Date: 2009-03-01
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: light rain

Entry from Mom: Jessica called from the hostel at Neels Gap today.. It started snowing Saturday night so she decided to go ahead and stay the night at Neels tonight. They went thru her pack and the only thing they could find to get rid of were a few safety pins. They did however, point out that her Camping Gaz stove would present a problem on up the trail as the fuel is not readily available. (the guy working at the Mountain Crossings store had one like that and had that problem) She loved that stove. It was so sturdy, yet still very light weight. So she bought a new stove and is sending the old one back with her trail journal. She also got some better rain gear and resupplied. She is heading out early tomorrow morning in hopes of getting a spot at Low Gap shelter. The Neels shelter is packed to the hilt. A lot of people had to get in out of the storm, and she's thinking most will head out tomorrow as well. She's using this time off to do laundry, take a shower and thankfully, call her mother. :-) I'm glad she doesn't have to continue to hike in wet clothes for a while. It's going to be cold next week, but no more rain in the forecast for the first part of the week. I'm so proud of her. She's so tough. Entry by Jessica: It was colder this morning than it had been so far, and none of us got out of our sleeping bags until almost 8:00. The hike up Blood Mountain was nice, but it started snowing on the way down and I was in shorts. My legs went numb and I began to wonder if they were going to get frostbite, which was probably an over reaction, but I basically ran the last mile to Neels. A lot of people who were here last night stayed, and everyone within 20 miles came here to get out of the weather, so every bed is taken. Neels is really cool. Unfortunately when I got here I realized I don't have my debit card. My mom let me use hers over the phone, and I'll pay her back later. She is going to try to work things out with my bank. I got real rain gear, which I desperately needed. The guys at Neels were through my pack. I didn't cut much weight, which is kind of cool because it means I packed right the first time. I had to get a new stove because my awesome stove uses unthreaded fuel canisters that are apparently impossible to find in some places up the trail. I got an alcohol stove. Took a shower, did laundry and hung out at the hostel for the rest of the day. Everyone here is really nice. They auctioned off cake after dinner (which I couldn't eat because I'm vegetarian).. I'm going to try and make it to Low Gap Shelter tomorrow, along with pretty much everyone else who is staying here tomorrow, and I don't think I'll be able to get a spot in the shelter because I have to wait for the store to open so I can finish paying. (Mom's debit card has a $300 per day limit) Don't think I'd make it anyways because the shelter only sleeps seven and I'm sure there area at least that many people who are faster than me. If it's full, I'll go to Poplar Stamp Gap, which is only a few miles further. It isn't supposed to rain or snow anyway, but it will be cold so tenting might not be a bad idea. Ghost busters time! Later: The guys that run the hostel do a raffle which is announced by Ghostbusters. The winners pick a cup that has a prize. I won a lottery ticket but no money. The main prize was an expensive bottle of alcohol, but nobody won it.