Date: 2003-05-07
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

start Clyde Smith Shelterdestination Overmountain ShelterI was awaken early this morning by the sound of thunder.When I went to sleeplast night the moon was shining and the stars were out in all of theirbrightness.It was 4:45 am.I made a mad dash to find a tree to water before therain set in,then I dove back into my sleeping bag and went back to sleep.Thenext time I woke up,it had quit raining.I fixed breakfast sitting inside my tentdoor.Oatmeal and a bagel with peanut butter.Again! Everything was wet and Itried my best to dry the outside of my tent before I packed it up.Wet tents tendto be real heavy. I put my raingear on knowing that in a few minutes I would be too hot to keepit on.Most of the moisture came from the residule rain left on the trees.Thewind however was fierce and gutsy.The first obstacle of the day was getting upRoan Mtn.It is at 6000 ft.The highest place on the southern part of the trail.Itwill be New Hampshhire before we climb this high again.Today New Hampshire seemsa long ways off.It takes me 90 minutes to reach the top of Roan Mtn.. The trailis a relatively level trail for a few minutes.Then there is another cruel joke.Iread the data book and there is a parking lot at the top of Roan Mtn.I haven'tseen a parking lot yet. The trail begins to go up again.For another 30 minutes Iclimb.It is slow,painful,slippery and never ending.I know the trail is just training me for harder climbs up ahead,but I am pooped already. The sun finally decides to show it's face off and on for a pitifully few shorttimes.But I am really beginning to enjoy the rain and mist on my face.I come upwith several good bumper stickers while I am huffing up the mountain."A bad dayon the trail,beats a good day at work."or how about this one "A pair of socksand hiking boots beats pantyhose and high heels any day" I get to the top,finally, and lay all my food stuff out in the sun on a warmrock to dry.That is another puzzelment to me.How come my food is all wet,when itis in a waterproof bag?Don't even get me started.I eat lunch,taking a longerbreak than usual.It feels good to feel the heat from the sun.The sun almost getmy shirt and shorts dry. The rest of the day is spent fighting to keep both my hiking poles and myboots from the mud monster that threatens with every step to devour them.It istedious and slow.I am not going to make near the miles that I had hoped,and I amdisappointed. I come to a road crossing and there is some trail magic in the form of colddrinks and nutty buddy bars.After munching down those ,my spirit is somewhatbetter.I hike on and on and on.Big black ominous clouds begin to follow me,and Iknow I have to cut my day short. I take the blue blaze trail to the Overmountain Shelter several miles short ofmy goal.When the shelter comes in view however,I am glad I had to stop.Thisshelter is said to be the prettiest one on the trail.So far it has the mostbeautiful view.It is an old two story barn that has been renovated forhikers.There is already a crowd,and before dark there are 18 hikers here.Thestorm has not produced any rain,but plenty of strong winds that make this barncreak and groan.I am upstairs determined to not get up during the middle of thenight and hike down to the privy.I do not drink anything for dinner,but I justknow I will be making a midnight run.I just pray I don't fall over some one orfall down the stairs.Last night I was practically to someone else's tent befoe Irealized that I had gotten turned around.I also hope tonight that the mice areall on a vacation from this shelter. It has just hit me,I am hungry,even thoughI had a big pot of instant potatoes for supper.Oh w! ell....My left heel is throbbing as I lay in my bag.It hurts way down deep inmy bone if heels have bones.I take a heavy duty pain pill reserved for emergencyuse.I feel this is an emergency.I am used to my feet hurting while I walk,butnot hurting like this after I quit for the day.I can understand now why so manyhikers get off the trail for good in Damascus.I have had more foot problems inthe last week,and more gear problems to go along with my foot problems.I have ,Ithink figured out part of the reason for me getting blisters all of a sudden.Ithink it has to do with my boots getting soaked,then my drying them by the firewithout stuffing the toes with anything to keep the toe box in shape.Or maybe itis just the miles I am putting on my feet now.I just hope these boots hold upuntil this weekend when my support truck catches up with me! bumpkintotal miles 12.8