Springer Mountain to Neel's Gap

From Helen, via phone conversation with Sarah:

Staple foods abandoned by other hikers in the first few miles

After we left Jay at the first Benton MacKaye junction he soon encountered a steep climb with switchbacks. He had heard of many items being left behind on the trail from over-ambitious AT hikers who realized they had brought too much gear and who no longer wished to carry the weight. On those switchbacks Jay found packages of ramen noodles, jars of peanut butter, oatmeal, and much more lined up by the side of the trail. He couldn't resist picking some of it up, since those are all staples that he will be eating anyway.

At the first 3-sided shelter, Jay found a lot of discarded gear, some of it top quality outdoor gear, some brand new. There were shirts, fleece jackets, gloves, hats, and, oh, more food! (No wonder there are mice in those shelters.) He's still trying to keep his pack light, but someone hiking those first 30 miles with a half-empty pack could pick up a lot of nice things.

AT passes through the store at Neel's Gap (trail on the left)

Jay went through Neel's Gap yesterday. The AT literally passes through the center of the store there. (see http://www.mountaincrossings.com/about-us.aspx ) There's an archway with a white blaze on one side of the doorframe. When Jay arrived someone offered him a hamburger; a church group was grilling hamburgers for through-hikers! He gladly accepted. As he was wandering the store he heard cello music. Believing it to be recorded music, he thought nothing of it till he stepped out a door and saw that a man was playing a cello there, right beside the store.

Hamburgers for through-hikers. Trail angels!

Jay is making great time on the trail so far. He's passing up other through-hikers who started long before he did. I think his hill-climbing training paid off! I'm sure his light pack helps, too. He is certainly inspiring us to get out and hike more and improve our fitness.

There are more tales of Jay's encounters with other hikers, stories of bears who have become expert food-bag ransackers at one shelter, and a special request from Jay for ear plugs - to be worn when he sleeps in shelters. Sarah will be bringing him some next week. Stay tuned! We'll update as often as we can.

By the way, the weather is still beautiful. It's been 89 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny in Knoxville, but I would say it's a little cooler in the mountains. Nice!