[at-l] 8 More Years!!!

[Felix J]

Where was I? 8 years ago...Tuesday? Yes, let's say Tuesday. "Tuesday"...


Pittsburgh dropped me off in Dick's Creek Gap. It was raining or 
sleeting most of the day. I had to get on my hands and knees and crawl 
across the summit of Tray Mountain. I believe I was in Sassafras Gap 
when I took this picture (http://Felixhikes.tripod.com/AT/frozface.jpg)

My eyelashes were covered in ice.  I trudged on in the muck. I got to 
Unicoi and was glad to find my buddy Pittsburgh there. I wasn't certain 
he would be there. We went to Helen for more showers and pizza.

The next day (January 3rd) was just cold and no rain. I cruised along 
pretty good.  I stopped at Blue Mt. Shelter and talked to three kids 
from Alabama. I said "Ain't 'Got You Where I Want You' a great song?" 
One of the kids said "Hey, I saw them in concert New Year's Eve." I 
thought that was cool. The more we talked, the more I found out about 
them. I actually have met their grandmother. she lives in Bloomington. 
Small world, of course.

I hiked on. When I got to Hogpen Gap parking lot, a man there asked me 
if I was 'going camping'. I said "Yup. Couple more days anyway." The 
Trail was covered in chunks of ice for several miles through this 
stretch. I had this picture taken on Cowrock Mtn 
(http://Felixhikes.tripod.com/AT/cowrock.jpg) It was about

5:05 when I got to Neel's Gap. The store was closed. I looked in and 
somebody came over and opened the door. There were three people inside 
counting money and prepping the store for closing. They let me warm up 
and drink coffee. It was FREEZING out. My beard thawed. They gave me a 
can of pop. I started up Blood Mt. right at dusk. There were people, and 
fires, all over the rocky summit of Blood Mt. I was listening to the 
Packers/Niners game on the radio and didn't even stop at the shelter. 
Did I mention that it was cold?

I got to the shelter turn-off for Woodshole. I almost passed it because
there wasn't a sign for southbounders >:-|   I walked for what seemed
like miles down the blue-blaze. I stopped two times and nearly turned 
around.  When I got to the shelter, I was amazed to find two other 
bodies inside. One was awake. We talked a bit as I was setting up for 
the night. Did I mention it was freezing? I asked if they were just out 
for the weekend. The guy I was talking to said "Naaah. We're 
thruhikers." "Northbounders?" I asked. "No."  "Who the hell are you?" I 
asked, thinking that all the southbounders ahead of me were long gone.

"I'm QP. That's Windbraker."  "No F***ing way. I've been following you 
guys for 5 months." We had a nice chat that night. I felt like they were 
my long-lost brothers. (I knew that they weren't, however, because my 
long-lost brothers are both in prison) It got down to 5º or less that 
night. 5º is cold.  That, my friends, brings us to a 8 years ago today.

Eight years ago this morning brought me the most excruciating pain of 
the 5 month journey. I had left my boots out over night. They were frozen.

They were frozen. It took 12 minutes to put them on. Then, there was the 
trip to the privy (stainless-steel-seated privy). It was about 16 
minutes of physical inactivity. My feet were frozen. It took over an 
hour to get the circulation going enough to warm my feet again. They 
hurt so bad that my stomach hurt. Somewhere in that first mile and a 
half, I passed Tank. He was definitely struggling. He said that I was 
right about a lot of the weight he was carrying. I told him to make it 
to Neel's and have Jeff go through it. I hiked most of the day 
leapfrogging with QP and WB. I liked them and liked having someone 
around for a change. Especially someone who was excited about the same 
thing that I was excited about. We spent the night, 8 years ago tonight, 
together at a fridged Hawk Mt. Shelter. I couldn't find the spring.

Again, it was 5º or less. This time, my boots were in my bag.
(Footnote: QP's pee bottle from Woodshole S. froze and he had to carry  
a bottle of frozen urine all day. We laffed. Well, not QP) Something I 
shant forget about that night at Hawk Mt. is this:

The Tennessee Volunteers were playing for the national championship. QP 
and WB are from the Knoxville area. They both had walkmans and were 
listening to the game. QP's radio wouldn't pick it up.

So, WB broke his headphones and gave one earpiece to QP. They snuggled 
up together and cheered as I slept, dreaming of the next day...

-- 
Felix J. McGillicuddy
ME-->GA '98
"Your Move"
ALT '03 KT '03
http://Felixhikes.tripod.com/