Night Four – Neel’s Gap Cabin
I spent the 2.5 miles from the top of Blood Mountain to Neel’s Gap counting the seconds between lightning strike and thunder while trying to not fall down and break myself. I had made sure to get enough water before making my trek up Blood Mountain because of the listed lack of water sources, which now seemed laughable since I spent most of the day in ankle deep runoff from the rain. I had been managing to keep myself mostly upright despite the slippery conditions until I trusted log step that, in combination with my muddy shoe, resulted in me leaving some of my own blood on Blood Mountain. As far as injuries go a couple of gouged up knuckles is minor in comparison to the what ifs, but it was just one more thing to pile on and I just really wanted off that damn mountain.
The relief that washed over me when I finally could see the roof top of Mountain Crossing was greater than the downpour I had been slogging through. Neel’s Gap meant hot food, a hot shower, and a warm cozy bed which after the cold hard concrete of the night before sounded like the Ritz.
As soon as I got to Mountain Crossing I got a whole freezer pizza and devoured it and picked up an ultralight inflatable sleeping pad. I am going to need one in the Smokey’s and one night sleeping on my lumpy wet clothes and pack was enough to last me a lifetime. Plus it gives me a lot more versatility when wind and weather makes my hammock setup too much trouble.
As I was happily chomping away at my pizza, Rich and Tracy (who had made it in the night before) came in to grab a pizza too and shortly there after Doug who had been a bit behind me showed up as well. After a few minutes of catching up I trekked down to the rental cabins and got started on trying to dry out my gear and myself.
It was amazing to sleep inside a warm and dry place especially after the night on Blood Mountain. And ohhhhh hot showers.
Pictured is the shoe tree of hikers that decide to quit. I may be a bit shaken but it will take a lot more for me to throw in the towel, or the shoes in this case.
