04.15.09
Day 5 April 15
18mi Neels Gap –> Blue Mt Shelter
My first 18mi day, legs felt good and strong till the very last mi uphill to Blue Mt. 4029′. Got started early up at 5a and on the trail by 7:30. Very cold overcast 40 and wind gusts to about 40mph. Turned beautiful about noon, by then had already but in 11mi to Low Gap Shelter. Ate lunch and decided since everyone else that stayed in Neels Gap that night would be staying there to push on to Blue Mt Shelter.
Beautiful sunset from the shelter while cooking dinner and meeting three new through hikers. Seems also people this close to the start haven’t chosen trail names yet.