Blood Mountain – Fox’s AT Thru Hike – Day 4

I ate a TON yesterday and honestly, I felt great. I plan to stay in Baggs Creek tonight at 35.5. I must resist the temptation to take out two more runners over 16 miles at Hiawassee and give my body time to adjust.

The anecdotal accounts I remember present Blood Mountain as a major obstacle, perhaps the most difficult yet. A tree full of shoes bears witness to all those who quit at Neel’s Gap. But I wonder, is it just because this is the first convenient place to bail? Blood Mountain is challenging, but it didn’t stand out as being so dramatically harder than the previous three days. Certainly that first day was hardest for me. So don’t let the stories intimidate you.

I stopped at Neel’s gap. Cell service was sufficient to handle a call home. Mountain Crossing has a reputation for being overpriced, which I didn’t see either. Freeze dried meals were almost common and junk food was okay…junk food prices. Everything seemed fair and there was free charging and toilets. I offered them some business and in exchange I had aoda, crispy biscuits and chips for lunch. I used their scale to weigh my food. 5.8 should get me to the next stop, maybe.

Be careful at the road junction at Neel’s Gap, it is very busy.

• Breakfast: oatmeal
• Lunch: Coca Cola, crust removed, French fries
• Dinner: Ramen
• Snack: fig bar, walnut
• Met Today: Odd Couple
• Days without ramen bomb: 4

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