Date: 2010-03-30
From: Blood Mountain

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: few clouds

I got out of the tent and went to where the food bag had been hung. There was nothing there, even all of the rope was gone. I crawled back in the tent and enjoyed the warmth of the sleeping bag while thinking about what had carried the bag off. At 7am the privy called. It was still foggy, windy and cold, and I wanted the heck off the mountain top so I packed up the interior items of the tent and contemplated the frost covered tent itself. I crammed the tent into it's sack frost and all then hoofed it. Halfway down the mountain I ran into Sally who I had met at the Hiker Hostel Monday at breakfast. She had gotten onto a side trail by accident and was backtracking up towards the peak. She generously gave me some fun sized Baby Ruth bars and a handfull of trail mix wrapped in a paper towel. It was a good breakfast considering. Mentally after my night on Blood Mtn. I was doing well, relaying the story to Sally had no ill effect and I enjoyed the hike down once out of the fog and into the sun. When I stepped into the shop at Neels Gap however, I began to faulter. A man named 'Cool Breeze' asked my how things were going and I told him my story. He told me there was an active bear on Blood Mtn. He went to the back table and dug out a stuff sack, offering it to me for a food bag. I told him I'd take it if I decided to go on. I actually had talked myself into going on at least to Hiawasee and the next mail drop while hiking down in the morning. My voice became unstable and I knew I was going to crack. Cool Breeze suggested I mull it over, sign up for a pack shakedown. I wandered the store again looking at the T's and the knick-knacks and could no longer hold it back. I went outside, sat on the bench and let the tears quietly flow. Blowing my nose I hoped this release would end soon, knowing it was brought on from actually making it to a safe feeling area. Around the corner on the patio a group was cooking hamburgers. Cool Breeze happend by again and sat down next to me. He gave me some good advice and encouragement. I told him I just had to let this out then I was going for a burger. Still not quite together I went to the patio and met the people who were offering the burgers. It was the Georgia Mountain Resort Ministries. I met a wonderful woman named Sherril and another named Jane. Jane told me of her bear experience at Low Gap a while ago but unfortunately she had to mace the bear to get it to leave. It had been lured in by the smell of cooking blueberry pancakes! While eating the burger I saw Sid and BillNye across the way. Sid came over, she told me the night before after I went looking for a tent site two other hikers came through to the shelter, 'Ratman' and 'Tumbler'. They said they were going down to Neels Gap. Sid and BillNye asked them to wait as they quickly packed up, it was just too cold and windy to stay. The four of them ended up splitting a cabin at Blood Mountain Cabins. They looked for me before leaving but couldn't find me and figured I had already headed down. Ratman and Tumbler were headed out today but Sid and BillNye were staying at least one more night in the cabin to rest Sid's feet. They offered for me to split it with them which I greatfully accepted. Thanks guys!! Thank you also to Tumbler for helping me with my resupply efforts it was greatly appreciated.Thanks to everyone for all the encouragement, hugs and prayers. After finishing the burger I went in and had a pack shakedown and sent home about 4 lbs of stuff not really needed. I picked up a sleeping bag liner, a lighter cup, spork, and lighter pocket knife. Jane from the ministry group offered to give Sid, BillNye, and me a ride to Walmart to resupply on food. On the way we went to her home so she could show Sid the apartment they had available for thru-hikers in case her feet needed an extended break. We met Janes husband Dave and got a tour of their beautiful house. Jane dropped us off at walmart and told us to call Dave when we were ready since she had an appointment to go to. Dave dropped us back off at the cabins when we were done. People have been so helpful it is refreshingly amazing, it will be a challenge to pay it forward! The three of us spent the night talking about trail plans and watching Good Will Hunting.