[at-l] AT HikeReport: Day 5

[ARTCLOUTMN at aol.com (ARTCLOUTMN@xxxxxxx)]

Thursday 03/13/03  Neel?s Gap Hostel            7 miles

    What a beautiful day.  But we experienced a thunderstorm at 5:30 AM.  We 
had the tent door open because it was so warm.  Rain dripping on my head woke 
me.  So we buttoned up to let the storm pass.  
    After breakfast John and I decided today we would leave camp when we were 
ready and not worry about Regan.  I think she may be a bit tired of us paying 
so much attention to her.  She wants to hike her own hike.  I cannot help 
caring for her.  I guess it is the teacher and father in me.  It was an easy 
hike out of camp.   We stopped at Wood?s Hole Shelter to check it out and 
look at the register.  The Family was there.  They stopped in for some 
breakfast.  We continued on to summit Blood Mountain before noon and decided 
to stop for lunch.  The hike up to Blood mountain was pretty easy because of 
all of the switch backs.  We met a south bound thru hiker named ?Gizmo? who 
started at Katahdin in June of 2002.  He hiked through heavy snow and cold 
weather.  But he looked very healthy.
    Great Views from the summit in all directions.  Blood Mountain is the 
highest point in Georgia.  We are suppose to be able to see Springer Mountain 
from the summit but I don?t know which peak it is.  There is an old CCC stone 
structure with windows and door and filled in stone fireplace.  The structure 
is very cold and the glass is no longer in the windows so the wind blows 
through.  It is much nicer outside.  
    Jan Liteshoe and the Pack 31 left messages in the register some directed 
at us.  They were here on 03/04/03.  They flew Ted Anderson?s flag from the 
summit.
    While we ate, Kevin showed up and had a quick bite then headed down.  A 
group of kids day hiking with a church youth group arrived, spent a few 
minutes then headed back down.  We finish our leisure lunch and was about to 
head out when Regan arrived.  I was relieved.  I should not worry about her 
but I did.  Had a fast hike down from the summit to Neel?s Gap.  Registered 
for space in the hostel and got our first mail drop.  In all of the years 
that i have been backpacking this is the first time that I have used a mail 
drop to resupply.  I don?t know why I thought the next section would take 6 
days.  It would only be 3 days.  We left some supplies in the hiker box.  I 
guess it is better to have too much food then to have to little food.
    Jennifer organized a pizza party for dinner tonight.  One of the 
employees of the store helped her pick up the food.  The manager of the store 
brought us beer to have with our pizza.  It was great.  It was a great bunch 
of people that we spent the night with.  Scott and Jeannie were there.  Scott 
had severe pain in the arch of his foot.  I rigged a bucket of cold water for 
him to soak his foot in.  He complained about putting his foot in cold water 
but did it.   Orbit and Retro were there.  We gave them a lot of our extra 
food.  I didn't realize that Scott and Jeannie needed food or I would have 
offered it to them first.  But Orbit and Retro took all we offered.  Orbit 
and Retro were planning on taking a zero day here.  They planned on stopping 
ever 5th day for a recovery day.  Probably a smart move.  A former Thru hiker 
know as Rolling Rock was at the hostel and was rather taken with himself.  He 
was wearing color coordinated tights, shirt, backpack and hiking poles.  He 
convinced Kevin to purchase a tarp to use for a shelter.  We watched Regan 
arrive with the family.  The Family got off the trail here.  Spring Break was 
over for Kelly Rae.  We said our good byes and wrote down Email addresses.
    Looks like it could be a late night.  Everyone showered and did laundry.  
Everyone is feeling good.