Date: 2005-06-01
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Camp Site near Mountaineer Falls
Miles today: 17.0

The Road to Damascus - Day 4!What an incredible day! I awoke in the loft of the converted barn that is Overmountain Shelter, and could see no further than twenty yards into the valley due to the fog and the mist. It was also a bit chilly, so I put on my wind shirt before hoisting my pack and setting off up the trail. According to my map, there were a couple of elevation challenges ahead of me early on - known locally as Little Hump and Hump Mountains, respectively - but after that it was mostly down hill to Route 19E. In the afternoon, there would be some uphill to my intended camp site, near Mountaineer Falls - a hike of about 17 miles.As I began the climb up Little Hump, the wind commenced to blow the fog and mist across the trail. It was kind of like being in the open cockpit of an old airplane, flying through the clouds, and I found the sensation kind of cool.The higher I climbed, the stronger the wind got. It turned out that these were actually "balds" - grassy areas with no trees at all to block the wind. I'm told there are great vistas to be seen from the two summits, but I was lucky to be able to see twenty yards in any direction.By the time I neared the top of Little Hump, the wind speed was really awesome. My best guess was 70-80 mph, and these wee not occasional gusts - they were essentially steady, gale force winds. I could barely stand up, and had to use my poles for balance. If the wind had been at my back, I think I could have run up the hills. If they had been headwinds, I'd still be climbing!The temperature was in the forties, but the wind chill factor was something else. Once again I was absolutely thrilled with the performance of my wind shirt. With only a tee shirt on under it, it protected my upper body and head from both the wind chill and the heavy mist. By trapping my body heat as I climbed, it kept me perfectly comfortable all the way to the top.As I climbed, I would have to stop occasionally to rest, and would turn with my back to the wind. My pack blocked most of it, and I'd tuck my hands - the only exposed part - under my arm to warm them again.It took me over an hour and a half to get over the two hills, but the whole experience was really wonderful - just the chance to experience the incredible forces of nature ¢up close and personal¢.When I finally managed to escape down the far side and descended just a hundred feet and entered the tree line, it was as if some one had thrown a switch and the wind was suddenly just gone. Amazing!After that, I got really lucky. The several miles of downhill were known as a "graded trail" - which means a relatively gentle slope - so my knees were spared the hazards of a steep and rocky descent. I reached my planned campsite around 6:30PM. It was not in a meadow like the last time I camped alone, but actually in the woods. Ok, I thought. I'm ready for this now. I can handle this. I got my camp set up, cooked dinner, and gathered wood for a fire. It threatened rain, but I went ahead anyway. There¢s just something comforting about a fire at night. When you're all alone. In the woods, at night. By yourself.It was a large fire, and a nice one. I gave it up at 9PM when the rain started to come down rather heavy, and retired to the security of my tent. I'm tired, but has been a great day on the trail. Today's hike is dedicated to the awesome forces of nature. They are impressive, indeed.Stay tuned, LonghaulSent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com