Date: 2015-06-04
From: Spy Rock Campsite

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

Today might very well end up in the top ten of 'miserable days on the trail'. It was basically a repeat of yesterday, but it was worse because it was the second day in a row hiking in the rain all day. I am currently sitting in my tent procrastinating on brushing teeth and hanging the food bag, because it means going out in the rain again. And I'd have to take off my dry clothes and put on the wet ones, or at least the wet rain jacket, to do it because I can't risk getting my dry clothes wet. That way lies hypothermia. This weather actually reminds me of summers in Holland. Or England, take your pick. It's the end of the school year and there are trips and camps and all sorts of extra curricular activities that very well could end up taking place in the rain. What it definitely does not remind me of is June in Virginia. It is true that spring can be changeable and iffy sometimes, but by June we are more worried about thunder storms than soaking rain and fifty degrees! Gardens across Virginia must be flourishing but of course nobody will see it in this miserable weather. Have I mentioned the weather is miserable at the moment?I don't know if it rained all night but it was raining when I woke up and this was the first time in a long time that I had trouble getting out of my sleeping bag. Of course it was also the first time in a long time that I was actually in my sleeping bag, rather than just using it as a quilt as needed. In June! In Virginia! It's just not right.I did finally get up and got all the morning chores done but I don't know what time I finally left camp. Later than normal.There was a little bump and them a big-ish climb up the Priest. The Priest is on some sort of list of hardest climbs on the AT, but I think that must be if you go southbound only. Northbound it was nothing special. It's supposed to have great views but today was a strict no-view day. I stopped at the shelter there for my first lunch: tortilla with tuna and mayonnaise. In the rain. Eaten quickly because I just got cold sitting there. I do think it was a tiny bit warmer today than yesterday though.After the shelter was a very long descent, which would be hard climb for southbounders, all the way down to the Tye River. You cross the river by suspension bridge, which I always think is cool. The river naturally is at the low point, so I immediately had to climb again (1000ft) then descend again (300 ft) them climb a little bit (100 ft, that doesn't even count) to get to Harpers Creek shelter for my second lunch (same as first). Right as I arrived, it started raining again so again I didn't sit around and left fairly quickly. This was the shelter that I had stayed at during my last practice hike. The creek was still flowing strongly but the level was significantly lower than in March. I also remembered that I came down Three Ridges to the shelter and now I was to go up, 2200 ft. I remember thinking back then that that was going to be a bear, but it wasn't too bad. Rocky but mostly not steep. It may even have been easier to go up than down some of the rocks. It did take me forever though but thankfully the rain had stopped for the majority of the climb and I was able to take off the rain suit. Three Ridges normally also has several great views but at least I had seen all these in March (when I had great weather).After the summit it was another three miles to Maupin Field shelter and per tradition, these were the longest miles ever. And it was now raining again, so when I did finally get here, I had to set up camp in the rain. I decided not to try to cook and ate all manner of stuff from the food bag that doesn't require cooking. A hodgepodge, for sure!My feet look very sad, all white and wrinkled. I don't have any dry socks either, so they'll just get more white and wrinkled tomorrow morning. Plus, dry socks would only stay dry until I put my waterlogged shoes on, anyway. In case I haven't mentioned it, the weather is miserable! . It was bound to happen sooner or later and so far I had been very lucky. But I wouldn't mind a little reprieve now, please and thank you.Tomorrow thankfully is just a short day of 6.5 miles until I meet Gary at Dripping Rock, woohoo! (Though now that I think about it, all rocks are currently dripping!). Yoda sent me a picture of the terrain and it looks rocky. But it's only 6.5 miles, so who cares!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?