Date: 2006-03-18
From: Blood Mountain Shelter

To: Neels Gap / Hostel, GA
Miles today: 2.4
Weather: 0

Last I night was very cold, I had the sleeping bag opening closed down so far that only my mouth and nose sticking out. The wind was blowing and the wind chill made my face cold. When we got out of our bags at about 7am one of the packs had a thermometer the temp read 38 degs. I boiled water for cocoa and to warm up. I ate fast packed up and headed off the mountain.When I reached the bottom of the mountain I also reached a Hostel where I was able to get a bed, hot shower and a place out of the cold. I ate a hot dog when I signed up and some junk food for lunch. For dinner we sent out for pizza and relaxed in a warm room. It was a well earned break.People asked me before I left if I was going to be hiking alone. My answer was that I won't be hiking with a partner, but I won¢t be alone. I¢m in a community of hikers that all seem to watch out for each other. The group I met at the first shelter have become close and we watch out for each other. In time we¢ll split up as each has a different hiking speed and we take in town breaks at different intervals. We¢ll join up and split off all the way to Maine. In the beginning, as we return from town breaks, we¢ll meet new friends and become members of other groups.I enjoyed a warm nights sleep in a fairly large bunk room, it felt like being in a cabin with the troop. I was the first one up this morning, we packed up ate our trail breakfast and left. Some Hostels include breakfast - this one didn¢t.I left about 8:20 am this morning, but before I did I went over to the scale and weighed my pack. It¢s down to 32 pounds with water and food. I went into the outfitter with a 38 pound pack without any water or very much food. Not only was my pack lighter, so was my wallet. Honey, there is a hefty charge on the credit card.Everyone asked me if would be hiking alone - well I think I have a hiking buddy. His name is Rob and he¢s from Denver. It looks like his hiking partner might be off the trail for a while due to a knee injury. Rob goes by the trailname "Snowhoe." I¢ll give more details as we get to know each other.Today was a decent hike - we covered 11 miles today. We had a few hills that were tough but the day was pretty decent, it was mostly uphill but gradual.We have just set up our tents and we¢re preparing for a storm that¢s coming.Old GoatOld GoatBalancing Rock - Click picture to see full sizeNeels Gap - Click picture to see full sizeMountain Crossing Gear shake down - Click picture to see full sizeWalasiyi-Inn - Click picture to see full size Sue's Note: When I talked to Old Goat today he was thrilled to have the hot dog for lunch and pizza for dinner. I told him that's gourmet food for what he usually eating right now!He said his "clothes are waiting in line to be washed." The way he worded it, I pictured his clothes standing in line...they may have been dirty enough to almost do that! :-)A friend asked me if Old Goat is ok, since he only did 2.5 miles today. Yes, he's fine - that was planned. It was a nice restful day and a chance to get things done.There's an outdoor store at Neels Gap where one can buy things that were forgotten and an experienced trail hiker who works in the store will do gear shakedown with you, if desired (looking at what you have and advising what you still need, what you can ditch, etc.). He told Old Goat he can tell he's an experienced backpack camper and showed Old Goat some changes that can help for the AT.Yesterday Old Goat told me that people who have Verizon cell phone service didn't have cell phone coverage in two places where Old Goat has been able to call me (we have Cingular). In fact, yesterday a couple of the guys had to keep going to Neels Gap (the town Old Goat is in today) because one is having trouble with his knee. They were going to call their friends when they go to town, but had to arrange to call Old Goat's phone because there was no Verizon coverage at Blood Mountain. Old Goat had decided to go with Cingular because he had heard that coverage is better and because the instructions for the PocketMail he's using didn't list Verizon as one of the services it can operate with. We're glad he did!