Date: 2009-03-01
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

Wow, March 1st already! The hostel was full for the occasion.Started at 8:50 Temp 38 Rain Sleet Snow forcast and it didn't dissapoint. It was raining from the beginning. Since hiking with just my capilene shirt had worked well enough yesterday I went with just that today. The 10-15 degree difference colder made a huge difference in my comfort level, there was no comfort level with just the light shirt in the rain and cold. Still, I continued on thinking that I would warm up as I continued hiking. I was wrong and wouldn't admit it. Miscalculated, or misremembered the distance to the first shelter, at Low Gap, thought it was 3 mi but it turned out to be 4 and a little. By the time I got there and got in the shelter to have a snack, put on another layer and some gloves, I was way too cold. I know better than to disregard all the signs I had. Probably one short step from the shivering stage of hypothermia. Ate, warmed myself as best as I could and headed out. I still had quite a ways to go and the weather was getting worse. It was down to 32 at the shelter before I left. Had both pairs of gloves on for an hour of hiking before my hands finally warmed up. Eventually I came back to a tolerable comfort level.If there are any younger readers out there see if you know or can guess what I am describing. Along the trail there was evidence that something had been there. The area around the trail had been disturbed. It looked like a miniature bulldozer had been through and pushed the leaves and top layer of earth into wiggley rows. Something had definitely been rooting around. When the explorers and settlers began moving into new areas they brought different animals with them. Sometimes the animals would get away and and begin living and raising families in the wild. In the southwest we call this animal Javilena (remember the "J" sounds like an "H" in this word) Which comes from the Spanish for this animal. It has a longish snout with a flattened end. Have you got it yet? Here it is called a Boar or a Hog. They are wild pigs and they do quite a bit of damage to the forest floor as they search for food. They are very wary of humans and I have not been fortunate enough to see one.The sleet began about 12:30 and turned to snow within a half hour and the temperature began dropping a bit more. The snow had a funny shape to it. The flakes looked like pussy willow catkins, elongated and fuzzy looking. I couldn't help thinking that even the snow had a drawl in this area. Got to Blue Top Shelter at 12:30 and called the Hiker Hostel to coordinate a ride. at Unicoi Gap. We make our calls based on where there is cell phone coverage. And don't get me started on cell phones. They knew that the weather was miserable and that standing around at the road in the cold would not be fun.Okay quick on cell phones. I made it 61 years without owning a cell phone. But everyone insisted I get a cell for safety sake and I wasn't sure if they would let me out of the house without one so I now own a cell phone. Rats!I walked off the trail at 2:55, soaked, cold and in a heavy snow. There actually was a snow plow sitting in the trailhead parking lot. Josh picked me up at 3:07 and had the heat cranked up to max. It still took quite a while to warm up. Shower felt really good tonight. My knee is becoming more troublesome.See you on the trail.John