Day 4

Friday April 10

Mile 32.8

Well it didn't storm last night like we thought. It waited until 8am to start. Oh well. We packed up after a sleepless night in the hostel.

Got some breakfast pizza, which was awesome from the store and waited around until 9 for the shuttle. That didn't show up...

It was a cluster. Nobody knew what was going on and who was doing the shuttle back to the trail. We ended up hitch hiking and using a jeep to take 2 at a time back up. There was about 12 of us so it took a while. Finally got back on the trail about 10:05.

It was raining when we started but not bad. Headed up to preacher rock which was cloudy. Made great time until woohoo sprained his ankle. Sounded real bad as he fell and he said he felt a crunch. He managed to hobble on for a while then got stronger as he went.

Blood mountain was as hard as usual and wore me out and the top was cloudy but clearing as we were up there. But the bugs drove us off.

The downhill was rough on my knees but had no issues that lasted. Made it to Neels after 4 which is still great time for starting after 10.

Hung around the hostel for a while as we decided to hike a mile further up to stay the night since it was going to be a nice night.

We originally wanted to stay at the cabins but they were full. The free tent sites at Neels sucked.

Ate another pizza for dinner and resupplied to get me to hiawassee. Also picked up a new sawyer since mine was clogged and I couldn't get it to clear out.

We stayed sitting around the patio until after 6. Met Baltimore Jack, which was awesome. Very funny guy. Has some interesting stories.

Dakota, her friend, woohoo and I are headed up to the campsite in a few minutes.

We left Neels after 630 and headed up to bull gap. Woohoo had gone up earlier and picked the wrong spot to set up so we passed him and went on.

Ashley and Aaron were already there when we arrived and even flow and pockets arrived at the same time we did. Plenty of campsites and great level places to tent.

Another hiker showed up about twenty minutes later and joined us. We built a campfire and talked until after 945. Very glad I didn't stay at the hostel, as it was full and this is a much better place to sleep.

Should be good weather tonight and the next few days so we will be enjoying that. After ten now and going to sleep after a good day.