Miles Today - 17.2
Today I had to skip the shelter and push on to Woody Gap, so that tomorrow I could avoid an area of the trail where camping is restricted save for those with bear canisters. Of course that meant today is the day it started pouring.
I left the shelter at 7:45, full of energy. Singing some songs to myself I passed Skeeter, eating breakfast by a stream at Three Forks, a lovely waterfall. Skipping the view I pressed on. The fog was dense, and I knew at any second it would start raining.
The morning was uneventful, and I stopped to rest at a road crossing before I started doing my serious elevation of the day. As I began up the first mountain the rain started. I switched into my poncho and pushed on, bandana sopping wet. Up another mountain and then across a few miles of slight ups and downs I reached the Gooch shelter at around 1:00.
Unpacking to dry off a little, I chatted with the people who were staying there tonight. Munching on some jerky I watched many of the people I had passed earlier stumble in, dripping water. Glad I wasn't staying there that night, I shouldered my pack and continued on.
The last 5 and a bit miles felt rough as I grew more and more weary. Clearly I am not in tip top shape. I stumbled into Woody Gap and lay on a park bench. The local hiker hostel had a shuttle, but they were full up for the night so I decided to set up my hammock. A cook and bear bag later I was in bed before 7:00.
Tomorrow I crest Blood Mountain, and will hopefully be able to see something. The fog today obscured every view. I will then cross through Neel's Gap, where there is an outfitter, and hope to find a shelter by night. Should be an 18 mile or so day, with some decent gains, so I'm a little nervous.
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