Date: 2013-03-03
From: Lance Creek

To: Whitney Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up around 6:30 AM to find that although I had vented my tent, there was frost on the ceiling, snow on the ground and the air was very cold. I broke camp about 8:30 with intentions of at least getting to Neel Gap for some resupply and possibly a shower and laundry. It is very difficult to wash up or do laundry when it is freezing cold.On the way to Neel Gap, I climbed Blood Mountain going from an elevation of about 3000 feet to over 4450 feet. The air was cold but the sky was clear and beautiful. The views from atop Blood Mountain were well worth the climb with expansive views of the countryside below. The shelter was an old stone building and a treat in itself just to see. I met a hiking pair going by the Trail names of Passover and Ember. Later, Tarzan and Ashley also arrived at the mountain top. It was fun to share their joy in the views and the experience. I hiked on down the mountain, encountering several day hikers that had parked at Neel Gap and where coming up the other direction to the top of Blood Mountain. Unfortunately, my camera battery died at the top of the mountain, probably associated with the cold air temperature even though I had kept the camera close to my body. When I got to Neel Gap, I considered my budget and decided that some necessary supplies might take precedence over the shower and laundry at this time. I was assisted in a ¢shakedown¢ of my pack by a staff member by the name of Jason. There were very few items that I needed to send home but one issue that became apparent was some of the water weight I was carrying. I had been using an old fly (cover) from a discarded tent that I had used years ago for a ground cloth. Instead of repelling water, as I thought it would, the fly actually held water and was adding useless weight to my pack. When I weighed my pack at the Neel Gap Outfitters, it weighed in at 34 pounds. The outfitter, Mountain Crossings, is in a unique historical stone building with wonderful views, a unique atmosphere with decorations that include old discarded boots from previous hikers and the AT which literally goes through an archway of the building. Some of my fellow hikers decided to stay at the lodging facilities there but I pressed onward.I ended up settling down in the Whitley Gap Shelter area. An Eagle Scout from the Baltimore area had already set up his hammock in the shelter and had a fire going. As cold as it was, the fire was a welcome addition. I set up my tent and after visiting a bit, retired for the evening. The Eagle Scout was going by the Trail Name ¢J-Lo¢ and it turns out that he had taken outdoor oriented courses at Garrett College near my hometown from an instructor, Andy Hershey, who recently led a group of us in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area for a winter camp. I also learned that I need to pay close attention to my guidebook. After climbing some elevation changes, hiking a little over 14 miles and being mildly exhausted, I expected to see the shelter from the Trail. I later learned that the shelter was actually about 1.2 miles off of the Trail. This was plainly indicated in the AWOL¢s ¢A.T. Guide¢ but I had inconveniently overlooked that part regarding the mileage from the Trail. Live and learn.