First resupply and stay in the hostel (day 4)

I left my tent before dawn at Jarrard Gap Shelter. After packing my gear and untying my Ursack, I headed to Blood Mountain without breakfast or coffee. I was almost out of food and wanted to get to Mountain Crossings at Neel Gap before the heavy rain started.

Fog and rain on Blood Mountain

The hike up Blood Mountain was intense, but I noticed that the climbs are getting easier with each passing day. The top of the mountain had some great viewpoints, but the fog was so thick there was no view. It was pouring rain for almost the entire five-mile hike from camp. The weather was bad and as I made my way down the mountain I would occasionally lose the trail and have to backtrack to make sure I was still following the white blazes.

Gluten-free pizza! My God!

The moment I walked in the door at Mountain Crossings, I bought a Cherry Coke. It was exactly what I needed. When the guy at the counter asked if I also wanted a frozen pizza, as this replenishment is famous for, I prepared myself for disappointment when I told him I had to follow a gluten-free (celiac) diet. To my delight, not only did they have gluten-free pizzas in stock, but they even offered to cook mine in foil and use a clean pizza cutter to keep everything safe. I couldn’t be more grateful for the kindness and accommodation of these strangers.

My first stay in a hostel

Due to the weather, I decided to reserve a spot in the bunkhouse at the lodge attached to the Mountain Crossings outfitter. After buying food for the next four days, I packed everything up and headed next door. It was a relief to escape inside what had gone from a torrential rain to a downpour. Upon entering, I was finally able to wash my smelly hiking clothes and take my first hot shower in five days.

The rest of the afternoon was spent hanging out with the other hikers who were also staying in the hostel bunkhouse. We played card games for which we made rules, ate snacks, and watched the first few minutes of the NCAA Men’s Final Four (before the network interrupted us). We lay down for the night in a warm room filled with small bunk beds, while it was pouring rain outside. Something that would not have seemed like a luxury just a few days before.

Injury tracker

My hip seems completely better. My right Achilles tendon is still sore, but it seems to be getting better after a day of rest!

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