Date: 2017-05-06
From: Poplar Stamp Gap

To: Tray Gap
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 5Saturday, May 6, 2017 Poplar Stamp Gap (44.6) to Tray Gap (57.3)Miles: 12.7 miles in 8.5 hours with three breaks2017 AT trip miles: 57.3Total AT miles to date: 1351.4Weather: Sunny, cold gusting winds, rain showers from 4:30 on, temps 40-60sDinner: Red Pepper Pesto Pasta and two delicious Snickers barsHikers: Waldo, Rowdy and Roger, several new long-distance hikers, lots of day hikersLast night was a first. I kept my gloves on all night and no elegant evening gown was to be found anywhere nearby. It was freaking cold. My bag was toasty, but any exposed bits became frosty. Like fingers and noses. I slept fairly well and was surprised to see light when I did wake up. The rain had stopped but the campsite was in a cloud and the tent was still wet. My fingers were numb by the time I had got everything all packed up. Not 10 minutes down the trail, however, I emerged from the cloud to find the sun out. Still, I hiked in the long sleeve wool shirt, my rain jacket and gloves. It stayed chilly until the trail descended into Unicoi Gap. The trail was again familiar and now I¢m certain I previously hiked this section. There are cascading streams and the trail still followed an old road-like route for the first few miles. Unseen water gurgled under a trailside rock slide. Spring is still here¢trilliums are in bloom and the leaves are still budding out at the higher elevations. I'm glad I'm hiking it now and now any earlier. Today brought both trail magic and trail gossip. A 2010 thru-hiker, his wife and both sets of parents were set up in Unicoi Gap. I learned of it only after eating my third flour tortilla with cheese and pepperoni. But 45 minutes later, I was still happy to accept what Will Farrell channeling the late Harry Caray would call a tall cool Budweiser. Actually two. And some fresh fruit. I should have taken a rice krispy bar for later, but I didn't want to be too selfish. Still. I was thinking about that treat for a long time after I had left. The overburdened woman I passed yesterday apparently arrived at a full shelter well after dark telling the occupants she was hypothermic, demanding to be allowed in and where was the bathroom. What I didn't report yesterday was that her first words to me as I passed her (around 11 a.m.) was that she needed to pee. The hiker who told me the story said that he had also passed her and she had made the same remark. We are now speculating that she doesn't want to pee in the woods. This could be interesting¢¦especially in light of the fact that there are no outhouses along the trail throughout the Tennessee section. Another kid apparently is carrying all his food¢as in for the whole distance, if that is even possible¢because he has no money to buy anything along the way. The rumor is he also isn't carrying a stove or any cooking or eating utensils. See how news travels? I wanted to get farther today so my day is shorter hiking to the next hostel for laundry day tomorrow! But between not wanting to exit my sleeping bag this morning and the early afternoon trail magic, that did not happen. The forecasted rain began falling before reaching Tray Mountain which I could see looming ahead around 5 p.m. Decided to save that for first thing in the morning when I'm not so hungry and tired. Tonight is another repeat of last night, the big difference being that I didn't properly pitch the tent and the wind is hitting it broadside. Rain should stop around midnight and tomorrow¢s weather prediction is purported to be sunny all day. I can live with that.