Date: 2014-03-14
From: Woody Gap

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: few clouds

Got up and had hiker breakfast prepared by Leigh and Josh Saint and staff: French toast, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal with OJ and coffee. Michael and I were dropped off at Woody Gap to begin the trek across Blood Mountain. Perfect weather day starting near freezing but with crystal blue sky and a calm wind at lower elevations.First stop was a large slab of rock overhang called preaching rocks. Paused for photos and brief conversation with two ladies with a dog each from Athens GA doing a two week hike. I had seen them by chance the last three days. They had camped on the rock, a beautiful place.Later on we paused for snacks to get fueled for the final ascent of the mountain. There were logs stacked in rectangular formation with fire pit in middle. I told Michael this place has good energy. I could tell many travelers had stopped here the site was so well used. At 4,461 feet elevation, Blood Mountain is the Appalachian Trail¢s highest ascent in Georgia. I am slack packing this section to get through the 10 mile section in one day. There is no camping allowed in the section unless you carry a bear canister for storing food. Apparently smart bears here have learned the ropes.The vegetation changed suddenly and temperature dropped so we knew we were nearing the crest. The path narrowed into a labyrinth of rhododendron. Michael paused and asked me to go ahead of him. I took a few steps and said "feel the mountain" . We continued following the trail with teaser glimpses of the summit until finally the thicket opened up to give us the view of enormous rocks and the stone hut of the summit. We basked in the feeling of the mountain with the vistas of mountain ranges. We took pictures of each other and a group of four men from Charlotte, NC.Then it was time to scurry from the mountain to catch the shuttle back to Hiker Hostel. It would be downhill so it seemed like a piece of cake to get down to Neel Gap and the mountain crossings outfitter store. Micheal was motivated by the thought of a hotdog as well as a ride. The shuttle would be there at 4:30 PM sharp and would leave without you if not there. Yesterday I came out of the woods with 2 minutes to spare at Woody Gap. I had never sat in a more comfortable seat than that van.We clambered around cliffs and outcroppings and hopped from rock to rock a scurrying off the mountain. Michael who was a bit shorter then me bemoaned the fact my long legs left him at a disadvantage as I strode through the bushel basket size stones.I passed a 40 year old man with a medium growth of dark beard and remarked I hoped he had not taken so long to get up the mountain that his beard had grown that much. He paused to explain that when his father had been ill in the hospital he had spent weeks with him before he passed and had not taken time to go out for shaving. He said "My mom, noticing my beard grew remarked 'your dad used to let his beard grow every winter'. Now I grow my beard every winter." That is the kind of stories I may hear if I slow down for a few seconds to listen to a passerby.We made it down 10 minutes ahead of the cutoff time to the store and my traveling companion got his hotdog. I grabbed a handful of Cliff bars and a root beer. Cliff bars are like manna from heaven to hikers.Back at the hostel I got a shower, washed a few items and ate my left over Papa Johns from the night before.There are four German young men here tonight. They spent today here unwinding after their trip here. When the shuttle picked them up, they asked each other "where you from?" To which each in turn and to their amusement, responded "Germany".Michael, who is staying at the hostel and day hiking quizzed every German who arrived "so how did learn about the Appalachian trail?" So far everyone said "T.V.--the documentary"