Date: 2015-04-19
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Craig Creek Road
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: moderate rain

Today was quite a surreal day. It started off fairly normal, though a bit dreary. There was no sign of a sunrise, just overcast clouds. Still, it wasn't too cold and I set off about 7.30am with the aim of doing 22 miles. Within 10 minutes of leaving the shelter, I slipped on a rock crossing a fast flowing creek and dunked my right foot in the river. I was very lucky that I didn't fall completely in. It was very cold and a very unpleasant way to start the day. Later on, I stepped in a spring and drenched my left foot too. I will definitely be investing in waterproof socks at the next opportunity. The trail headed out of the woods and into some fields. I had the forever unnerving experience of being watched by cows again, whilst I saw the second largest oak tree on the trail. It's over 300 years old and quite impressive. Then back into the woods for a steep climb.The rain started as I reached the ridgeline. It started with drizzle that quickly became very heavy. I walked half a mile down steep switchbacks to the next shelter to put on my rain gear. When I was walking back up, I was passed by Laughtrack, Bandit, and Frodo. The rain was really pouring then. The ridgeline continued for what seemed like forever. Whilst I'm sure it is quite lovely on a dry and clear day, today it was nightmarish. The trail goes along large rocks that are slanted at a steep angle. One side is a cliff edge, and the other is a steep slope. The rocks are extremely slippery in the rain, and I fell repeatedly, and slid down the slope. On one occasion, I fell and came extremely close to smashing my head into the rocks. With the wind blowing and the rain coming down hard, I was genuinely worried that I would injure myself and probably die from exposure. Eventually, the trail returned to the woods. I was grateful, as it was even going on a nice downhill. Though again, it was very slippery and the trail was a stream or bog in many places. I was so glad to be off the ridgeline rocks though. I reached the second shelter about 12.30, and I would normally have stopped for lunch. Bandit was already there, and told me that Fresh Ground was a mile and a half ahead. So, I used the privy (which was very fancy, it even had a coat peg), and set off into the rain again. Sure enough, I saw Fresh Ground's tarp set up not too long after. Most of the others were already there enjoying lunch. I had an enormous amount of food, as would be expected.Fresh Ground took me on a brief ride to the convenience store (which was a petrol station). He needed to buy salt (and some drinks), and I wanted to try to call Brightside. When I had no signal, he let me borrow his phone to leave her a voicemail. Later, Fresh Ground revealed to us some new entertainment. We played Uno for a while until dinner. Laughtrack and Chef presented him with a couple presents, since his birthday is next week, which he really enjoyed. After dinner, he made popcorn on his drove and we watched a movie on his laptop. So, on a Sunday evening in the pouring rain, off a random mountainside in Virginia, the seven of us sat under a tarp and watched Talladega Nights. When it finished, I set up my stuff in Fresh Ground's people carrier and now I'm laying in the back, wondering if today really happened. I don't think I will ever be able to experience what happened today on the AT ever again.I desperately hope that tomorrow will be dry and also that my shoes will magically dry over night too.