Date: 2018-03-27
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This number may be incorrect but it is said that between 2000 and 4000 people per year attempt a through hike of the Appalachian Trail. At Neel Gap, roughly 25% drop out and that¢s after nearly 35 miles. I will say those are not 35 easy miles. This photograph shows shoes thrown into the trees that drape the entrance of Neel Gap. The shoes are donated by those hikers who decided not to pursue the trek any further.The hostel life and Neel Gap was pretty cool, though I didn't sleep real well. Last night most people went to bed, but five of us stuck around in the main living area exchanging stories about hiking, our plans, our trail names are and how they originated. The rules of the hostel include no alcohol or drugs and everybody out by 9 AM. Everybody was out and on the trail by 930 at the latest.The day turned out to be one of the longest hikes for me so far at just over 12 miles and into Low Gap shelter. I immediately found some of the people from Neel Gap as I scouted a place to set up my tent. Once camp was established, I fixed dinner and found a place to hang my food bag to keep it out of the reach of any bear that might be roaming around after dark looking for a free meal. I also needed water, so I headed off to the water source to refill and filter my supply. Upon approaching the water source I passed the shelter and there I found several other people that I had met the night before participating in some of the restricted activities of Neel Gap. It was nice to be greeted with a course of ¢HEY LORAX¢ as I wandered into the shelter site. The family setting on the trail is really comforting, everybody¢s friendly and everybody welcomes one another; it was like Lorax, do want to drink any of this or smoke any of that?  Being sober around people that are mostly always hungry can be a lot of fun, meaning the substance being consumed seems to have a faster and greater affect on them.  One such character who still hadn't received a trail name was a good example.  He kept trying to get me to smoke week with him and I simply wouldn't.  I won't say it was the weed, probably a combination of that an whiskey, but the guy mumbled a lot and didn't make much sense.  I finally asked him "how many pots have you smoked?  You've taken too many of the marijuanas dude". This for some reason shut him up other than asking me and others around us if I was for real.  But it was a fun exchange.It¢s odd that I have an easier time remembering trail names then I do people¢s given names. For instance, if I see someone on the trail and ask them have you seen ¢Joe¢ or have you seen ¢Linda¢? They¢ll likely reply, I don¢t know. But if you say have you seen ¢Three Socks¢ or ¢No Pepsi¢?  They¢ll probably say yeah, this morning at this place or that. Assigning a trail name is a lot of fun. You get to talk to the person, find out a little bit about them, and attach a name that best describes them in your opinion. I¢ve been involved in several namings so far including that of ¢The Mayor¢ who is no longer with us, "Tree Line", a young lady from the Minnesota/Canadian border, "Rainbow" a young lady that wore a rainbow stripped hat, "Cool Rock" a guy that lost his phone, didn't find it but found a cool rock while looking for it.  now I didn't name him, but there was a guy at Low Gap that used the privy and forgot to take toilet paper with him, so he used a couple of dollar bills he had in his pocket.  He is now known as "Dirty Money"