Date: 2017-05-28
From: The Priest Shelter 827.3

To: Harpers Creek Shelter 834.9
Miles today: 7.6

The morning started out in darkness the mountain was still shrouded in clouds.  Other hikers had cautioned that staying in or near a shelter was recommended by the ridge runner in the area.  More storms and up to one inch hail were predicted for late afternoon.   The plan was to go to Maupin Field Shelter but I was doubtful I would make it in time.  Once I was up and moving, I was just not at all feeling well.  I was a little dizzy and my head was pounding. About a quarter mile past summit of the Priest on the downhill, I found a nice rock to sit on for a few minutes.  I drank some water and was trying to convince myself to keep moving.   Another Hiker coming up the mountain passed by with his speaker playing loud music,  at that point I convinced myself to keep walking.  Right as I was standing up, I heard rustling on the downhill behind me. I didn't think there would be much wildlife since the loud music, but I was definitely wrong.  A smaller bear was coming up the hill and was no more than 30 feet from me.   I immediately started shaking and stood up quickly.  Dizziness overwhelmed me but I managed to stay upright.  He/she looked over at me but continued to amble along.   I stood motionless shaking while it continued downhill.  I of course didn't manage to get a picture.   I stood there a few minutes longer when I heard more noise behind me.  Fortunately this time it was just two more hikers heading down in the same direction as me.  Once I was moving again, every movement in the forest sent my heart racing. I made it to the next Overlook before stopping and having a little breakdown.   I waited a few minutes and then Goat appeared.   We walked together for a little while before her long legs took her further ahead. At the Parking lot before the Tye River, I sat down with Goat for a snack.  As I ate two dogs visited the parking lot, one was a larger brown dog who looked to be in pretty good shape.  The other dog was a smaller black dog with its fur completely matted up.   It absolutely broke my heart that I couldn't help them.   For years, I was a person that would do everything in my power to help the forgotten.  I sat in that lot and just cried because for the first time, I had to leave them be and hope someone else would help them.  I would like to believe that a good soul passing though would do something, but the reality is they will probably continue to live that way until they starve or are hit by a car on that windy mountain road.   Finally unable to stand it any longer, I started walking.  I crossed the suspension bridge and started up.  At that point, the rain started.  It rained and rained and rained.   The trail was muddy and all uphill.  My heels were screaming but I just kept walking.  I never stopped on to put on my rain jacket and was drenched head to toe.  Not long before the shelter, a newly fallen tree blocked the trail.  I was too short to even attempt to crawl over.  I stood in the rain and tried to figure out what to do.  Finally I just dropped to my belly and crawled under.  My pack and I barely fit through.  On the other side, I stood up covered in mud and leaves.  The tears started up again and I just kept walking.  I finally made it to Harpers Creek Shelter.  I sat my tarp and sat under it for an hour waiting for the rain to stop.  Around 2:30 it finally stopped, and emerged to find Goat at the shelter.  Getting to the shelter requires crossing the creek which was of course higher than normal.  I ended up even wetter as I slid off the barely exposed rocks.   I asked Goat if she wanted to keep going or stop for the day.  More storms were still in the forecast and I didn't want to be climbing Three Ridges in hail and storms.   We ended up calling it a day.  I crossed back over the creek and sat up my hammock, changed clothes, and crawled in.   I spent the afternoon trying to figure out whether to continue walking or just give up.  My feet refuse to let me walk more than 13 to 14 miles a day.  My brain and rest of my body want to go further each day.   At this rate, I will never make it to Katahdin.   That afternoon was definitely the lowest I have been on this entire trip so far.  After a couple of hours, I forced myself to eat my snickers labeled "Crabby" which seemed totally appropriate.   Supper followed and then darkness.   Only a small storm with a tiny amount of hail rolled through.   I realized how pointless it is to rely on the forecast.  **Photos/Videos on Facebook -- Mickie Blair (Dicey Willow)