Date: 2012-03-26
From: Poplar Stamp Gap

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

We were unable to get connectivity on Tray Mountain for an entry Monday. We had a great climb Monday and met many new through hikers. We seem to have caught up with many of the slower hikers from start of 3/18- 3/20. We have also been a little ahead of our schedule by a day. We stayed at our first Shelter/camp site and expect we will do this more often. Had some great conversations around the fire. Studied the stars, had philosophical and theological conversations from all walks of life. " Tree Piper" and "Puddle Jumper" are two of the young characters, 21-25 y.o. range, out here for the experience and to find themselves. Tree Piper plays the Native American flute and climbs the trees to get our firewood ( thus his name), he has more energy than any child I have ever met. He seronates everyone on our down time.Puddle Jumper a very sincere young man, Loves to jump in puddles on the trail, He has somewhat an evangelical background and has a great zest for life and activities. He seems well versed on many topics and is a joy to talk with. We met Candyman, named for finding a loose bag of snickers bars and handing them around, and his Father Crispy, named because he really likes rice crispies. Candy man is a young Police officer, and Crispy has done many intersting things, most recently working with stock exchange. It was great to meet another parent kid team. We have met 2 german couples on the trail, an older couple who we met 4 days ago, I am sure are now days behind. They were each carring over 50lbs in there packs and looked to buy all new equipment in Neels gap. Hope all is going well with them. Then there is Fredrick and his wife, Trail names to be determined. Pipi and Pepi are also another couple on the trail, tend to tent outside the camp sites. Slow and steady hikers, we pass them mid day and they tend to pass us after we stop in the evening. "Jail Break", a new name from yesterday but a young man whose real name is "JB", he has been with us a good bit, lives in N.C. He decided to just try walking the trail 2 days before he started. He is into many things, music, theology and exeriencing many aspects of life. Stevie and he have been talking music and many young age related topics on the trail. He is a young man that is really searching. He may stop in N.C. and work in his Families christian based family camp. There are a few old retired hikers as well. "Captain D" a retired Navy Captain who is is his 60's, plans to reach into Virgina. His wife picks him up at times. He is probably a few days back. Many characters on the trail, it has been a joy to meet and talk to them all. Stevie I guess has learned that her dad likes to talk and meet all the new hikers. It sometimes delays my forward progression. Each day we meet more, Naked Ninga, Ultra Violet, Old School and his 7 year old daughter Snipe (Southbound section Hikers on spring break). EctEct...Overall it remains all and more than I expected, a beautiful place, exilerating hiking and a very colorful community that changes daily.Stevie is going to journal our yesterday and her experience next.Thank you all agian, Hello and my Love to my family, my exceptional office staff, and to all the residence and workers at MVC and Huggins, miss ya all.Gumpy