Date: 2014-07-07
From: Woody Gap

To:  Leveland Mountain, passed Neel Gap
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: light rain

I was feeling pretty good about hiking almost 13 miles to make it to the hostel. Then I met my bunk mate, Fred, who had just finished a 48 hour race. He ran as many laps as he could around a one mile track in 48 hours. He was a bit disappointed that he only got in 117 miles - in two days ! Then he was taking four days off before starting a 314 mile, 10 day race across Tennessee. I said, "You do that with a support crew, right?" He said no, he carries a 16 pound pack. My 13 miles didn't sound like much anymore. Oh, did I mention that Fred is 66 years old?I had three goals for the day. Goal #1 was breakfast at the hostel. (That was the easy one.). I love camping on the trail, but there is one advantage to staying in a hostel - besides the real beds, the shower, and the chance to do laundry. The one advantage - breakfast! I cannot figure out what to eat for breakfast on the trail. I have learned that I really don't like instant oatmeal. I tried granola with powdered milk and protein. It was tolerable at best. It is okay without the protein, but then what is the point. Maybe I'll start eating Cliff Bars for breakfast. So at the hostel I had French toast, eggs, and fresh fruit. Goal #2 was Blood Mountain. It was supposed to be one of the toughest climbs in Georgia. It really did not seem bad. Other than stopping for a drink and for one bagel with almond butter break, I didn't have to stop for a rest. Last year I had to stop and lean into my hiking poles every hundred steps or so while climbing the first few days. Either hauling rocks really did help, or these are just easier mountains. I guess I'll find out because there are plenty more to come. The views at the top of Blood Mountain were great. I also received trail magic #3: a young couple that I met on the way up to the summit gave me a Cliff Bar to help me "make it to the Smokies." I hated to move on from the mountain top but I knew I had to keep going to make it to the outfitters at Neel Gap to pick up a mail drop. . That meant a 13 mile day. Goal #3: I made it to Neel Gap and the Mountain Crossing Outfitters. They offer to go through your pack and suggest how you can cut weight - pack weight. Mine weighed in at 28 pounds. He looked through the contents and said I really didn't have much extra weight. He said I could get rid of one of my three shirts, the liner socks, and I could cut some weight with a new water filter. (This service of helping with pack weight often results in sales.) He showed me a filter that weighed a fraction of my old pump for only $19.95. The unfiltered water runs into a "dirty water bag " and then you squeeze it into your water bottle. He also said most of the water sources heading north to the Smokies were piped springs. I bought one. They also ship your cut weight home. I had it sent to my mother's house because that is our next stop. (Mom, when you get the box, please open it up to let the old water filter dry out. You don't need to wash the shirt and socks, but you might want to keep them in the garage - telnet undoubtedly stink.) the store closed, I ate supper on their balcony and then hiked on. I was hoping to fill my water bottles at the outfitters but everything was locked up. According to the trail book, there was water and a camp site in 1.5 miles, It started to get late. As the shadows got longer, every tree stump and every dark boulder looked like a bear. I clicked my hiking poles on as many rocks as I could to see if the "bears" moved. If they didn't move I assumed they were tree trunks and boulders. I finally gave up on the water, found a campsite with a great view, and went to bed with about a half cup if water remaining.