Date: 2007-03-19
From: White Oak Stump Gap

To: Unnamed Campsite at Rocky Knob
Miles today: 9.6

March 19, The Day Without a Name I survived our first sub-freezing night. I won't lie though, I didn't enjoy it. It was about 30 degrees and I went to bed with a cantene full of hot water. That worked until I woke up an hour later a bit cold. I added some toe warmers to both feet and a hand warmer to my stomach. After that, I slept fine until the morning. I am still worried about cooler temps though since 30 shouldn't really be all that bad. I'll just really have to stock up on warmers. Apparently my sleeping bag will keep me alive to 20 degrees but not necessarily warm. I had a nice morning, getting up at about 8:30. I warmed my clothes, changed, made some oatmeal, hot chocolate and peanut butter, and then started packing up. I'm still not as speedy as I'd like to be in the morning but I'm pretty sure I was also busy trying to stay warm. The sun shined on us as we broke camp and I really couldn't ask for more.The rest of the day was really nice too. We stopped at Low Gap Shelter for lunch and just sort of put our heads down and hiked for most of the day. We didn't realize it but we hiked over nine miles. My feet were pretty darned tired by the end of the day, the arch of my right foot was uncomfortable, and I'm pretty sure I'm getting my first blister on my right pinky toe. But I'll surely sleep well tonight.We are here at the campsite with Jacob and Adam from Chattanooga. They seem very nice - especially since they built a rockin' fire.Well, Michele finally accepted a trail name. Certain. I told her the other day I wanted to name her that since she always seems so sure of everything - even if she doesn't really know. She always has an answer and is 100 percent sure of it. I think it works nicely for her and Kay and Gadget agreed.Well, I am beat so I'm off to zip up my sleeping bag. Night.-Sound of Jacob and Adam at the campfire and my headlamp.Post Trail Thoughts:I just want to say that my sleeping bag DID end up keeping me warm in cooler temperatures than the 30s. It was just that I hadn't developed a good system yet for staying warm. I soon learned to hold off on eating (a hot, protein-filled meal) until right before turning in - to keep the fire burning in my stomach! I would also sleep with less clothing on so the warm air could circulate better in my sleeping bag - and I threw the extra clothes atop my bag to trap the heat better. I was doubtful of this technique in the beginning but it really worked for me. Thank goodness I finally caught on to that lesson.I had sort of forgotten that I used to cook my breakfast. I'm a much bigger fan of not doing that. One thing I do know about my hiking style is that I just like to get up, have a quick breakfast and go. No lollygagging. Lollygagging equaled zero days in my book. Sailor almost walked by our site that morning because we didn't recognize him - he was totally re-outfitted at Neels Gap and didn't even look like the dame guy! We had left him and his eerie poncho looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame with his gigantic pack and large staff. And there he was - sleek and streamlined with a nice rain jacket, trekking poles, and a smaller pack. Good for him! Last, Certain and I had tried to camp somewhere else that night with Mindy/SugarGrits but there was no good place for her hammock (which, of course, I didn't laugh at or make any comments about). We pushed on, me hiking in my Crocs, and found a great site. I was a little bummed that the site wasn't just 0.4 more miles - we would have gone 10 miles.Last, I met Swamp Foot this day at Low Gap Shelter. I didn't see him again until the area near the Tye River in Virgina. He had shortened his name to Swamp and remembered me right away though I didn't recognize him with his beard. He was a nice guy - I was always amazed how fun it was to run into people again and see what the experience had been like for them so far.And one last thing! I had purchased an entire half-container of peanut butter at Neel's Gap. That darned thing became the bain of my existence. I made everyone have peanut butter dessert that night so I could get rid of it faster. Heavy food is bad food.