Date: 2004-04-13
From: Hog Pen Gap

To: Blue Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: light rain

Cheapsuit and I after breakfast at the Hostel, have the pleasure of Josh's mom drive us to Hogpen Gap. Fog is thick and Cheapsuit is in the front seat keeping her company while I set in the back sleep dozing off and on. We get to Hog Pen Gap, unload and I throw on my pack. My first thought is, "What am I thinking!" don't forget this is the first time I have had a fully loaded pack on since starting this thru hike. Cheapsuit's first thought, "Darn, I've lost a pin in my travois!" He puts his pack on as a normal pack and away we go. After one half hour, we stop and Cheapsuit borrows a pin from another part of his pack and he is happily travoiing down the trail. (I don't know is that is a word or not but it fits.) A couple of miles and oh darn, the frame buckles and we have to limp into Low Gap shelter. I throw out my pad and immmediately take a nap while cheapsuit adjust his travois to a pack. Did I say it was cold and foggy. Well I thought I did't need to. Just knowing I'm on the trail implies cold and foggy. I tell Cheapsuit that we only have a short way to go to Blue Mtn shelter, but I forgot about the Headwaters of the Chatahochee river and Chatahochee Gap. When we finnaly get there, I tell Cheapsuit that it's not far now, but I sense he doesn't believe me. I then tell him that we have to crose this boulder field. We come a boulder field and he said not far now. But the boulder fields and another one begins. We start climbing, and more boulder fields. I tell cheapsuit that the water source is close to the shelter. We come to a sign marked water and he says, "not far now." What seems like forever, we come to more boulder fields. I only remember one, the one I fell on last year. More climbs, more boulder fields. I can tell that I no longer have any credibility with cheapsuit! We come to another water source and I suggest that we refill. I didn't dare say it wasn't far now! Did I say it was foggy, rainy and cold? Suddenly I hear cheapsuit say, "the fog is lifting and I can see the shelter." Happier words were never spoken. As we head to the shelter, a man is working fire in the wind, rain and blowing sleet. I thought to my self that that man was not dress appropriate for the weather. We get to the shelter and after some toying with the idea of staying in the shelter, decide to set up the tent. I said to cheapsuit, "don't get this wrong, but may I sleep with you tonight?" A good choice since the tent helps shield the wind and our combination of body heat helped somewhat to warm the tent. The guy (James) tending the fire came into the shelter and set up his sleeping arrangements. They consisted of two blankets and a clear plastic drop cloth.   I thought he is going to freeze. Little did I know how close I would be. The Oldman was at the shelter, but it was too cold to talk. In ten minutes it dropped from 37 degrees to 27 degrees. I figure it got to the low twenties during the night. I'm in my sleeping bag and warm, but we cut the bag and down is flying everywhere. Cheapsuit grabs the ductape from my hiking poles and covers the rip. Later in the early morning, nature calls, so I bang on the tent to get rid of the snow that was accumulating. Cheapsuit set's bolt upright like someone goosed him. It was only latter, that I found out that he wasn't sleeping well thinking James was the Hostile Hiker Slasher and he was coming for him. Anyway, there was about four inches of snow and colder than all get out. When you unzip in that weather, everything goes and hides! Back to the tent with wideeyed cheapsuit. His blowup air mattress wasn't holding air and he wasn't the happiest hiker I have met. Morning finally arrives and cheapsuit makes me some hot tea. He looks like he hadn't slept all night! Then he complains about my snoring. What can I say! I get out of the tent and heat water for some noodles. James is moving his makeshift bedding from the ground to the shelter platform, but I could tell he was in trouble. The Oldman asked if there was anything that could be done and James said he would be alright. He wrapped up in his blankets and everything started to shake. It was clear that he was close to hypothermia. We got him up, made him eat a hot breakfast of spagetti and hot coffee. We then called Quenton at Neels Gap and explained we had a condition at Blue Mtn shelter and explained who was in trouble. Quenton said he had told him that he shouldn't be out on the trail but he started the process of getting help. After the meal and hot coffee, James was feeling better, but still shivering. I asked if he thought he could start moving to Unicoi Gap. To be continued.