Date: 2013-05-05
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Hwy. US 19 E Roan Mt. TN - Mountain Harbour Hostel
Miles today: 8.7

Many people decided not to leave the shelter and wait out the rain but the forecast was for days of rain. I had seen the trail become like a river and did not want to walk in that so I ventured out. Magic Scout, Pink Lady and Subaru and others had already left. Uncle Buck was taking a zero. I had no idea of the tempest that would soon present for the next 7.9 miles. It was raining a little and the wind as howling. Little Hump Mountain was a bald with stronger winds than yesterday.I found this video from TeamFortisAT; it was windy for them but less severe (she can stand up without digging in her poles and she's walking at a decent speed without being blown sideways) and they actually had views. Now I see what I could not on May 5. It began to sleet. The wind blew from every direction and at Hump Mt. which seemed like a never ending bald visibility was really limited. The force of the wind constantly beat against me. It literally moved me 3 ft. to the left off the trail. When it came from behind me, it pushed so hard that it made me run to the point I almost fell forward. When it raged in front of my body, I had to plant my trekking poles into the ground with each step to keep standing and take one step forward. I was terrified. The fury of the wind was constant - never a lull.I could see Pink Lady's tiny boot print from time to time and a larger print and wondered if it was Magic Scouts. At one point there was a step to climb over a fence. At another place there was a turn style thing to climb through. I walked in the trough of the trail because it helped stabilize me from the torrent.This video of Hump Mountain is also from TeamFortisAT. Again, I had no visibility so it's interesting to see what I missed. Then came rocks, really slippery rocks and roots and heavier rain but some relief from the wind. Some reports said the winds were 50 mph. with gusts up to 60 mph. Many times I just jabbed my poles into the ground, crouched down a little with my head down and prayed to be able to remain standing. I thought how awful it would be to give up because I was drenched to the bone and it was cold; people die in those conditions. I prayed for God's strength because my human strength was not enough. The sleet stung my face. Sometimes it seemed hard to breathe. I prayed for some trees, rocks - something to provide a little break from the hammering of the wind. Finally, after Doll Flats I was in the woods with some protection from the wind. I never stopped to take a drink or eat any thing. I just had to will my body to keep trying to make a step forward. No rain gear would have been adequate.I reached Hwy 19 about 3 pm, I think, and was so relieved to have only .3 to get to Mountain Harbor Hostel and B&B. I had a reserved room for the next day but hoped they could take me in. With about .1 mile to go a man pulled to the side of the highway and offered me a ride. I refused because I was soaked and I knew there was mud on my skirt from several falls. He just shook his head in disbelief and asked my trail name. I told him I thought I was almost there. He had a box of Krispy Kremes and asked if I would take one and opened the box. I took one and thanked him. He drove on and I stood there on the side of the highway, drenched, eating a donut in the pouring rain. I walked a little further and could see from the highway what I hoped was Mountain Harbour. I walked up to the front door but hesitated to go in because I was so wet. I removed my muddy soaked shoes and socks and put on my Tevas. Mary and Shannon welcomed me, gave me two towels to wrap around me, sat me at a table and gave me a cup of coffee and then a delicious BBQ pork sandwich, potato chips and soft drink. I just wanted to cry in relief and thankfulness that I had made it down the mountain. I took a warm shower, got into warm clothes and never ventured out in the rain for the remainder of the day. Later I met a young man, Paul, from Chicago, who came in after me. He had done 25 miles to get here. He said he was so frightened and had fallen so many times he stopped counting after 7. He and 3 other guys were in the bunk loft with me. One of them was Roadrunner (from Germany), a hiking friend of Subaru. We were all grateful to be in out of the torrent as the rain continued to pour down all night long. I slept well in a clean, warm and dry place and could hear the rain hitting the roof all night long.I called Nick and said I did not want to go on. He asked me to wait til tomorrow to make a decision.