Date: 2005-03-16
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

DAY 5This morning was miserable: cold and wet. I was not looking forward to today¢s hike. However, I was ready when ¢Pittsburg¢ came by Hiker Hostel to pick me up. On the way to Neels Gap, he talked non-stop with all kinds of advice, none of which I was interested in or remembered. He is kind of a know-it-all. I never did understand his shuttle service: if he does this for a living or if he just hangs around the southern end of the Trail. The ride to Neels Gap cost me five dollars, which seems reasonable to me.At Neels Gap, I shouldered my now lighter pack. I headed off into the cold, rain, sleet, and snow. It has been that kind of day. As I hiked this morning, I started thinking about getting off the Trail again at the next town, Helen, GA. It has been a difficult day, due to the weather and the many steep climbs. Early this morning, I was passed by ¢Badger¢ and his younger brother. They are in their twenties and look strong. They hiked like machines, almost in step. They passed me like I was standing still. It is a bit demoralizing.I never did stop for lunch today. It was too miserable to stop, so I ate snacks as I walked. Towards the end of today¢s hike to Low Gap, I passed a long legged female hiker by the name of ¢Yellow Jacket¢. She is no doubt named due to her bright yellow rain gear. We talked a bit as we walked, but then I went ahead when we hit the next climb. She caught up to me on the next downhill. And so it went almost to the shelter. She would catch up on down hills, and I would pull away on the climbs. I was thinking that on a miserable day like this the Low Gap Shelter would be crowded, as it has a listed capacity of seven. I was racing Yellow Jacket for a place in a crowded shelter. I did reach the shelter first, however. The front of the shelter was covered by a blue tarp to keep out the worst of the rain. I lifted the tarp and looked in the shelter. I was startled to see nine bodies crowded into the shelter, all in their sleeping bags, even though it was only about 4 pm. The nine included Rocky, Baby Steps, two Canadian hikers, two Georgia Military College students on spring break, and three others I didn¢t know. I had met the GMC students three nights earlier at Gooch Mountain Shelter. Baby Steps tried to keep me out of the shelter. She claimed all the spots were taken and she is actually correct. However, I was not about to set up a tent on wet ground, particularly as my hands were numb from the cold. So, I have made myself at home by taking a place in front of the two college boys, parallel to the front edge of the shelter. I have a space about 20 inches wide. If I roll to my left while sleeping tonight, I will fall about two and a half feet to the ground in front of the shelter. Dinner tonight was Spanish rice. Despite a strenuous day, I have little appetite. I tried to force feed myself. This was probably not a good idea, as I threw up most of my dinner on a tree a short distance from the shelter. At least I was out of sight of everyone else in the area.There are now eleven of us in the shelter, as Yellow Jacket joined us. It turned out that Baby Steps tried to discourage me from staying in the shelter, as she was saving a place for Yellow Jacket. Thanks loads, Baby Steps. However, it has been a fun night in the shelter. There has been a great deal of laughter, as everyone has tried to make the best of a damp and crowded shelter on a cold, wet night. The two college students have been very gracious to me. They offered to sleep with their long legs curled up to make room for me. I told them it was not necessary. They are good kids.I am looking forward tomorrow to getting into Helen, GA and find a bus station and head home. Enough of this.