Date: 2008-03-19
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: moderate rain

I Thought That I Might Die Today....I went through a harrowing experience today, but all ended well.It started raining about 2:00 AM on Wednesday morning. I was secure (and dry) in my tent. I decided to sleep in, and wait until the rain stopped. I slept, off and on until about 11:30 AM. My body probably needed the rest, so that was not a bad thing.Unfortunately, the rain had not let up, it had gotten worse. I got out of my tent about 11:30 AM. There were some five people in the Shelter nearby, and they offered to make a place for me to put my sleeping bag and stay there the day and night, if I wanted. After some deliberation, I decided to go on to Neels Gap, with the hope of staying the Hostel or a cabin tonight.I started out in a pouring rainstorm, with the wind howling. I went up Blood Mountain, which the highest mountain on the AT in Georgia, at 4461 feet. It is a 1000 foot elevation climb in one mile (a 20% grade). I trudged up and got to the top in about 45 minutes. At the Blood Mountain shelter at the top, I met Bob and Mike, two long-time friends who were hiking the AT for about a week.I left the Shelter ahead of them. At the top of Blood Mountain, the wind was howling (and enough to move even a big guy like me around), and the rain was blowing sideways. Coming down from the top, I had to cross a lot of exposed rock. Normally, this is not hard, but with it wet, it was very wet and slippery. I was so focused on getting down the rock, that I missed the place where the Trail turned left. I slipped and slid down the wet rock for some 150 feet. At one point, I piroutted around like an ice skater, and slid backwards down the rock for 5 or 6 feet. I landed on a solid earth (not rock) and how I stayed on my feet, I'll never know. I fell once and skinned my knees.After I was down the rock, I realized that I had lost touch with the Trail. At this point, panic set in, as I realized that I had to climb back up the slippery rock that I had just come down. I then understood that if I were to fall going up and break my leg or something, that I could die from exposure. I was off the Trail, and no one knew I was there, and no one could hear me (I yelled, hoping that Bob and Mike might here me, but the wind was howling too loud). Suddenly, that GPS tracking device with emergency two-way radio and emergency rescue did not seem like such a heavy device to have carried after all).So, I started up the rock, scrambling and crabbing up the rocks, sometimes on hands and feet. After about 20 minutes, I got to a stable place and found the markings where the Trail turned left. I was so relieved that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry (I think laugh won out).I hiked carefully on down the mountain, a bit bruised and scraped, but otherwise okay.When I got to the Walasiyi Center, the Hostel was full, but Winton Porter, the owner, had a cabin available nearby. I teamed up with Mike and Bob, who had gotten there before me and Scout, and went to the cabin. There were two people already at the cabin, Dan and Amy and we all settled in. Winton had given me the keys to his van, and we had driven down to the cabin.Several of us drove back up to the Walasiyi Center for a spaghetti dinner at 6:30. It tasted wonderful.Went back to the cabin and showered and washed clothes. The six of us had a good time together.I marvel that, as badly as my hike had gone, the day ended with me very comfortable and content!