Date: 2006-04-19
From: Icewater Springs Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: overcast clouds

We started hiking along the ridgeline around 9:30 this morning and about 15 minutes into our hike, the bottom dropped out. We knew we were about to get some rain, but we did not expect the amount or the power of the storm we would soon be hiking in. It was very foggy as we were hiking through the middle of a cloud, and soon it began thundering, lightning, raining, and hailing. The winds were so powerful that it was a struggle to stay on our feet. Not only were we hiking through one cloud, but we were now hiking amongst several clouds that had collided and were experiencing the rage of its storm. The temperature which had started out around 65 or 70 degrees just minutes before, had now dropped at least 20 degrees and we were soaking wet. Between the fog, wind, hail, and rain, it was only possible to see about 30 feet in front of you at one time. M and M size pieces of hail were pelting us from the left side and I was struggling to stay on my feet. I just happened to look up at just the right time to see a gust of wind blow in and knock Larry off his feet. The next thing I knew we were diving under the tree branches down below to our right, in an attempt to seek a little protection from Mother Natures fury. It was almost like we were in a war and were diving for cover. We squatted there under some trees and branches for about 5 minutes, but what seemed like an eternity. We had to make a decision. Do we wait the storm out? Do we continue on in order to stay warm? Do we backtrack to the last shelter? Just then, we saw two figures struggling along on the trail. Are they making the right decision? As soon as they past, we made our decision to keep going through the storm. We were able to fight the wind and crawl back up to trail just as Mouse and Salt arrived. After some doubts, the four of us pressed on and kept hiking through the storm. In a situation like that, you almost have to throw commen sense out the window. Normally we wouldn't have even been out in a storm like that. But, when there's no other place to go, you must keep going in order to stay warm and to not become a sitting duck. For the next hour or so the storm continued. We were soaked, cold, and nothing we owned was dry. But, we kept going. The motivation? Stay warm and get to the next sheleter ASAP. The storm passed, but the rest of the day was cooler with off and on rain showers. It was miserable going through it at the time, but we survived. Storms are so powerful, but the grace of God is even more so! As the storm passed, we stopped for lunch and the sun came out for a little while. It was just enough for us to dry out a few of our socks and sleeping bags as we ate lunch and rested our soggy feet. We had a 5 mile hike through the fog and a little sunshine to the next shelter and we made it there by 7:15- just in time to eat and go to bed. There were several parallels on the day. God continues to be faithful. He has blessed us with great weather up to this point, and he continues to bless us through the storms. It was miserable and tough going through it, but He brought us through safely. He faithfully blessed the rest of the day with drier weather and provided us with a campsite. Just as in any storms or problems in life, God continues to be faithful and will bring us through those rough times. He does something in us then, and we become better because of it. We tend to appreciate the good things in life that much more and we learn to rely and trust in Him when things are out of our control. On the trail today, we literally had no place to go during that storm. I just prayed that God would protect all of us, and give us the wisdom to make good decisions when it wasn't always clear or easy. He answered that prayer today! He does everyday! Whether it's out here or back home, whatever the situation or circumstance He is Faithful!