Date: 2013-05-04
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

It was still windy and howling when I awoke about 6:15. Packed, ate a little and was on trail about 7:45. Little did I know what this day would bring. Little Rock Knob did not sound like much but it was a rock climb - surely does not compare to what's ahead but I am not comfortable on rock climbs. I had a cell signal and called G-4 to tell him my plan for the day. After Hughes Gap came a 3.4 mi. climb and fierce wind with some sleet- tough weather. Reminded me of March. I wondered if I would ever see the Roan High Knob Shelter sign. It is the highest shelter on the AT at 6194 ft. I met a Boy Scout troop out for the weekend coming down the rocks. They had camped up there the night before and said the shelter was nice. They told me I had another 45 min. before I reached it. I was still going up. I was pooped when  I arrived. Pink Lady and 3 others were having lunch. This is the first shelter I have seen with four sides  a door and two sort of windows. When I stopped walking, I got cold quickly so my lunch break was about 20 min.  I briefly thought abt staying the night because bad weather was predicted but decided to move on due to the elevation. I am glad I did not know what awaited me!  The winds at Round Bald were vicious with sleet pelting me. It was so cloudy visibility was poor. I was glad to finish it. Jane Bald, big rock slab followed; the wind intensified and actually pushed me. This is a video I found from TeamFortisAT who were a week or so ahead of me on the trail. I thought it would never end. It seemed to go in circles with more sleet pelting me. The trail became super slippery over rocks and ooey gooey black mud. I slipped and took my first header. Of course, I had an audience .  A young woman behind me asked if she could help and if I was OK. I declined her assistance. Decided my position was so awkward I might pull her down. It was a little difficult to release the pack with my head going down hill, legs uphill and held down by pack while I was on my right side with my right arm under me. I used my left hand to release the waist belt and chest strap. She waited til I was upright and I thanked her. I was grateful to be able to move forward.I stopped at Stan Murray Shelter. It was soaking wet and the wind was blowing directly into it. I was afraid of slipping and falling in the mud again and decided to pitch my tent in the shelter instead of continuing 2 mi. to Overmountain Shelter where it seemed all were headed. It was a bad decision. The floor was soaked and the wind blew directly into the shelter but I set up my tent inside. I could not seem to get warm. It was so damp and the wind was incessant. Jackalope and Crashewea stopped for a break and asked if I needed anything. Then Uncle Buck and his dog, Jake, came by about 40 min. later and asked me to come with him to Overmountain Shelter. He is 31 yrs old with a large frame and a red Mohawk. He said he would worry all night if I stayed there. He offered me some food. He moved the picnic table onto its side to provide a little wind block and left. About 30 min. later a voice said "hello." I didn't come out of my tent and I said hello. He asked my trail name and if I was OK. I replied that I did not think I could walk 2 more miles to Overmountain Shelter because I had fallen and was afraid I might fall again and I was exhausted from all the wind. He insisted that I could not stay the night there because it was perfect conditions for hypothermia. He offered to wait while I packed up and to walk with me. I declined. He said he was going to walk the 2 miles to Overmountain Shelter, drop his pack, walk back and carry my pack and take me to the next shelter where there would be a lot of people and warm for the night. He said psychologically I was in a bad place and I had to get out of my tent and move forward. I had not been able to get warm and I knew he was right. I said I would pack up and for him to go on. He said he would be back and asked me to promise that I would start packing. I promised. He left, I packed and began walking. The trail was wet and muddy but not that difficult. I met Magic Scout as he walked toward me. I had not seen his face but he had no pack and was walking South. He asked if I was PrayerWalker and I said yes. He asked to see my hands. I suppose to see if they were blue. I took off my mittens and showed him pink hands. I was warm. He asked if I eaten and before I could answer, he gave me a granola bar and said eat it. We talked along the way and in no time at all we arrived at the shelter. You climb a ladder to get to the floor of the barn. It was packed but Uncle Buck had a space next to him and Pink Lady was on the other side of me. He shared his tarp as a floor cover because there are big spaces in the floor boards of this two story barn and my Tyvek ground sheet was soaked and muddy from the Stan Murray shelter floor. Pink Lady said she was happy I made it. Magic Scout made a cup of tea for me. Another guy offered to make a Mountain House chicken and rice dinner for me. A young woman across the aisle offered to give me some Aleve. Uncle Buck said he had plenty of water if I needed it. I declined the offers but I was overwhelmed with so much kindness (it's a normal part of the hiker community and such a blessing. I was so grateful to have made it to this shelter safely. I had a good night and slept warmly. The wind was ferocious all night and it poured down rain.