Day 4 - 3/05

Daily mileage: 10.8
Total trail mileage: 34.1
Starting location: Lance Creek
Ending location: Wolf Laurel Top
Weather: clear all day, 35 degrees in the morning, up to 55 during
the day at lower elevations, 30 in the late afternoon

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=34.858927,+-83.940052 (again not very
accurate)

Last night was a little warmer but quite windy. Again this morning I
was the first one on the trail but didn't get a very early start. I
passed El Toro going up blood mountain and then ran into Chef Bama and
Kentucky at the Mountain Crossings outfitter at Neels Gap.

I did switch out the stove for a jetboil at Mountain Crossings. So
much easier; it is worth the weight penalty on this trip. So, that
now becomes my first gear change. Right now I don't anticipate
needing to change anything else but we'll see.

What else to talk about...oh, right, the reason I am out here, the
trail...

The trail up Blood Mountain was fantastic. It wound through
Rhododendren corridors as it accended and then open up to a view in
almost all directions. It reminded me of Camel's Hump in Vermont.
Atlanta was even visible in the distance. There was also a stone
shelter at the top of the mountain, which is one of the few stone
shelters left. It looks like it would be rather cold though with wind
blowing right through.

The decent was not as treacherous as I was fearing. There were a few
icy spots but trekking poles were sufficient enough to keep me
standing upright. The trail today was again a mixture of snow, ice,
mud, dirt, and rocks. In some places the snow drifts were up to my
waist but there are enough foot holes that it wasn't too bad. In
other places there was no snow at all.

Tonight I set up camp at the top of a ridge. I have a feeling it will
be cold and windy all night, but last I heard tomorrow should be
pretty warm. I heard rain for the later half of next week though :(.
Water has not been a problem so I really don't need rain.

I haven't hit the hiker appetite yet (as expected), but I don't think
it will be long before that comes up.