Date: 2005-04-28
From: Greasy Creek Gap

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 48I slept in the house last night on the couch. The Edmundson's have a wood stove and he really had it going. It was so warm I could hardly breathe--but I was warmer than I was in the bunkhouse since it had no heat at all. Everyone was up early and I was out and on the trail to the AT at 7:30a.m. The trail is not marked as to how to get back so I had to keep looking back for green paint on a tree. I turned the wrong way at a turn where there was an arrow showing how to get to the hostel but the arrow was on each side of the tree and I didn't know it. I thought I would turn to the right if the arrow is seen from that way. I found my mistake when a couple of hikers were hiking up from the hostel and I was doubling right back onto the trail. Well, when they got to the arrow they made the same mistake. When Hairball went back to the tree he saw that the arrow could be seen from both ways so we got off in the right direction. Thank goodness, the AT has white blazes on trees, posts, or rocks to show the way.The day starting at the hostel was cold with frost, but there was no wind. When I climbed higher it was still cold and soon the wind started blowing in some places where it was not blocked by trees, or other mountains. The day was actually nice with sunshine. And the climb to Roan was not as bad as I had thought. But once on top it darkened and started snowing. And it snowed for a good ways down, then it turned to sleet and rain. I walked right on past the shelter just down from the mountain and also the next one because I wanted to make it to Overmountain Shelter which is a barn with a loft. The wood slats on the side have some wide cracks and one end has a big opening that wind can blow through, and blow through it did. There are cracks between the floor boards also, and the wind whipped in from the lower level and blew right up through. I was wet--especially my feet since I am wearing the Trailrunners. The trail turned to a muddy mess and I fell twice. No damage done, though. I found out later that Gypsy Lulu fell 4 times but she was hiking a bit faster which is sure to raise the number of falls. SOOOO--now I have fallen a total of 7 times, I think.When I got to the shelter I did not even get water. The spring was 0.1 mile back toward the trail--I had passed it on the way to the shelter---0.3 mile off the trail. I'll have to get it in the morning. For supper it was a tortilla shell smeared with peanut butter with my finger since the knife was up in the loft in my pack. Oh, well, I think my hands were not too dirty since they were wet under my gloves all afternoon. Also, I had a Snickers bar. I did not even brush my teeth.I forgot to write that while I was at Greasy Creek Friendly, along with my mail drop that we had sent, was another card from Janet with a note written inside. She is my personal cheerleader. It was such a lovely note and as I read it I got tears in my eyes. I then read it to C.C. and she, too, got tears in her eyes. Wow! I am so lucky to have someone telling me, "Don't Quit!" or I'll regret it.Well, we all hope the rain will be gone tomorrow. From Overmountain House Shelter--Good night.