Date: 2006-03-20
From: Mountain Momas

To: Ground Hog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: light rain

We woke up in our tent in Mountain Moma's front yard to a sprinkling of rain and sleet. After quickly packing up, we hung out in the heated bathrooms until 8:30, when the store and breakfast opened. i took a rather unneccesary but paid for shower. i had also done unnecessary but paid for laundry the night before. after spending our last few dollars (mtn. moma's only accepts cash) on pop tarts and an egg-cellent breakfast with pirate, we set off to do a 15 mile day. pirate had informed us of a blue blaze around max patch that we were stoked to do. instead of taking the shuttle up to davenport gap, we walked the road down the river, under I-40, and past the steep stairs where the AT takes you up a pointless hill and around about 1/2 mile. following the road takes you on a retro blaze and connects with the AT after a nicely graded 1/2 mile. We went on a little detour to Standing Bear's Hostel. Krispie had planted some trees for Curtis in 2002 and wanted to check them out and se how Curtis and Maria were doing. Curtis wasn't there and the rain was coming down pretty hard. We stayed for a bit and then pressed on, knowing very well we would both be upset with a 1 mile day. so up and up we went to snowbird mountain. the rain was coming down hard and the further up we got, the colder it got. my pants were soaked, my feet were drenched, and morale was low. we pressed on, going as fast as we could in the nastiest weather of the trip. we decided to stop at the next shelter to get warm and dry and then, weather permitting, press on. (there was a lot of pressing on.) but first we had to cross snowbird, a bald mountain with only high grass for coverage. the rain was turning to sleet in the air and freezing in sheets on our rain jackets and packs. i was not happy.we practically ran down to the shelter, a good 1300 feet below snowbird, and took off our packs, got some fire wood, and set out to get warm. please keep in mind that this is the first day of spring. and that i only have one set of long underwear, which needs to be kept dry in order to keep me warm. so i am cold. krispie is even colder, because instead of wearing pants, he is wearing a man skirt. krispie's synthetic bag is wet, as well as his driclime. all my socks are wet. i got into my bag, got in my dry long underwear, and watched as krispie tried to start a fire for the stove and make ramen. the zip ztove was fantastic. we had enough dry wood to keep a fire going for a few hours before we finally went to sleep. we went through 3 hot water bottles to keep us warm that afternoon. neither of us packed to stay warm when we were both cold and wet. i can stay warm when its cold, i can stay dry when its wet, but not both. we should have had long johns to hike in and then some to change into at camp. that way we would be able to stay warm while hiking. here are some other things that i did to stay warm and dry that worked: 1) put wet pants under your ridge rest or thermarest while you are sleeping. your body heat will dry them and in the morning, they will be almost dry. 2) boil 1 quart of water, pour into a nalgene, and snuggle. the water will stay warm until the morning. if you like tea, put some tea bags in there, sip before going to sleep, and in the morning, you've got a morning drink. 3) if you wake up cold at night, eat some high fat food. a few almonds can warm you right up. 4) not all layers are goog layers. if you wear your rain jacket on top of wet clothes, it works as a vapor barrier and your wet clothes can't dry.