outfitter, etc. The lady that runs the cabins was so nice. She insisted that I didn¢t use my calling card twice and she not only washed my clothes for free, she even folded them.I went through my food last night. At home, I packed what I thought was six days, but I had close to five left. I got some stuff from the outfitter to plug the holes. The guy there who let me use his phone yesterday helped me out and I even got one of those fancy backpacker meals that I¢m pretty excited about. I normally don¢t mention being vegan to people, but I¢ve had to on this trip quite a bit. The guy actually said they¢re seeing more and more and should stock up. Food is such a big thing out here it¢s hard not to mention. Those guys last night had pizza and would have thought I was nutty for not wanting any.Anyway, the weather today was completely perfect. Not a cloud in the sky, low 60s, and breezy. There was one point early on a climb where I was hot and thought, ¢Man, where¢s that wind?¢ then couldn¢t believe it because the wind has been so horrible to this point with the cold.The trail itself was also very nice. The only steep stuff was pretty short and it mostly just rolled along. There were also some nice overlooks. There was one insanely steep section out of a gap, but it was so drastic with so many short switchbacks that it was funny as much as anything. I barely looked at the map this morning. I stopped at Cowrock at about five miles to figure things out. There was a shelter at 6 miles, but it was 12 miles off trail, then this one at 11. I figured I just had time to make it before dark if I hustled, which turned out to be right. I moved along pretty well, but the last two miles my feet were hurting pretty good.I figured it would be crowded and it is. Pretty much everyone from Neels. Dave, Murray, and Chris (¢Walk DMC¢), Jack, Isaac, Nor¢easter, and Moonshine are the ones I know. There are a bunch more. Hart, from Arlington, and a couple, Becky, I think, and I can¢t remember his name. They all seem like they¢ve been hiking together for a bit, and are very nice. I was hoping for a big fire and a late night given the weather, but everyone went to bed after dinner.I mentioned the NCAA games from last night and the girl from last night and the girl from the couple said we should try to do a bracket, which I think is an awesome idea. It¢ll be interesting to see if we can pull it off.The other big topic of conversation is crazy pit bull guy. I talked to another guy outside the outfitter who said the Ridge Runner had given him until noon today to clear off Wood¢s Hole. If Jesse was right and he¢s hitching north, that¢s probably not the last we¢ll see of him. Equipment is all doing great. It was so nice to get everything cleaned yesterday. I even washed my stakes. I hiked today in a t-shirt, which was heaven.I¢m definitely hiking better. I¢m going up much easier and down faster. My feet got real sore today and I have a minor blister or two, but nothing more than just getting into the swing.Not sure what I¢ll do tomorrow. A bunch are going short to Blue Mountain and I might, too. [Still Georgia!]