Date: 2014-03-16
From: Antartica or Sassafras Shelter

To: Dry place
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 15, March 16, 2014We'll it started raining last night and it rained all day and I guess it is supposed to rain all night. Today we hiked from Sassafras shelter to Cable Gap shelter. With the rain we were actually going to stay in the shelter but when we got here there were already a bunch of folks...seven college kids on Spring break. Great students from Moorehouse University. They were cooking spaghetti in 2 1/2 gallon pots and had real dishes which made me laugh. Any way we are in our tents. Radioman took a hard spill today. We were crossing a boulder/Rock slide when he slipped on a wet rock. I turned just in time to see him doing some kind of crazy Matrix move that had him flying through the air on his back about six feet with one leg bent and I believe his toes were pointed. He landed on what looked like a bunch of comfy leaves. They probably were except for the rocks underneath. He is ok but it could have been very very bad!!Pooh Bear also fell on the same rocks. He broke his walking stick, ripped his poncho and got a huge gash on his leg. Radioman helped patch him up this evening. Little Man was miserable most of the day. FAKING like he was cold all day and shivering; well most of it anyway. During lunch he sat in the shelter and was faking cold so bad he raised all four feet off the ground and stuck his beak under his wing like big bird!!! I hope the pic does this move justice. Anyway shortly there after we had what Radioman called an AT miracle!!!! Coop was fine and chasing squirrels!!! LOL. We think he was faking so that I would either get his sleeping bag out or send him back to Grand Isle. Today's hike had two big climbs. Some summit I can't remember the name of and Jacobs Ladder. When were hiking up Jacobs Ladder I kept hoping we were hiking Jacobs Ladder because if we weren't I don't know if I could have hiked it!!! Thank goodness were were hiking it. The last seven miles were forgiving. AT forgiving not San Antonio River Walk forgiving. We're hoping for no rain in the am!!!(Paul - Special thanks to my brother Pete. He is posting most of our photos and pulling comments from Facebook. He also sent me a new pair of trail running/hiking shoes and gaiters. The shoes, Altera, have a wide tow box, aggressive tread, and low sole. They put your foot into a more natural alignment. Pete swears by them and since he is a genius in physical therapy, I decided to try them. THEY ROCK! My minor blisters are no longer an issue on day one without a break in. That being said, even they were no match for rain soaked, moss covered rocks. I slipped today and started a downhill motion that really got my adrenaline going. Bottom line is that I chose to jump a series of smaller boulders to reach some larger ones before I went of a 5 foot drop to a steep slope. The larger boulders gave me a big enough place that I could execute a cross between a judo fall and the type of fall you use when landing a parachute. You know how you take inventory after you fall? I knew I was hurt but not bad. After a few choice words and limping on sore knees, I was fine. This trail can take you out in an instant. We had a great lunch with Poo Bear and Mr. Blueskies in a shelter. This is where the AT miracle happened. Cooper returned from the dead. He had his worst day. I did not think a dog could look so miserable. He tucked his tail as far as he could, sucked his neck in so far that his neck disappeared, and spent the entire day trying to find a place int he leaves to nest. Seriously, every 4 minutes he would move off the trail and paw at leaves under a twig looking for shelter from the rain. He did his absolute best to show Delight every great spot on the trail to stop, but she would have none of it! After lunch, it was as if she gave him the water they give soccer players to revive them from broken legs while trying to draw a red card from their opponent.) Have a great day!!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman and The Little ManHiked today: 15.2Completed: 159.2Remaining: 2026.1