Date: 2014-05-15
From: Glasgow Virginia

To: Brown Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 20.0

The day started out ok in that it hadn't started to rain, but you knew it was only a matter of time it would and when it did it would unleash a down pour. I was still vomiting and Gray Ghost got me a Gatorade which felt pretty good. Now if I could only keep it down. Ken our Trail Angel was there at 715 to pick us up and off we went. I thought I was going to be ok but between Glasgow and the trail head there are 17 very sharp hairpin or s curves that I didn't notice the day before. Yes I counted them because as we went through each one, my stomach got quesier and quesier. When we finally got to the trail head we got our gear out and while Gray Ghost talked to Ken and gave him some money for his time I promptly went over to the bushes and emptied all 16 ounces of that gatorade. At that time Gray Ghost said we could go back and wait another day, but there was no time like the present and I hoisted the ole saddle on my back and headed out. The march up hill was relentless with more stone than I had ever encountered before, but at least had some switch backs. The situation wasn't helped any as the temperature got hotter and stickier as the day progressed. The 2400 foot climb left me feeling like crap but we finally crested the top and made it to Punch Bowl Shelter. Just as we were unloading our packs and I was reading to collapse in a heap the skies opened up. It didn't just pour it poured and poured and poured. Gray Ghost who had my back all day and can't thank him enough suggested that we cut our hike short early and stay here instead of going on. I appreciated the thought but asked him to give me a half hour or so to nap and when I woke up we could decide what to do. About an hour later I heard him calling my name and after some discussion decided if we were going to watch the rain fall me might as well be hiking and watching it. As we hiked the streams continued to fill and where we would normally have crossed stepping on rocks we now had to just ford them by walking through the water and get our feet wet - like they weren't already! We made it to the shelter around 630. I had gotten there first and found it full ( it was technically designed for 6) with 3 late 30's guys and the 3 Duke students we met before. Now the code of the trail is that you always make room for someone especially when the weather is bad. Now as I peered in, trying to indicate a need to have a spot the 3 guys who were section hiking basically sealed me out and gave no quarters. I therefore turned to the students and asked if they could possibly make room and they responded absolutely and when I informed them that Gray Ghost was behind me they remembered him and said they would do what ever it took. Even after this the other 3 guys still made no attempt to help. I ended up sleeping upright behind a pole because of the design of the shelter and had no room for my sleeping pad. Gray Ghost and I spent the next hour talking with the kids about their thoughts and ambitions. Their parents would be proud of them as they had good values and goals. Looking back on the day I still can't believe I made it with the long hike, poor terrain, rain and being sick but as they saying goes, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I firmly believe it was the power of prayer as I did a lot of it that day.