Date: 2012-04-03
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

Temp - 64/73Felt much better this morning and cooler temps helped. The climb out of Neels Gap is steady climb but good trail.   I'm amazed how this Georgia clay stands up to the amount of hiker traffic. I've seen a locations on the trail in the Smokies where the trail is worn 18 inches below ground level. It's like walking in a trench.Six miles into the hike we descended into Tesnatee Gap and another group were providing trail magic to thru-hikers. These groups are so appreciated and it adds that boost of my faith in humanity which after 65 years has had it's low points but being in the wilderness always brings my spirits back.While we were enjoying the refreshments a large black cloud (an actual cloud) appeared over the mountains in the distance so we put our pack covers on just in case of rain. We then did the very tough climb up Wildcat Mt., a 500 ft climb in just 1/2 mile but after 2 Cokes and a large glass of water I made the climb without stopping.As we climbed we were actually walking into thunder and lightning but we kept going trying to get to the other side and back down to a safer level. The heavy rain started about 10 minutes after we got to the next gap. The rain continued for 5 miles to Low Gap where we planned to spend the night. The aroma of the forest was a nice change from the heat and the sound of the rain hitting the forest floor helped make the 5 miles enjoyable.At Low Gap we set up our hammocks in record time so our "fiddle factor" is improving. Some hikers are calling Sod "Fiddle" because he's always using that term. We spent a great evening talking with the other hikers. It's a community of people with a similar interest but totally different backgrounds and ages.You would think Sod and I had just driven a brand new red Corvette into the shelter area once we had our hammocks and tarps up. Our tarps are the latest technology called Cuben Fiber, and it has nothing to do with Cuba. It's used on sailboats for the sails and is strong and lightweight.... and expensive. Our hammocks the Warbbonnet Blackbird are also not seen on the trail as much as the more common Hennesy Hammocks. The Blackbird is a little more expensive (I'm spending my kids inheritance) but the extra features are worth it. As a matter of fact I slept from 10pm to 6am and woke without a pain in my body ...ok I did get up once during the night for the usual reasons as well as to look if a bear was after our food. No bears but beautiful moon lit forest ...this is the beauty I'm here for.I talked with a great kid before going to bed at 10, at least a kid to me since he is 24, until it was time to go to bed. With so many younger people getting into trouble in the cities it was nice to see this kid from New York. His name is Brandon and said he was "born old" which I understood perfectly as I also felt older as a kid and was more comfortable around people older than myself who I could learn from. He was taking time off after college where he was studying pre-med. If somehow his grandmother ever reads this she should know he is safe and she should be very proud to have such a grandson.Well time to sign off and move on. The world tonight is how it should be everywhere.