Date: 2017-05-29
From: Neel Gap

To: Poplar Stump Gap
Miles today: 12.9

Monday, May 29. Neel Gap to Poplar Stump Gap (44.6) for total of 12.9 miles.It is Marilee¢s birthday today and I hate not being home.I had a great night at the Blood Mtn Cabins. After I fell asleep I slept great. I woke up at 4:30 and was up at 5 AM. I wanted to get an early start since the forecast is calling for rain this afternoon. When I got up this morning, the hot spot/ blister on my big toe was bothering me. I decided I had to do something if I was going to make it 12.9 miles today. I decided on a moleskin patch. I did not realize I could not see the bottom of my foot (what time in your life does that happen?) so I had to get my 2x5 inch camp mirror while I held my head lamp to see my toe and what I needed to do. The blister was between my toe and the ball of my foot. I cut moleskin to fit with my pocket knife and held the moleskin in place with medical tape.I made coffee and packed making my rain gear more accessible. I sent Marilee a text for her birthday. I turned in the key. It was a 1.0 mile back to the AT from my cabin, (The night before one of the guys at the Mountain Crossing Outfitter Store gave me a ride to the cabin.)I hit the trail at 7:15 AM. The place I had to go onto the trail was thru a breezeway between the Hostel and the Store. This is the only place in the AT that the trail goes through a building. The climb coming out of Neel Gap was steep for the first 2 miles (800 ft elevation gain). However the trail had fewer boulders today. (I hope it stays that way). There were some great views today to the east. I stopped to take pictures at Mile Marker 36.2. (The AT does not have mile markers but I get where I am on my phone app.) I had gone 4.5 miles and it was 10 AM. After a few pictures and a water break, I left at 10:15. The trail was very up and down today. (Up 500 feet, down 300 feet) but the trail was better than previous days - still rocks and roots but not as many.I went over several mountains, too many to list. I stopped to have lunch at Hog Pen Gap. I met a girl who had just graduated from college (somewhere in NY) and did not have a place to live so she decided to hike the AT. She is going south bound and had started in Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) since she had a friend that works there. She was hiking to Springer Mtn, Ga and a friend was picking her up and taking her to Maine to start hiking south from Katahadin (at the north end of the AT) so she could hike to NOC and cover all 2189 miles. This is called a Flip Flop hiker. I continued on after only a 20 minute lunch. And the trail was the same with lots of ups and downs. At the top of Poor Mtn (mile marker 40.6) some day hikers stopped me to tell me to be careful - about 20 minutes ahead on the trail there was a rattlesnake. It was still there when I got there but it was setting on the edge of the trail (The trail is only about 2 12 to 3 feet wide.) and I couldn¢t see it but I heard it rattle and he was upset. Another hiker and I marked the trail so hikers would stop. I am so thankful those hikers told me because I do not think I would have seen the snake in the leaves. I got to Low Gap Shelter (43.2 miles) and thought about stopping at the shelter since it looked like rain and this would keep my tent from getting wet. While at the shelter I made a few calls to get a shuttle to pick me up at Unicoi Gap tomorrow so I can stay at the Budget Inn and restock food in Hiawassee, Ga. I got it lined up with the shuttle driver, John. I decided to go to an actual campsite up the trail at Poplar Stump Gap (at mile marker 44.6). I looked like rain so I moved along at a faster pace. I arrived at 4:30 PM. That was a 9 hour 15 min day on the AT.I got my tent up as fast as possible so I could put my stuff inside while I went and got water. The stream was .1 mile away. At night I always fill my 2 water bottles (1 liter smart water bottles ¢ they are tall and slender & fit great in my pack) and 2 liter platypus. I use the 2 liter platypus for cooking, coffee, and to refill my water bottles in the morning. Since the water has to be filtered, it takes about 30 or 45 min to do 4 liters of water.I tried to call Marilee but did not get her. I had settled into my tent when rain started at 7 PM. It rained hard awhile and then stopped. When the rain stopped I hung my bear bag of food. I had 2 peanut butter and honey sandwiches in tortillas tonight for dinner since I could not cook. I finally got my call to go through to Marilee and we caught up on how her birthday was today. I¢ve been updating my my journal as I listen to the rain. It is raining hard. It is 9:30 and I am heading to bed. Thanks for reading.