Date: 2004-05-17
From: Potts Mountain campsite

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Wow, I should not have mentioned thunderstorms yesterday!I got to Laurel Creek Shelter for lunch and the thunder started rumbling about 1:30. Being an incurable optimist I set out for Sarver Shelter 6 miles away. As I entered a wide rolling meadowed valley the rain began. I tried out my newest downpour avoidance scheme: place pack on ground waterproof cover down, put on cheap plastic poncho, sit quietly on pack until downpour abates. I reasoned that staying still would avoid getting hot and sweaty and prevent the Saran wrap sound. I sat for ten minutes and stayed relatively dry but water still found its way in through a bad seam near the hood and through the upwind armhole. As time passed I realized I was hot and sweaty despite stiing still and the cool rain outside seemed almost inviting. Then there is a certain problem with sitting out in an open field during a lightning storm. This fact was punctuated by a bolt from an unexpected direction. The rain had diminished quite a bit, so I got up, put the poncho away, put on my pack and started out confidently in the remaining drizzle.Then the storm cell off to the north whose fringe had just passed over me turned me over to a new dancing partner, a nice large cell coming right at me from the west. This one introduced itself with a renewed downpour and made light conversation by sending down frequent lightning bolts. It was sort of like the thunderstorm scene in the movie "Fantasia" except there was not a convenient Greek temple nearby to hide in.The foot-wide dirt path that formed the Appalachian Trail here in the meadow quickly became the Appalachian Barge Canal complete with tiny weirs and locks to maintain the water level. At first my boots sought out the towpath alongside but that disapeared and they had to settle for being barges, cruising through the water. In less than no time my Nixwax treated Goretex lined boots gave up and filled with water.My attention was diverted from my wet feet by the frequent and fairly close bolts of lighting. There is something a bit unnerving about being the hightest object in a hundred yards during a thunderstorm. As I reached the road and the center of the valley a new adventure awaited. There was fence after fence each with a stile to clamper over. I could visualize what a nice electrical conductor a fence would be and how it ought to multiply the risk when near it for long enough to climb up and over the stile. I even debated in my mind whether to toss my aluminum treking poles over each fence rather than hold them in the air.I scampered into the dubious cover of trees on the other side, only to have the trail lead me into yet another meadow full of cows all staring at me as if I had lost my mind. Then more stiles and finally the woods on the other side of the valley.The storm went on for three hours. Near the end, things seemed to be quieting down when I nervously made my way under a high-tension line. As I got clear a loud flash up in the sky and a deep boom that started like the report of a fireworks aerial bomb then rippled overhead reminded me there was still plenty of storm left.At last as I finished the 2,000 foot climb up the ridge the rain died out and I made my way along the ridge to Sarver shelter.I know, the chances of getting struck by lightning on the Trail are pretty low. But the knowledge it CAN happen certainly spices up one's afternoon!All that excitement nearly made me forget everything else about today. The climb in the rain was the second 2,000 foot climb of the day. During the first one I was thinking for the umpteenth time that I seemed pretty out of breath for a marathoner who has been hiking for two months. I resolved to try getting more meat in my diet and probably an iron supplement. I have been slightly anemic for several years and the hiking and sparse diet might be making it worse.Then at a road crossing just before the top I ran into two big coolers filled with beer and sodas. Floating in one was a nice big juicy tomato! After that and an orange soda my mindset had changed enormously for the better. This big piece of trail magic was courtesy of Big Dave from Martinsburg, Virginia. Thanks Dave!!! I can't begin to say how much trail magic boosts hiker morale.I was also so busy dodging lightning that I completely forgot the first of the famous things coming up on the trail. Just past the road with those stiles was the second largest oak tree on the Appalachian Trail and I went right past. It would have been hard to take a picture in the rain anyway. Oh well.