Date: 2004-04-09
From: Wood's Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, finally got a phone call from my hiker. Ryan and his hiking buddies are staying at a hostel in Neels Gap. They've had a very good start to their attempted thru hike. Ryan and his friend Mike are the only two of the four to have problems with blisters. He said it's from his boots and he has now switched to hiking in his Teva's. He doctors them twice a day and feels that now that he is out of the boots they are improving. Mike might be the first of the group with a trail name.....as someone at the hostel has dubbed him "tenderfoot". Ryan reports that the weather has been tremendous. Highs in the 80's and lows around the 50's to 60's. He says that they pass people along the way, but their hiking schedule usually finds them between shelters at night so they have not really had the opportunity to get to know many of the hikers. Some of the hikers that they pass frequently on the trail are Skipper, (who is also staying at the hostel tonight), Cliff Dancer, Chosky, Thumper and Bearbait. He has met and spent some time talking to a retired Naval captain named Frank who won't let anyone give him a trail name or take his picture. He says he doesn't want to be just another one that didn't make it.....but I'm thinking maybe.....hmmmm....witness relocation?????? Just kidding. Ryan mentions another hiker around their age named John from Minnesota that is traveling along with them that they have gotten to know a little bit. He says that spring hasn't really taken hold yet, so not a lot of green on the trees. He has seen no snow and no rain, but has seen lots of squirrels.....darker than we have here in Texas with a black tip on their tails. He has also seen a rabbit and lots of birds. As far as their hiking pace, they are making about ten miles a day presently. He said the climb up Blood Mtn. was very good with nice views and he as taken lots of pictures that he will upload when he gets the chance. He also gave me a list of food items to mail ahead to Fontana Dam. He estimates he will be there around April 24th or in about two weeks.    As for hiking, Ryan says he doesn't like cooking in the morning so he is usually the first to leave camp for the day. When he stops to cook lunch the others usually catch up to him....usually Mike and then Danny and then Patrick. But he says if they all start off together, he and Patrick usually take the lead and the other two follow behind a short distance. He sounded tired but happy and said he was really enjoying his trek thus far. He also said he is writing in his journal daily and will mail me the pages as he comes to post offices, so hopefully you'll hear about the trail in his own words and not always my interpretation. Of course, that is assuming that I can read his writing. (Thank goodness for 13 years of reading 1st grade writing, hopefully that will come in handy!!!!) Perhaps he should go to med school instead of law school. He has the handwriting for that job down pat!    Well, I can go to bed happy to know he is sleeping in a safe warm bed for this night at least! Will post more when I know more. Thanks to all who have signed Ryan's guest book and are taking the journey with him vicariously.