Date: 2016-04-22
From: Stan Murray Shelter

To: US 19E
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

O-25Just before dark last night, I was joined on the trail by Ungawa. And just before arriving at the shelter, we met Beaver who was fixing to camp out for the night in a small cave. At the shelter were the Sandwich Men (Jimmie and John), and another section hiker who had already pitched his tent and retired for the evening. Ungawa decided to pitch his tent nearby and I decided Berk and I would stay in the shelter as there was plenty of space and it was predicted to rain overnight. It wasn't a very comfortable night. THe wind was strong and just blew thru my sleeping bag. I haven't been able to keep my feet warm and last night was especially challenging. And then it started a light rain and the wind blew it into the shelter. I got up and rearranged by ground cloth to act as a cover from the wind. With the exception of Ungawa, we were all up and hiking early. I stopped briefly at the side trail to the Overmountain Shelter. Met ShadowBox and Yukon who were just leaving. They reported a good number of hikers had spent the night there in the barn. It was a comfortable hike to this long, open bald. There it was mostly straight uphill with an 800 and 600' climb and about 3 miles in length. It was heavy overcast, not very scenic and there were several false peaks.   It started raining at one of the false peaks and I put on my rainjacket. I then attempted to put on Berk's rain poncho I made for her earlier. However, I didn't field test my creation and it failed miserably. We hiked on and just as we were getting to the actual peak, there was a loud thunderbumper off in the distance. I couldn't detect any specific storm cell nearby, but Berk doesn't like rain or thunder and I certainly don't like thunder on the ridge. We put it into overdrive and cleared the bald. It started to rain a bit heavier, making the mud quite slippery, as well as the most covered rocks. It was raining quite heavily at Doll Flats, where we crossed the NC border for the last time. I was going to take a photo but it was too wet to expose my iphone. I had made a reservation to stay at Vango Abby Hostel on the recommendation of AstroGuy and last direct contact was for Scottie to pick me up at 19E crossing at 5:00 pm.   That call was made 27 miles back and before a mile elevation climb; and I had thought about sliding that time to at least 6pm and maybe as late as 7 pm. I said I would call to give a better ETA whenever I got a cell signal. But, after a better than expected day Thurs and the quicktime hike off the bald, I was now projecting a 4pm, possibly 3:30 arrival and called that in on a voicemail msg. It rained more and we hiked a bit faster. I tried to update my ETA, but the phone case was too wet to accept any inputs. We arrived at 19E about 2pm. Shaggy and Whiplash had just left. Beaver +2 were looking for a place to stay and told Scottie Berk nd I were here, and Jordy decided to hike on N. Scottie picked us up and took us to the hostel. Scotie is a self proclaimed hillbilly, and I like hillbillies. I hward piano music when we arrived at the hostel. Lt Dan was there playing beautifully. Scottie played later as well. We talked about space work in the Florida and I was assigned the most comfortable "Astronaut" private room, which Berk heartily approved. Took a nice hot shower and washed my clothes. Got a pizza for dinner and another pint of B&J for dessert. Joker and Outback were late arrivals. ts late and I'm ready for bedLife is Good!