Date: 2016-02-26
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 19.8

The morning wake-up was early because it was around 20 degrees. Everyone in the shelter was ready to hike and put this challenging night behind us. First transition was into hiking pants from my wool long johns and wind pants to the underwear and convertible pants that were worn yesterday. I slept on top of both in addition to sleeping on top of yesterday's socks so that my body's heat would dry them out. I was pleasantly surprised that they were pretty dry. Next was to put on my hiking shoes. Fortunately, I had remembered last night to expand the laces to make it easier to put on my hiking shoes. Unfortunately, my hiking boots were frozen solid. I began wedging my warm foot into each shoe. Little by little my feet were pushed in and 15 minutes later I was standing upright. Shirts and clothing to be worn above my waist were already on as part of the layered effort to try to stay warm during the night. My thinsulate gloves were on the wet side but my fingers were functionally working. My seat in the privy was surprisingly warm - I know that's kind of gross but it was my first sensation of warmth since around noon yesterday. Washing my hands was a real ice water experience that lasted too long for my liking. Went out to find my bear bag and was happy to see it hanging where I'd left it. The loud thud I'd heard in the middle of the night turned out to be Tyler hitting his head in the shelter. I thought the gusting winds had brought my food bag to the ground but that wasn't the case. After unwrapping my parachord line from the tree's trunk I yanked the line to have my bear bag descend. Nothing moved. My mind raced as I thought what would need to be done if my bear bag line had frozen to the tree limb. Then it raced to the ribbing I'd take by my shelter's companions. Fortunately this "oh not again" moment ended and I quickly retreated to the "warmth" of the shelters where everyone was up and about trying to do what they could to get going since standing there idly just led to being cold after emerging from the down sleeping bags or quilts that helped us survive the night. A number of us, me included, have learned that our sleeping bag's temperature rating means the temperature to keep you alive, not the temperature to keep you comfortable. I use a 0 degree quilt and I needed that temperature rating last night. The hike up Standing Indian Mountain went quickly. I scurried up the blue blaze trail to catch views from the summit but found a pervasive mist last seen at Tray Mountain. Snow on the trail was 2 - 3 inches deep but the summit had drifts of 8-10 inches that resulted in some refreshed hing sensations well above my ankles. Then it became delightful. There is almost a 6 mile descent from Standing Indian Mountain to Coleman Gap. There were no roots or rocks to pick my way through because the snow seemed to smooth them. All I could think of was the scene in which Frosty the Snowman glides up and down hillsides. This was fast and easy hiking. Yesterday's puddles of ice-cold slush and mud were frozen and easy to slide across.Subman described Albert Mountain's ascent as being technical. My notes from Chin Music's 2013 hike indicated this was hard and steep. Both were right. The 1.7 mile ascent had some flat moments but it was pretty much up in a hard, but manageable, way until Mooney Gap. Mooney Gap is three-tenths of a mile to the summit and it had multiple moments of rock climbing and pulling yourself carefully up. With my fear of ledges, I was pleasantly surprised to not find anything in this climb to cause me concern. The views near the top and at the top were spectacular. Subman has hiked this a half dozen times and said he's never had such views. I climbed the 4-story weather tower that provided 360 degree views, but the tower itself was locked. I know I am behind on loading photos but I'll try to get them loaded tonight. I think they'll be worth a look as I know my mouth was wide open as I took in the views. Some say your mind is your most important piece of gear as you hike. This piece of gear really let me down when I unintentionally hiked past Subman and Suds as they took a break at Carter Gap. Fortunately this gear rebounded and I remembered that Trail Chef was monitoring Subman and Suds via their Spot device, a GPS tracking device, that indicates where the owner is located. Trail Chef answered my call and told me that Subman and Suds were climbing Albert Mountain so I waited at the top to discuss our end of day options. It was something past 3:00 so we had 3 hours of daylight. A shelter was nearby and a pick up spot Trail Chef could meet us at was 6 miles ahead. Most of the trail was a descent except for one climb. Having already hiked 13 miles today, and we'd already hiked enough mileage to call it a day - but tonight's temperature was to be in the low 20's and we'd just done that last night. Suds was the decider and she opted for the warmth of Trail Chef's home so off we went racing the sun.We passed Rock Gap Shelter around 6:30 and near the end of this day's hike. Trail Chef had told me what happened there last night but seeing it myself was eye-opening. Just as three hikers in the shelter finished eating and burrowed in sleeping bags for the night, a very large tree fell and demolished the patio structure they had vacated just a few minutes ago. Happily, these hikers were all safe. Can you imagine their story?Trail Chef picked us up as the sun went down. After a quick shower, we had one of Trail Chef's scrumptious dinners and Judy hadn't left yet to visit her daughter and granddaughter so we enjoyed her company too.The summit of Albert Mountain is AT mile 100.1. Pretty happy to have reached that milestone. Now I want to repeat those miles and these experiences with these wonderful AT hikers almost another 21 times.