Date: 2012-03-02
From: Woody Gap

To: Tesnatee Gap
Miles today: 16.5

A good night at Hiker Hostel last night. Birdman decided to do a community cook where he shopped and prepared steak, brats, and corn with fixins for about 8 thruhikers. Everyone enjoyed the great dinner. Unfortunately I could only handle.two brats since I felt totally wasted due to the effects of the sun and probable dehydration. I got a food nights sleep and was ready to go this morning after a great breakfast. We were dropped off back at Woody Gap with fog so thick you could hardly see 10 feet in front of you. You start out with a challenging climb of about 500' out of parking lot over first .5 mile. It was hard only because I was still a little stiff from yesterday and I hadn't warmed up yet. It was kind of a wierd walk with visibility so low and the dampness constantly licking your face. The terrain was not bad at all after the first climb. I rolled along over next 6+ miles quickly. I actually started to feel some kind of a hiking pace coming together. Right past the Woods Hole Shelter turnoff the trail starts to climb Blood Mountain. It was a little challenging going up about 800' over the mile to the top. The rocks were a little slippery but nothing unexpected. Unfortunately the top was fogged in with no view. The shelter on top is a beautiful stone structure from the outside but a real dump inside. It was cool and eiry walking across the rocks on top with nothing to see. I probably should have dropped the pack and pulled out the camera. Some fog pictures are great, but I am always afraid to chance them getting damp or wet, so I pack them in my clothes bag on bad days. Coming down to Neels Gap is fairly easy. You just have to watch the slippery rocks. I had decided that if I for to Neels before 3:00 and weather was not too bad I was going on. It was about 2:45 and threatening just like it had been all day. So, I walked on through the stone arch without even stopping. I knew that if I stopped for even a few minutes or saw too many people I had met, I would stay there. I wanted to stay but also wanted to be in Hiawassee asap. As always the trail after a road crossing climbs. This one was about 700' over the next mile then a quick drop of a few hundred feet before it smoothed out. It was after 4:00, the rain that had been a drizzle on and off all day, was now getting heavier and I had no real idea how far I could or would go. It stopped raining and I felt I would push a little further, all the while looking for nice level spots to camp. I saw some nice ones about a half an hour later but the weather was holding and I was moving pretty good but tiring. After going over the last hill before coming down to Tesnatee Gap, the sky let loose. Because I am not sure of my pace yet I really wasn't sure how close I was to the gap until I finally came downhill and saw the sign. I was very tired at this time and just wanted to get my tent up somewhere and hop in. I went back a little on what seems like an old woods road to the right and just set up in the rain. I was dripping wet by time I set up but all equipment was dry. It was getting dark when I hopped in. I changed clothes which is always a nice trick to not get everything in the tent wet. I changed, climbed into sleeping bag and ate some peanut butter crackers for dinner. After a little while the rain stopped and it became very windy. I got out and did a quick disgracefully hung bear bag. I was asleep quickly after a few quick notes for the journal. I was too beat to write last night.