Date: 2003-04-05
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap (Walasi-Yi Hostel)
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: light rain

Last night it was raining off and on until about 5:30am; then it poured. Wind was blowing around my hammock and lightning was flashing. I luckily woke at 5:00 and was already in the shelter eating breakfast. Thing naturally go my way. I broke camp second and headed toward Blood Mt. Blood Mt. has been talked about since we got on the trail and yesterday we finally got to see it. It is the highest point for the trail in Georgia. Today we can't see the top because it was above the clouds. Actually, it wasn't too bad because there were switchbacks the whole way up. As I got halfway up, the sky opened up and lightning was flashing everywhere. The thunder seems louder when you are in the clouds. I yelled back and kept on truckin' up. At the top it was sleeting. There was a shelter there and two people in it, an Englishman and an Israeli. The Israeli kept making fun of the Englishman for carrying an umbrella in the thunder storm calling him lightning rod. Cathleen stopped in while. I was laughing at the two guys insulting each others¢ countries. The top of Blood Mt. is really one solid rock with 4 inches of dirt on it. Many places the rock is exposed for fifty feet around. Some places the trail wore down the dirt to expose the solid rock. Any place that the dirt remained the rhododendrons grew thick but there were no trees. Rhododendron bushes are everywhere and sometimes they make a tunnel that just fits a hiker with a backpack. I can only imagine what it looks like when they all bloom. Coming down the trail turned into a large stream. The rocks were slick but my trail shoes held like glue. That is until one step where my feet went out from under me. I slammed my but into a sharp rock and the rolled at least once. I was first worried about my raingear getting ripped, then worried about the Englishman and Cathleen seeing me. I just didn't want to be laughed off the trail. The only damage was my raingear got a little dirty, my butt is scraped and bruised, and I aggravated a sore knee I was nursing from training. This was my first fall and I'm sure it won't be my last. After another mile I got to the shelter. This was the most dangerous day by far and I was done by 10am. Time to resupply and get clean and dry. First thing I did was take a shower. Then I went to the store and bought a Coke. I got to see many people who passed me and stayed there waiting out the storm. I got to call Jess and set out everything to dry. By this time, the sun was shining like the storm never took place. There are some really helpful people here that help hikers get their gear weight down and get better equipment. At the same time they have a hefty markup on the gear they are suggesting. There is one guy who spent $1100 on new gear. Ely, the guy who lost his hat, was replacing $500 worth including the hat I was so pressed to get to him. All I bought was a very light hat for the sun, and a fleece hat to replace a slightly heavier knit hat I brought (actually, it wasn't much of a weight savings, but it looks funky), and a bandana that says ¢hiker to town¢ on one side and ¢hiker to trail¢ on the other for hitchhiking to towns. I also will be forsaking my water filter for Aqua Mira water drops. This will be a pound out of my pack and filtering is a pain in the butt. Steamer, a retired coast guard has been with us and is now part of our group, came in and will be staying at the hostel. Woods Dragon, Twig, and Nuts also came in. Reason came and got all new gear. There was no room by the time he got there, so I think he got a cabin. Cathleen moved on but we will try to catch her later. Bernie will be going home as she planned. Her brother took us out to a restaurant to gorge on burgers and fries. We all got to do laundry and take showers. There is a TV here and many people that I don't know, including a girl that belches louder than anyone I have ever heard before, watched movies. Tonight we eat pizza and drink beer. Nuts was showing off the largest bunions ever. They are apparently hereditary in her family, and I tell you it looks like she is growing new toes out the side of her feet. Just before lights out, a mouse was spotted and everyone scrambled to get their food bags hung on hooks. Well time for bed myself. Tomorrow we will begin picking up the miles or at least that is the plan.Peace,Dutch