Date: 2007-05-27
From: Hightop Hut

To: Redgate Fire Road - campsite
Miles today: 22.1

TOUGH DAY ON THE ATIt rained a little last night and started sprinkling again this morning as we were packing up the tents. We hiked about a half mile and then the rain stopped. We climbed up and over Hightop Mtn at 3,587 feet. Then we hiked down to Swift Run Gap at 2,375 feet. This is where the AT and Skyline Drive cross over Hwy 33. This is where Jimmy had arranged to be picked up and returned to his car in Waynesboro. He had arranged to be picked up at 12:00 and we got there at 8:30. Jimmy called his friend and I hung around for an hour and then had to get back on the trail. From Swift Run Gap I had to hike up Saddleback Mtn at 3,295 feet. The trail then stayed up on the ridge the rest of the day. It was one of the least strenuous days in a while with gentle up and down slopes. I stopped at Lewis Mtn Campground for lunch. Beatbox, Breadless Horseman, Yorkie, Stone Age, Eula, and Triple Deuce were all there eating on the porch in front of the camp store. I went in and bought two Klondike ice cream bars and a rootbeer then joined them. Later I went back in and got a can of Pringles potato chips and another rootbeer. We stayed there for about 2 hours. Symbol, Dorothy, and Toto showed up while we were there. I was the last to head back to the trail at a little after 3. I was planning to try to eat dinner at the Big Meadows Wayside. The sun was shining brightly, but I could see clouds and hear thunder. At about 4:20 it started to sprinkle. I put my pack cover on. A couple minutes later it started raining, so I stopped and put my rain jacket on, then the skies opened up. It started pouring. Then 1/8" diameter ice beads joined in. The wind picked up pelting me with the hail. This went on for about 20 minutes with lightning and thunder as I climbed Hazeltop Mtn. There was no place to get shelter. The trail became a river soaking my feet. Then a few minutes before 5 it all stopped.I finally reached Big Meadows around 7. The lodge and campsite were full. I walked a mile down to the wayside grill, but it was closed. My guide book says it is open until 8, but it wasn't, so I walked a mile back up to the campground. My feet had been drenched for 4 hours now. I was cold and tired and was now going to have to go look for a place to camp along the trail in the dark. I thought could at least get a shower and wash and dry my clothes, but these facilities are closed at 8 PM. I stopped at the picnic area and boiled 2 cups of water and dumped it into a Mexican Rice and Chicken dehydrated meal Jimmy gave me earlier. I put it in my pack to hydrate and headed back to the AT. As I followed the trail around the campground, Yorkie spotted me and came over to talk. He had convinced someone to let him set up his tent in their campsite. I think the British accent gives him an advantage with this. I had just wasted about 2 hours running around Big Meadows and just wanted to move on, so I headed down the trail. I got about 2 miles down the trail and not seeing any good camp spots, then it started raining again. I was not so selective now and found a spot to quickly set up my tent and get out of the rain. I climbed inside, inflated my sleeping pad, and enjoyed my warm meal.Now I get to go to bed with my wet clothes. It is not fun, but they will dry this way and I won't have to put on cold wet clothes in the morning. My shoes will still be wet though. It is 2 miles to the next shelter. I may hang out there for a while letting things dry out if it is sunny tomorrow.