Date: 2006-05-27
From: Day Ten On Trail-Whitley Gap to Low Gap Shelter

To: Day Ten on Trail-Whitley Gap to Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: scattered clouds

May 27, 2006 DAY TEN ON THE TRAIL ¢ Whitley Gap Shelter to Low Gap ShelterDay 10. Whitley Gap Shelter to Low Gap Shelter (4.4 miles Trail miles plus 1.2 miles from shelter to the Trail)The hike up out of the valley was tough. We regretted each step we had taken TO the shelter last night. But, at least we did not get attacked by mother grouse again. When we reached the top, we looked out over the valleys that surrounded us. Beautiful view with valleys, distance mountains and clouds blowing by below us. Mountain Laurel and rhododendron were blooming profusely.   To get back to the main Trail, we walked through a tunnel of Mountain Laurel and rhododendron bushes. We were walking beneath the foliage and flowers. It was just bare branches forming an arch over the Trail. Once we reached the main Trail, we continued on to Hog Pen Gap. On the way down, it started to rain lightly, so we stopped to get out our rain gear. At first, we tried to wear it, but it was just TOO hot and muggy, so we decided to just cover our packs. At Hog Pen Gap it was starting to get foggy. We finally realized it was not fog, but rather we were walking in a cloud that surrounded us on the mountainside. We had limited vision for awhile. Other hikers in front of us disappeared into the mist. The fog/clouds intensify the greens along the trailside, especially the ferns. They are everywhere and SO much more welcomed than poison ivy. Dennie¢s feet are really hurting. He thinks the large blister from yesterday has broken. We have been playing tag with the Turtle Crew from last night. We met them again at the Low Gap Shelter, where we all stopped for a late lunch. They got ready to press on and Dennie and I were still trying to decide what we were going to do. We planned to meet Ris« on Sunday, so we could do a long day today (11.6 miles) and a very short (2.2 miles) day tomorrow OR a moderate day (4.4 miles) today and long (9.4 miles) tomorrow. When we add on the 2.2 miles climbing out of Whitney Gap, that makes a 5.6 mile trip today. So, we decided to stop. We big the Turtle Crew goodbye and lounged around for the afternoon. A large family group of 10 stopped in for a VERY late lunch, and they stayed for over an hour before deciding to move on. Dennie and I fixed dinner, cleaned up and got ready for the night. We planned to get an early start in the morning while it is still cool.   I rested on top of my sleeping bag with my pack to prop me up, watching the sun on the leaves. It is a kaleidoscope of shades of green ¢ simply gorgeous. What a beautiful world ¢ truly How Great Thou Art!Shortly after night had fallen, we heard squeaks from the many mice in our shelter, the Mouse Olympics began. They ran across the shelves, up the walls, over the beams, and chased each other around the room. While there may not have been hundreds, it sounded like there were! At this point, we decided to hang our packs and all of our stuff on the bear cables outside to avoid mouse invasion of all our stuff! In spite of the mouse noise, I slept really well, except when Dennie knocked over his hiking pole around 5:30 a.m. and scared me out of dead sleep. I became airborne!