Date: 2017-10-07
From: Rector Laurel Road

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: broken clouds

The sign at the first trailhead I passed this morning must have been up for less than an hour. Freshly laminated and stapled to a tree, it was blunt and clear. Hurricane Nate is coming. ¢Weather Advisory. The Hurricane Nate front could potentially bring significant weather along the Appalachian Trail¢¦We do not encourage travel in these conditions¢¦predicted to begin¢¦ on Saturday evening, October 7.¢That¢s tonight.It was about then that I decided to try for the Spring Mountain Shelter. That would mean a 25.6-mile day, my longest one on the AT so far.Once again we are water challenged. Two piped springs were dry. I had started out from Rector Laurel Road with over 2 liters and didn¢t refill till lunch after 17 miles, at Little Laurel Shelter. I won¢t show you the bone-dry pipes, but here is a photo of the trickle from a spring, funneling onto a leaf and into my bottle.  http://www.trailjournals.com/j...Mid-morning I came to a sign and a fight broke out between my mature and immature sides. That little angel on my shoulder argued with the pitchfork-wielding devil on the other. Princesses, what would you have done? Should my parents send me to my room, or just laugh? I couldn¢t help this.  http://www.trailjournals.com/j...Just before my lunch break there was a ridgeline stretch like back in Rocksylvania. The guidebook warned it was ¢rocky and strenuous.¢ But unlike up north, down here there was a 1.5-mile bypass. I took the genuine AT and here¢s a photo:  http://www.trailjournals.com/j...At my official lunch after 17 miles ¢ how else will I make 25 miles today? ¢ I ran into Hootenanny and Two-Stroke, section hikers who were going to close out the day here to ensure they stay out of the rain. http://www.trailjournals.com/j... Fun folk. She¢s Two-Stroke because it takes two of her strides to equal one of his. He¢s a minister and when I left, he asked if he could say a blessing for my hike. We both surprised ourselves by being very moved by the moment. (Translation: I shed a few tears.)All day the winds of change blew and clouds scudded across the sky. A good number of times I reached a hand out to feel if drops were falling yet. We had significant climbs, but the steepest were the last two heading up to Spring Mountain Shelter. As dusk was nigh upon me, I walked up to headlights and an already coal-lit campfire. ¢Scout! I thought you might make it!¢ said Dot.  The three of them gave congrats for a big day.They and two weekenders already had the shelter filled, so I set up my tent nearby. I was extra careful as rain was due anytime. (Frodo: the sixth spot was taken up by a DOG! In light of the expected extreme weather, I¢m a bit ticked that the weekenders didn¢t move the dog up by their heads or something, to make room for a pooped-out gray-haired thru-hiker! Twerps!)We are now only 11 miles from the village of Hot Springs. It¢s almost an official Nearo.  (Frodo: A nearo is generally a <10-mile day.) I may have to pack my tent up wet, but should be able to dry it out in a hostel tomorrow.Everyone is talking about Nate. ¢Should we stay in town on Monday, too?¢ Frodo¢s brother sent an email: ¢Be careful.¢ One forecast is for rain Sunday through Thursday.Right now I am dry, fed, and in my tent. We will see. Nite.