Date: 2009-03-25
From: Neels Gap Hiker Hostel, GA 

To: Low Gap Shelter, GA
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

Last night in the Hostel had some funny moments. They turned the lights out at 9 last night. There were still some hikers outside hanging out when a truck stopped out front and asked where he was. One of the hikers said Georgia. The trucker was like I know I'm in Georgia, but what road is this. The hiker said we don't know what the road is, we walked here. I think the trucker thought they were nuts. Hope the trucker found his way. Besides that it was pretty quiet which was nice as the night before a fight broke out and the cops had to be called. Sometime during the night the electric went out and an emergency light came on which was shining right in my eyes. I had to get out my buff to pull over my eyes. The hostel dude turned the lights on at 7 and one of his duties was to take a picture of anybody who was still there. I had just turned over when flash. Going to be a fabulous picture. Not!They had breakfast ready when we got up. I had a couple of pancakes, packed up, wished Stud and Wolf Man good luck, packed up and headed out in the rain. I was anxious about the rain, but I just headed out. It was raining pretty steady and very foggy, but my raingear did well and I stayed pretty dry. The hike was very nice. I saw daffodils at the base of one sign along the trail. They looked so pretty and the yellow so vivid in the fog. When I got to Tesnatee Gap, I ran into Wild Bill and Rock who had been hiking with us; but didn't stay at the hostel last night. They were getting out of a car and told me that they stayed at Wolf Laurel Top campsite and a bear got all their food, so they had to go back to Neels Gap for more food. They had hung their food properly, but the bear has figured out how to get the food down out of the trees. Crazy! But he only goes after the food. I was walking when someone came up behind me. I moved over because he was moving at warp speed. It was a backpacker with tennis shoes, shorts, short sleeve shirt and a bandanna. Looked more like a basketball player then a hiker. Now I had on three layers. I ran up to him again and he stopped and chatted. He introduces himself as Short Circuit and I'm like I've heard of you. From what I've heard him and Sherlock walk the trail every year and provide a ministry to the hikers. We talked briefly and then took off. He seemed like an incredible nice guy. I didn't see anybody else while hiking today, but when I got to the shelter it looked full. They made room and now we have Ski, Peeper, Jumper Cables, me, Yak, Red Oak, Coyote and Western lined up wall to wall. Boomer the dog is by Coyote and Isis, a German Shepherd, under the shelter. Well actually right now she is sitting up on a little hill staring into the shelter looking all pitiful. We shouldn't have a bear problem tonight. We've been sitting around since we got here just telling stories and wondering how we are all going to be packing up in the morning. Lots of laughter and good times. I had a good time today and was pleased with how I was able to handle the rain. I stayed pretty dry, toasty on the uphills and okay on the downhills. Now I have on two sets of long johns, my down booties, down jacket and snuggled into my sleeping bag. Very toasty. I had a fabulous day!