Date: 2017-03-12
From: Whitley Gap Shelter

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: scattered clouds

From Fatboy:We awoke to a white world at 0800. It was cold and bright and I didn't want to get out of my sleeping bag. We had coffee and breakfast were out of camp fairly early. Our goal was Low Gap Shelter. The hiking today seemed easier. Maybe the terrain was not as severe and maybe I'm becoming healthy again. Being able to breathe is a nice change. We made it to Low Gap Shelter around 1600. It was still wet and quite cold. We met PegLeg at the shelter. It was great to see her as we'd heard that she left the Trail for health reasons. She has a damaged left lower leg with some neuropathy and non-healing wounds that she feared were becoming infected. It seems a zero with wound care was enough to allow her to continue. Our camaraderie with this fluid group is fun and hugely entertaining at times. There are Spring Breakers, section hikers, day hikers, and thru hikers of all age groups and backgrounds. We have our tent on reasonably level ground, we're dry, we're warm and we're together. I'm a grateful man.From Ginger:... and I am a grateful woman. I'm still marveling at Nathan's composure as he repaired the tent yesterday. He's so calm, approaching tasks like that. There's no cursing, no exasperation -- just OK, here's what happened and here's what I do next. One thing follows the other, as if he's just putting on socks then shoes. I think that's acceptance, embodied. No matter the weather or exterior circumstances!I'm also feeling like I'm truly part of the fellowship out here. Not separate from, a rookie that others will dismiss or with something to prove. I just learned the AT motto: "A footpath for those who seek fellowship in the wilderness." I really never considered that aspect before our hike. I'd viewed this as a competition between myself and nature. The ultimate physical and psychological challenge. How strong am I REALLY? I think it was the mountain talking when I arrived at this: We are co-existing with nature. Nathan and I are doing this together. And I am doing this with the wilderness. The quicker I can adjust to nature, which I cannot change, the more comfortable I am, and the less this is a challenge. It's another trudge, where we walk with purpose.My growing comfort with the fellowship must be why I leapt at PegLeg to hug her when she came trotting down the trail to Low Gap Shelter. Same for Veronica and Edwin a bit later. I was elated to see them.Post script:We had a campfire, courtesy of Drop Top. (Ginger here with the details, filed away for use soon! The area was soaked, but he explained there is a forest full of dry wood: Just look for branches that have fallen recently and/or might be caught on neighboring trees. Then he demo'd how to use twigs and branches of sizes narrower than a pencil, then wider ... and how to dry larger logs while the fire burns. I didn't remember all this from Girl Scouts!) Drop Top was diligent and very skilled. I was very grateful for the warmth and the fun conversations. There was a hiker from North Ontario who was taking a break to hike before she started grad school. Our Canadian friend began lamenting her difficulties with the measuring system for distances in the USA. Miles, feet, yards and temperature were difficult for her. Drop Top chimed in with the statement: There are only two types of countries in the world. Those who have put a man on the moon and those that use the metric system. Badaboom!