Day 6 – Neel Gap to Low Gap Shelter

 “I woke last night to the sound of thunder. How far off I sat and wondered.” – Bob Seger

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 9 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

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Woke to alarm clock at 7:00. Woke up to thunder, lightning, and heavy rain in the middle of the night. Slept really well. Made tea and nuked a frozen burrito for breakfast. 

Mike and I decided to wait till around 9:00 to leave as the worst weather should be good enough by then. Packed up all my gear, did morning chores, filled water with electrolytes this time, got rain gear in easy-to-reach locations (not wearing that stuff unless very necessary due to heat), and headed out. Stopped at the office to drop off the cabin key and then did the FINAL uphill walk to Mountain Crossings to get on the trail. 

Feeling good about today. Mentally upbeat and bodily sound. Can’t wait to see how my newly fitted pack does. Hoping for big changes thanks to the Wizard! The sun just started peaking out and the radar shows the worst weather web by us. We have a nasty first 2 miles up a mountain, then 9.7 miles up 200-300 foot ups-and-downs….not bad overall. Should be to camp by 3:30.

Mountain Crossings is the only place the AT goes through a structure.

Hiked up a decent mountain and then onto ridges with sun on one side and dense clouds on the other. Walked into the clouds, but it just does not show well as a photo. Hiked 3.3 miles and took a break for a second breakfast (I.e. morning snack).

Stopped 5.2 miles in for water. No more easy water for the next 7.2 miles. Ugh 🙁 Got to Cow Rock Mountain after 6 miles so far for the day at 1:00. 

Reached Tesnatee Gap at 1:30. Had a snack and a water break. Started up the hill at 2:00.

 Ran into a couple from New Orleans again and chatted. Dropped our packs and walked. 1 mile to water to refill. Easy walk this time. Very humid today from the storm this morning.

At 4:40 and 12.23 miles in, we rested near the top of Sheep Top Rock. Had a snack and a rest. 

Made it to the camp area at 5:25, 13.65 miles. Low Gap shelter. Group of about 10 youngsters (20s and late teens) near the trailhead with most of the good spots. We explored closer to the shelter further  downhill and found a decent spot with a downed log for a seat. Just room for the two of us. One old codger was near us as well. The shelter has a bad rep about the Norovirus. 2 people evacuated from here this week. The stream is about 50 yards away, and the privy is close. It has bear cables close too. Overall, not a terrible spot.

Did a Friday happy hour call with some friends for an hour this evening. Just enough cell coverage if I walked uphill from camp about 100 yards.

Made dinner at 7:35…coconut chicken curry for dinner. Really good!!!!

In bed at 9:00. Read for a while. Could not sleep. Critter tried to chew into my tent. Read some more. Worked on day 5 blog. Read some more. Finally tried to sleep again around 1:00.

Harder day than expected. Hot and a few mountains were more challenging than expected.

Technical Notes:

• iPhone 38%
• Watch 26%
• iPad 100%
• Headphones 83%
• Garmin 68%
• Burrito 700 
• Tea 0
• Tea 0
• Snickers 250
• Trail mix 270
• Trail mix 270
• Electrolytes x 3   75
• Next generation back country Chicken curry 550
• Fatty jalapeño beef stick 310
• Tea 0
• Water 5 liters
• Miles 13.65
• Time 8:05
• Elevation gain 3068
• Calories consumed 2460
• Calories burned 6500