Date: 2005-04-16
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

8:15 pmIt¢s not dark yet and it¢s already very cold and the temperature is dropping very fast. I¢ve been watching the thermometer ever since about 5 o¢clock. It has gone from 52 degrees to 37.3 according to the thermometer. Last night was right around freezing at the other shelter we were at, inside the tent it was about 37. It¢s going to be well below freezing tonight without a doubt. I went and told everyone in the shelter about the temperature and told them to sleep with their water and water filter inside their sleeping bag.   Water filters, especially if it¢s a hard filter, they can crack when they freeze.Today was a very physical day with a lot of steep up and downs, and a lot of bumps. You know you¢re in the Smoky mountains, you see them everywhere. A lot of great views, Rocky Top Mountain is an awesome view with a 270degree view with the mountain you go climbing over blocking the other section, but very beautiful. There were a lot of changes in elevation from the 4,000's to 5,500 feet a couple of times today. I ended at about 5,500.   It was like being on a yo-yo. All those multiple ups and downs are a lot more tiring. We got into Double Springs Shelter at about 3:45 and I immediately took off my 2 shirts and washed them in my water bag and hung them out to dry. I actually walked around with no shirt on, the sun was bright and hot enough to run around for a while with no shirt. Probably around the 50's. I set up my tent, filtered some water and got everything ready. I started worrying about Eddie because he¢s usually ahead of me or just minutes behind me. I expected him to be right behind me.   I waited at the last shelter for him and decided to go ahead because I wanted to make sure I had enough sunlight left to dry my shirts. At 4:30, he still hadn¢t gotten in, and I really started worrying about him. I sat down looking at the clock I decided that if he didn¢t walk in by 5 o¢clock, I would leave my stuff here and go looking for him.   He walked in a few minutes before 5 o¢clock and immediately told me that he decided he¢s going to go on. It¢s just as well. He¢s pushing over to Clingmans Dome tonight which means that it¢ll be dark . It¢s at 6,600 feet, so it¢ll be well below freezing as he gets there. I hope he¢s OK with it. What it comes down to is that he and I have different hiking goals for the Smokies.   They aren¢t compatible.   He has to go hike his hike and I¢ll hike mine. He feels he needs to be home by Tuesday afternoon and run fast enough in order to get back home in time. My goal is to get to Maine. I have too much invested in this to change plans or risk injury, so I wish him good luck. That¢s it for the evening. I¢ll be in the Smokies for 2 more days. I¢ll probably get into Standing Bear Farm 4-5 hours after he does. I have a mail drop there, but that¢s a couple of days away. When I first showed up at the shelter, it was just me and a few other people, then more showed up. Sam I Am, Origami, Au Ma and Au Pa and Ray have all caught up. There¢s a couple of weekend hikers, too. There¢s a whole bunch of tents set up here. It¢s not dark yet but I¢m already freezing!