| May
18, 1983 Wednesday (2109 miles to go) From Gonzo!s
Appalachian Trail journal
A big
mile day today.
A couple of miles after leaving the summit of Blood Mountain this
morning we arrived at Neel's Gap, where US route 19/129 passes through
the low area between Blood and Levelland Mountains. Located at this
road crossing is the first potential trail resupply point directly
on the trail. The trail actually passes through an archway on the
grounds of the Walasii Inn, a building built during the depression
era by the CCC. Although I don't have it recorded, we probably stopped
and had a coke and some other treats before beginning the ascent
of Levelland Mountain. I do remember purchasing two or three freeze
dried dinners as emergency backup food - just in case we ran out
of other food. This stuff is easy to fix and the recipe requires
to just add boiling water.
After ascending out of Neel's Gap and choosing to not stop for water
at one of the shelters since it was one half mile off the trail,
we were in need of water by the time we arrived at Tesnatee Gap,
after traveling 5.7 miles. I have a vague recollection of sending
Jim down to get water (it was his turn) when we arrived at the highway
running through the gap. There was a sign there that said spring
¼ mile down the mountainside. Sometimes a short distance
can become a much longer distance, especially when it is not being
subtracted from your mileage to reach your final goal. This
was one of those cases. I waited and waited and Jim finally came
back and was exhausted and drenched in sweat. Apparently the water
was "straight down" the mountain which meant straight
back up to get back. A tough and frustrating additional few tenths
of a mile for him. Put in 19.8 miles today before pulling into Rocky
Knob lean-to.
Gonzo!
Appalachian Trail Journals ©1983
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