Date: 2006-07-18
From: Gorham

To: Trident Col Tentsite
Miles today: 6.9

Platform #3. I am in the midst of a massive thunderstorm as I write. Thunder rolling overhead, lightening flashing and a solid sheet of water pouring down out of the heavens. But I am dry, warm and safe and thankful for my Akto Tent and the wise design of Hilliberg the Tentmaker and also a hot cup of Maxwell House Coffee ¢ so what is wrong with the last drop? I started out the day with a Burger King sourdough breakfast and a taxi ride ¢ promptly arriving ¢ back to the Rattle River Trail head. So I was off and hiking by 7:15AM on a muggy morning with ¢ correctly ¢ predicted severe thunderstorms in the afternoon. After a short hike west on Route 2, the trail follows the North Road over the railroad tracks and past the hydroelectric station. It soon departs from Hogan Road and begins a long but generally well-graded ascent up to Mount Hayes. As I labored upward, the heat and the humidity began to build and I took advantage of a small ephemeral stream to grab an extra liter of water for the ascent. It grew progressively hotter and hotter and more and more humid as I labored ever upward, being passed by a flurry of young NOBO fast hikers, leaving me with blurred impressions of full bearded youthful faces, small packs, and flashing lean legs, all glimpsed through a sweat filled glance. At the top of Mount Hayes I got a cell signal and left a message for KT, and at Cascade Mountain spoke with her and my son Dominic. At the top of Mount Hayes I met with Low Clearance, SOBO section hiker who is from Okalahoma, and was finishing his section today at Gorham. Then it was down and up Cascade Mountain on progressively more difficult terrain and with looming thunderheads drawing closer and closer. By the summit of Cascade Mountain I was in the rain, and it got progressively worse. I met with Dreamer, SOBO thru hiking, who I had met with briefly in the Post Office yesterday. About my age and with a similar white beard, he was hiking without his shirt and had strong concerns about the storm. So did I, but there was no way off of the ridge and we were still in the trees, so I felt that it was just as well to labor on, and not to sit still crouched over in the rainstorm and invite hypothermia. You pays your money and you makes your choices and you takes your chances! There were a series of storm cells moving through, with brief intermissions between each. I was lucky enough to arrive here during an intermission ¢ and surprised to find a maintenance worker calmly chopping down a tree at site #2. I was able to get water and get the tent up before the next cell moved on in. So here I am, the tent is just great and I have good room in the vestibule. I had hung out all of my wet hiking gear on the bear line to try to dry it out, but the rain came so suddenly that I had no chance to recover it. So it is still out there getting an unexpected washing in the thunderstorm. I was able to cook up a mess of coffee in the vestibule without any problems and had an enjoyable time sipping my coffee in my little tent as the storm passed over me. See! ¢ The rain has stopped again ¢ as this cell has also passed over. I have opened up the tent, but am well content to sit in here and contemplate my hiking gear dripping on the bear line. Maybe the gear will get a little dry after all! I feel good in general ¢ my left knee is bothering me some. I hyper extended it coming down The Carters and it is beginning to bother me again. Hopefully a short day today and tomorrow will help. I plan on cooking dinner later.Thought for Today ¢ Violence is not the answer ¢ No matter what the question