Date: 2013-06-06
From: Neel's Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Neel's gap to low gap shelter. Last night was my first experience in a hostel. I met some great people. Pirate ran the show and he was a character. He's thru hiked ten times. He put in a movie for us and gave us dinner (chicken soup and sloppy joes - which wasn't an option for us vegetarians). I bought some cheese and tortillas to microwave up a couple quesadillas. Sleeping was a different story. With most of us in bed the lights never got turned off. I tried covering my head with arms, sleeping bag and even a stuff sack. Eventually the last ones came in and the lifts went off. Then the noise started. The guys who work in the store live upstairs and have later hours than thru hikers. I'm sure their not happy with us waking up early. Pirate made blueberry pancakes to start our day off right. I had some interesting conversations about watermelons, x-files and trail life. The 3 guys are starting slower but the 3 women seem to be heading out to my planned stop. We started our day hiking and talking. It was great but eventually I needed to go my pace and we parted ways. The rainstorm we had last night is supposed to kick in again today around 3. I want to get to the shelter before being caught in lightning. There was a light rain the entire day. It's the first time I've hiked in the rain. It was just light enough that it was keeping me damp. My pack cover blocked much of it. If anything else got through I couldn't tell the difference between it and the sweat rolling off my brow. Hiking in a cloud bank is interesting but it hid the overlooks. I think there needs to be a name for the color of green I experienced today. The freshly misting, growth refreshing shade that surrounded me in the fields of ferns and other underbrush. Perhaps it is best if there is no name. It is something that needs to be experienced. Maybe you won't even fully appreciate it until you've spent several days backpacking in this humid wilderness. It is worth discovering. There were a few tough uphill slogs. There was some beautiful rolling terrain. There were some rocks and roots to be negotiated. I am starting to get my hiking legs but those steep uphills are really something. The downhills have their own challenges too. These miles are earned out here. At low gap shelter I found it full of trash. A women leaving said she left behind a bag of rice because her load was to much. There was trash all around the shelter. Even though a mother and son I met on the trail said the shelter kept them dry and was mice free I am reluctant to sleep here. I decided to put up my tent even if it rains. There are plenty of tent sites here too. I guess this will test my tent out if it rains. I can always run to the shelter if I need to. People met today: Mother and son going sobo stopped to talk. The boy was so proud of his hiking stick duct tape holder that he made. He was very positive. It's great to see young people backpacking. He looked grammar school age. Another man and woman showed up at the shelter. He is retired and she teaches PE. He can't go far but he seemed very optimistic. There are some great people you come across out here.