Date: 2012-04-08
From: Gooch Gap, USFS 42

To: Neels Gap, US 19/129
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

4/8Woke up at 6:30am and hit the trail in time to see the sunrise over the valley as we hiked. X and I have become hiking partners, at least for a few weeks. We saw our first overlooks today on Ramrock, Big Cedar, and Blood Mountains. All other views have been through trees. Another beautiful sight was when the trail cut right through the middle of a giant flower patch on the side of themountain. They were big white flowers and some lady told us they were trilliums. Everywhere else, the undergrowth was almost entirely poison ivy. I accidentally touched a leaf too when leaning my pole against a tree. It makes you very paranoid every time you feel something touch your leg.  We kept running into Chainsaw, named for his snoring, passing each other when the other was taking a break.Today was another big mile day because the 5 miles around Blood Mountain require bear canisters if staying over night. This mountain has so many tourists that the bears have figured out how to get food bags, even when hung properly in the trees. Blood Mountain is the highest point in GA and has some very exposed rocks at the top making for great views. The word on the street was that the mountain is a brutal climb, but the direction from which we came was easy peezy. However, coming down was BRUTAL. Much of the descent was jumping down off of boulders onto more boulders.  Chainsaw took a side trail that goes around the mountain as he had to do something back at home that evening. His trail wound up to be much harder than ours as it was a rock scramble the entire way.At the bottom of the mountain is the infamous Neels Gap. Located here is an outfitter, Mountain Crossings, and a hiker hostel, Walasi-Yi. The trail runs right through the building these occupy. Sadly, the hostel was full and the store was closing early because it was Easter. So we hiked 0.3 miles down the road to Blood Mountain Cabins. For $68 total, we got a spacious cabin (sleeps 4), satellite TV, a frozen pizza (finally got that craving satisfied), 4 sodas, and they did our laundry for us to boot. I can't recommend this place enough for anyone looking for a weekend getaway in a picturesque mountain valley. It was nice to freshen our bodies and clothes up.Lessons learned today:1) Moleskins are a beautiful thing.  The edges of the duct tape covering my raw skin on my waist made more of my skin raw. Haven't had any problems in days with the moleskins on.2) Just because the trail is nicknamed "The Long Green Tunnel" doesn't mean that the trees have leaves yet in early April - my right arm got really sunburned. My mom even gave me a hard time about not bringing sunblock, but everything I read said that I wouldn't need it.3) No matter how cold it is at night, it's never worth holding it in and trying to sleep.4) Dried fruit -> Chafed bum. There are sulfides in dried fruit and those make you gassy. Flatulence has moisture which makes for chafing. Ouch.Here is a poem I left in the shelter register at the top of Blood Mountain:Into My Own by Robert Frost ONE of my wishes is that those dark trees,        So old and firm they scarcely show the breeze,        Were not, as ¢twere, the merest mask of gloom,        But stretched away unto the edge of doom.         I should not be withheld but that some day                5Into their vastness I should steal away,        Fearless of ever finding open land,        Or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand.         I do not see why I should e¢er turn back,        Or those should not set forth upon my track                10To overtake me, who should miss me here        And long to know if still I held them dear.         They would not find me changed from him they knew¢        Only more sure of all I thought was true.