Date: 2006-03-11
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

Philosophical musing topic of the morning: Section hiking vs. thru-hiking.Tinker went up on the ridge last night to camp. He said he didn't come all this way to sleep in a bunk house. But I did.Section hikers seem more goal oriented. They have a place not too far off that they are hiking to, and a time when they must finish. They can beat themselves up a bit, because they can rest up after their hike. They are here to hike in the woods.Thru-hikers are in for the long haul. A day or two here and there makes absolutely no difference. The important thing is that they are going to be doing this for months and cannot let themselves get rundown, especially early on. So they are more inclined to take shorter days and stop more often, especially in hostels.Thru-hiking is as much a social experience as a hiking experience. The time spent in shelters and hostels is the time most remember fondly. Hostels especially are fun places because everyone is relaxed and looking forward to a good night¢s sleep. No worries about mice and bears stealing food, wind and rain, none of that. It is a time for conversation, catching up on journals, and just relaxing.Anyway, I got off to a late start, fooling around with gear and such. My head is still stuffed up, but I don't want to take Sudafed while I hike. The day was socked in with fog. Before I walked two hundred yards, I was getting wet from water dripping off trees. It might as well be raining. I stopped and put on my Packa. It worked as advertised. I started out with my arms in the sleeves, then when it got hot, I took my arms out of the sleeves and hooked it at the neck and wore it like a cape. Finally I just undid it and let it hang in back. Had it started raining I could have gotten it on easily. www.thepacka.comBrian is having problems with his knee. The pain is in front, so it isn't ITBS, but it is very painful.I arrived at Hogpen Gap and stopped for lunch. There are a lot of Hogpen Gaps and Cowpen and maybe even Sheeppen Gaps in the South. Farmers drove their livestock higher into the hills and penned them there to graze during the hot summer months.At Hogpen Gap, GA Route 348 passes through. This road is also called the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway. Back in the 80's, I spent some time on the nuclear submarine USS Richard B. Russell (SSN687), planning maintenance and gathering equipment operational feedback.At Hogpen Gap we met a couple who were about to climb Raven Cliff. We yogied some water from them and talked for about half an hour. The term yogi-ing comes from Yogi Bear, who could charm pic-a-nic baskets from visitors to Jellystone Park. Some hikers think they are getting something for nothing, but in fact when they get food or water from people they are giving a lot in return. They are telling stories. It is part of yogi-ing to tell a good story to 'endear¢ yourself.This is not new or unique to thru-hikers. The tradition of giving food and even lodging to travelers goes back thousands of years. Pilgrims, traders and just wanderers told stories, gave news and entertained people along their way and received food in return. Thru-hikers are keeping alive an important (in my mind) social tradition.I did not get the names of the people who gave us water. We shook hands. All I had to do was say, "My name is Tom." and I would have received theirs in return. I have to get better at that.I arrived at Low Gap Shelter about 5:30. Three youngsters were there, Parkay (Amanda), and two young guys, Ryan and Krush. They were all a lot of fun. I made mashed potatoes and bacon bits, but try as I might I was unable to finish. I started spooning it into my ZipLoc trash bag when Parkay said, "Are you going to eat that?" I gave her the rest and the two guys were right there also. Having money enough to meet my needs, I forgot that others were not so fortunate. I asked them if they were short on food, and they murmured a bit. I took out all my food except a couple breakfast bars and a snickers and put it on the table and told the kids to take what they wanted. At first they didn't but I'm going into Hiawassee tomorrow and I don't need the weight or the food. The guys were quicker than Parkay and got most of the food, so I gave her my Snickers. As soon as I gave it to her, Tinker went and asked her if he could have it! So she gave it to him. I told him not to take the kid's food, but he didn't hear me. And I had no dessert -- all for nothing. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.Only three of us in the shelter itself, me, Parkay and Mark. Brian, Dan and the two boys are camping out.It got dark quickly down here in the hollow, and I'm doing this by headlamp. I seem to have lost my toothbrush and toothpaste, but I can buy more tomorrow. If I'm going to lose something, better toothbrush and paste than something like my cell phone charger!