Blue Mountain Shelter, ~7 miles, shelter

*****

Last night was good times at Low Gap!  Natalie Walters and her dad Jeffrey, Bruce, Dances with Mice and his Grandpa, Mike, Art from Illinois.  Got up early as usual!  The trail today was relatively easy except the last rock jumble just before Blue Mountain shelter.  It is nice to know if I ever have to hike 11.5 miles that I can …but not too interested in doing that again any time soon!

Lots of flies at the Blue Mountain shelter.  There is a young woman here who seems very inexperienced.  She had been hiking with a partner, but he went home so she decided to keep going alone.  Maybe a breakup?

The sun is out but it might rain later so I am in the shelter.  48.5 miles so far!!!

It is now raining again and let me tell you how pleased I was to find NO ROOF on the privy.  Just delighted.  Having the big red poncho helps greatly in this type of situation.  I also noticed I forgot to put my chapstick in the bear vault…if there is a lull in the action maybe I will take it out there…or offer someone a $1 to do it for me…

Tomorrow we will hike ~2.5 miles to Unicoi, then go to Google’s cabin to spend Saturday night.  We will meet Low Rider on Sunday to resupply.  It is still raining.  Now the fog is rolling in, it is really quite beautiful.

I am in my sleeping bag keeping warm!

Things I have learned about hiking:  1) don’t need underwear, 2) pack more variety in food, 3) any chance of rain-sleep in the shelter, 4) shelters are great places to meet other hikers