Date: 2014-04-25
From: Lynn Camp Creek Campsite

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: light rain

Day 44- April 25, Lynn Camp Creek Campsite to Jenkins Shelter, 17.9 miles. Happy Birthday to Jim's mother! I'm lucky to have her as a mother- in- law!Today was forecasted to be a rainy day and it was. We were fortunate to be able to pack up this morning before the rain arrived so Jim didn't have to carry a wet tent. Right out of camp we had a steep climb which warmed us up fast! Down and up a couple more times and then we arrived at a gravel road which marked the beginning of our longest climb of the day. The trail went up 2,100 feet in 4.4 miles with the steepest part being the first 2 miles. I just set myself in my low gear and trudged along. After an hour we arrived at an open grassy field which marked the end of the steepest grade. I was really huffing and puffing by this point! We had a bit of rain just before we started this climb but it stopped when we were working our hardest. The trail up continued on a path through a bald until it reached the Chestnut Knob Shelter at the summit. A light rain had returned by the time we reached the shelter. This shelter is unique in that it has 4 walls, a nice metal roof and a door to close out all the elements! We walked in, took off our packs and the skies opened up! Another hiker,Catch Me if You Can (and I did) quickly arrived in the shelter and we were all impressed with this completely enclosed place. There were 4 bunks (each could have slept 2 if the folks were friendly!), and a platform for 4 more to sleep on. There was also a large picnic table which we all put to good use. As the rain poured down, we ate an early lunch and read the shelter register. A short time later, Whiskey Bill arrived and he was soaked and a bit spooked because he heard the rumbling of thunder as he was coming across the bald! The shelter was on a high spot so we all had some cell service. Whiskey Bill brought up the Doppler radar which showed the band of rain we were experiencing along with 2 more bands which had some thunder and lightening with them. Once the first band moved through we decided to move on, along with Catch Me ( he regularly does 30 mile days!). We hiked for about a half hour and then the rain and thunder started. The trail was along a ridge line and I was hoping that the tall trees would protect us from a lightening strike. The storm ended up not going directly over our heads so we were safe. Because there was very little wind our umbrellas worked well. This rain moved through and the sun actually made an appearance for a few minutes! The rain came back again but didn't include the T&L this time. I fell for the first time today and everything still seems to work as well as it was working before I fell. We were coming down from the ridge line and I was sick of walking on all the rocks. I looked ahead and could see the mountainside of large green rocks covering the slope and knowing the trail would have to cross them. I even told Jim that I hated those green rocks! Five minutes later I slipped on one and down I went! I sat there for a moment hoping to find that nothing was broken and that is what I found! Thank goodness! My umbrella took a good hit but it appears that Jim fixed it. Hopefully I won't have any soreness in the morning. I've learned my lesson about bad-mouthing any part of the trail! The 10 miles from Chestnut Knob Shelter to here was on a ridge line and we anticipated that it would be easier walking but it ended up being much tougher. The ups and downs were steep but short and once again it was rocky. Tomorrow we plan to go 23-plus miles and again, it is supposed to be lots of ridge line walking! Stay tuned. I know that I still haven't done my privy report and I haven't forgotten. I do want to tell you that tonight's privy has no walls or a roof! It is basically a toilet over a decked-over pit! Things are always interesting out here!All is well.