LAnimeL

We waited for the storm (tornado watch & SEREVE thunderstorm warning) to blow over Monday night, since we saw that it was coming earlier that week. Kathy (mother) called Neels Gap and they suggested if you can't make it to a shelter; don't go out. Don't tent because of the possibility of falling trees from the high wind- meaning that we left on Tuesday. We hiked to the top of Rocky Mountain- going up, the wind was awful- and camped literally on the top. Other than the wind- which when I was setting up the tent threatened to blow the entire thing away causing Kathy to have to stand on the fly, tent and footprint to prevent that- it was a good

We restocked in Helen and got back on the trail for what was supposed to be 2-3 nights. We had to be out of the woods before Saturday- because it was supposed to be Scattered-Thunderstorms that day. After getting dropped off at a gap I have never been able to pronounce correctly (Tesnatee Gap) we walked through Hogpen and met our first trail angel who, gave us these really good Oatmeal Creme Pies as well as refilled our water, gave my mother some chocolate mints and 2 oranges. We stayed a little past Poor Mtn. My mother's knees weren't fairing very well so we decided to stay at Low Gap Shelter... despite now having to walk or stay somewhere i

OH MY GAWD!!!!! *runs around frantically* A-hem! Sorry. Let me start over (wherever that would be). We have been on and off the trail for multiple problems that just keep popping up it seems. Mother's boots were too small- she'll be losing her big toe nails, I felt sick for a day, her knees aren't doing to well after Blood Mtn. AH! BLOOD MOUNTAIN! THE HORROR!! We got back on at Jarrad Gap and walked some 2.2 miles to Slaughter Creek (isn't THAT a nice name for the place you camp at?)- which is also the last water source until Neels Gap (where my mother got new boots). We arrived at around 3:30pm, and we rested for a bit. It was supposed to