Date: 2010-04-27
From: A pond north of Pump Gap

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: moderate rain

Apologies for the inconvenience everyone. Haven't heard from Kritter since Saturday 4/29 while he was in Erwin Tenn. That's about 340 miles up the trail, only 1,839 miles to go. He's having probs with a piece of equipment called a Peek which supposedly allows him to send/receive e-mails whenever he's close to any microwave tower. His machine has a glitch (of course) and he doesn't stay in one place long enough for the Peek techies to figure out why he can only send and not receive. That's why Trail Journals is so far behind. Hopefully, if he can find another way to update his blogs, his journals, etc. everyone will be caught up at his earliest convenience.I'll keep you as up to date as I can ... Lady KritterIt seems as though Krispykritter has misplaced this day ... or it ws lost on his Peek. Hopefully we can jog his memory and fill in our blanks ...! Thanks for your patience in hanging in with us, everyone. Peek is trying to resolve the situation as we speak and journals are being updated as fast as we can. Read on .... ~Lady KritterAlright every - Finally received his update and here it is:"In nature nothing remains constant. Everything is in a perpetual state of transformation, motion and change..." ~ David BohmApril 27, 2010 ¢ Day 22 - TuesdayLast night at the pond, Truth and I were glad to be in a sheltered area. The wind howled above through the tree canopy and yet hardly a breeze at tent level. It rained on and off throughout the night until early morning when a heavy downpour pelted us. The rain let up at dawn for us to pack up our gear wet and stayed away most of the morning.The afternoon was a different story. It was as if the weather system stopped to build up its momentum to unload on us. Mist of cotton candy clouds began to encroach the woods of Rich Mountain. Then the wind started blowing and the temperature dropped, sure signs things were about to change. The rain started as a light drizzle that did not last for very long before it became a steady cold rain. In this type of weather, even with rain gear on, it is best to keep moving to stay warm. I was glad to have my umbrella to keep the rain off and to block the wind. Truth and I had to eat and when we got to Spring Mountain Shelter in a pouring rain we thought it best to stop here for lunch. We didn't stay long because of the cold wet wind blowing directly into the shelter. Miserably cold to the bone I decided to move on. Everything I had that was waterproof was put on and buttoned up. As I stepped from the opening of the shelter I was pelted by wind driven rain. I was so cold and shivering at first, but as I started to climb I began to warm up.The weather decided to change one more time in the late afternoon. Climbing up to Little Laurel Shelter the rain turned into sleet then hail. Pellets of hail the size of peas began bouncing along the trail. I sat my umbrella low to see the pellets bounce off the top of the umbrella like they were on a trampoline.Truth and I reach the shelter to find it full. Montana and her dog Neko, AT Troll, Muffin Man and Legend were warm and toasty in the small shelter. I pulled the short straw and lost the shelter. I setup the tent during a lull and was surprised to find the interior fairly dry. I went back to the shelter to fix dinner. Every time Muffin Man tried to make a fire it would rain. Finally, after the third time, which by the way produced the heaviest rain, he quit. Everyone was getting ready to sleep at hiker midnight. I ran to my tent to fall asleep by the rhythmic beating of water droplets on the roof of my tent.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe