3/21/01 Day 5
For the first full day of spring the Georgia AT sure didn't look like it! We got up early to catch the first shuttle back to Neel's Gap to resume our hike. We hit the trail at 7:45 a.m. It took only a few hundred yards to climb to the snow line. I passed Creeper on the upslope and never looked back. Today was a cold, cloudy, often foggy, extremely windy day of hiking. I hiked for nearly 3 hours without seeing a soul except one very brave lady who was packing up after a cold snowy night on Cowrock Mtn. Hiking was very difficult at times today, as the snow was very deep on some mountains, especially Cowrock, which had 2 feet near the summit. I tried to stop 3 times to wait for Creeper to catch up but couldn't stand the howling wind and resulting chill factor, so I kept moving.
At Teanatee Gap, a young thru-hiker caught up to me and passed me on a steep uphill climb in a lot of snow. Later, I caught up and Polaris from Mass. and I hiked together for about six miles to Low Gap Shelter. We passed Texas Jack, then Big Daddy and Little Buddy, a father son combo. The little boy was only 3 years old, dressed in cotton, no gloves, and had just come through the deep snow. His dad explained that they live in Beckley, WV and the mother left them for another man and he was laid off so he decided to hike the trail with his son. My heart goes out to that poor kid, he obviously wasn't properly dressed and they didn't have adequate gear, but what can you do about a situation like that in the wilderness? Polaris and I arrived at Low Gap Shelter around 1:30 p.m. and ate lunch and talked with Heavy (formerly Dan, also of Mass.) and Frank from Germany. Frank was an interesting guy; he hasn't hiked much except a couple of 5 day jaunts in South America, yet he applied for a six month VISA to come to the US and hike the AT.
Once Creeper arrived, he and I decided to move on. We hiked together another 6 miles and are now settled down for the night a couple of tenths of a mile beyond Chatahoochee Gap. It's cold, windy and snowing again, but I'm sitting in my tent half naked letting my legs and feet dry out. It's amazing how the human body can adapt to the cold...I would never dream of leaving exposed flesh at home in this kind of weather. But it's really quite comfortable! On my feet, well, the new boots did great and the blisters are healing! Yipee!! Meant to mention that Low Gap shelter was going to be packed tonight with so many thru-hikers having that destination from Neel's Gap. The shelter area has been heavily used and bears were a major problem there last year, so the shelter was closed then until bear cables were installed. It's nice to be on another mountain six miles away with the solitude. From our vantage point we can see the lights of Helen, GA down below and off in the distance. Tomorrow we hike to the road and try hitch-hiking for the fist time the 10 miles to town to do laundry and resupply our food. Today's statistics: Mileage 15.8 miles, cumulative mileage 46.5. Weather: low in mid 20's, high 34 degrees, snow (light) at times. Having a blast! Life is good.
