Date: 2016-03-26
From: Lance Creek campsites

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: few clouds

What a great night sleep. I even was up before it got light and started packing up and getting organized. Everyone was rustling around anyway, so there would be no sleeping in. It was a social breakfast around the campfire ring, while I ate and watched the young'uns pack up and get moving. Soon Crumpet and I were the last to depart, but it was the earliest yet: 9:30 am. We knew we had a big day ahead of us, but it was going to end back at Hiker Hostel for shower and overnight, so that is strong motivation to get going. It was a cool, gray day and we kept working our way up one small mountain, down into a gap, up another, down to a gap and up another, all the while gaining in elevation. The temperature kept dropping, so at least we didn't overheat. At one point we stopped to filter water so as not to have to carry so much from the start. As we approached the top, I had to take a break and take off my boots. One foot was stinging and I wanted to attend to any blister forming. As we sat and doctored my feet 3 young girls came hustling down from above. When they saw us, they stopped to ask questions about our packs and plans. They were impressed with the size of the packs and wondered what they weighed. When I told them it was now much lighter, having eaten 4 days of food and it was down to 26 lbs. The smallest one of them wanted to see what it felt like, so I invited her to pick it up. I think the pack weighed more than she did. Then her two friends each took a turn slinging it on and exclaimed over the weight factor. Then they made us feel really wonderful by telling us how awesome they thought we were for what we were doing. Awwwww. gosh, that made it all worthwhile. It didn't make us get to the top faster, but it was a heck of a lot more fun!Unfortunately once on top, it was so foggy and misty you couldn't see the best views that elevation has to offer. Since it was chilly up there and we had a hot shower to race towards we started down. Oh my! Big boulders to go over, rock faces to walk upon and hope not to slip, and then the sprinkles started. Can't go any faster as it wouldn't be safe, so we just persevered and kept plugging along, being passed by day hikers and thru hikers alike. Now the rain was steady and we were just so close to Neel's gap that we didn't want to stop and rain suit up. So here's a lesson learned: always stop and cover up, because you just never know how long it is going to take to get to cover. Happily I was wearing my wool top and it kept me warm in spite of being wet. Our ride came shortly after we arrived at the Gap and whisked us off to the Hostel. Ahhh, long hot shower, dinner in town and back to find our 4 person bunk room inhabited by two young men with whom we were apparently sharing the room.The rest of the night was spent watching them fuss with their packs and discussing their plans. One was very prepared and informed and the other lacked preparation. Due to my sore feet and body fatigue, plus the forecast of a rainy Easter Sunday, I decided to take a zero day at the hostel to rest and prepare for the next section. Once again, age and wisdom rule!