Date: 2015-04-16
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

A brisk shock of cold air hit my face as I poked my head out of my sleeping bag this morning. I was not pleased. I pulled my damp clothes into my sleeping bag to warm them up before putting them on. I also wore my rain clothes, for warmth more than protection from the rain. It was so cold this morning that for nearly two miles I couldn't feel my fingers. I had to tuck my trekking poles under my arm and huddle my hands together until I could warm up. The area was beautiful, and reminded me of Maine. I enjoyed the forest despite the cold and fog, which obscured any farther and more beautiful views.Then it started to rain. Again. My umbrella is like gold, and even though some people think I am crazy to carry it, just as many say, "Good idea!", and Frozen Mac borrowed it for a trip out of the shelter in the rain this afternoon. That being said, hiking in the rain still isn't fun. As I was walking in misery, cold and damp, I started to think, "This is the kind of day when I REALLY could use some trail magic. Particularly of the hot or tuna fish kind."Lo and behold, a southbound day hiker I stopped to chat with a couple of hours later told me of an angel at Newfound Gap, a few miles ahead!The thing with trail magic is that it motivates me, but makes the miles drag by. I check constantly to see how far away I am and daydream of the delights that mught be ahead. I also tell myself "REMEMBER LAST TIME AND DON'T EAT TOO MUCH JUNK OR YOU WILL BE SICK AND REGRET IT." I never listen, too much of a glutton. Seriously, I eat so much gross stuff that I would never have eaten a month ago. I have eaten more hot dogs in the two weeks since I started the trail than in the two years before. That includes my Kaawagoe corn dog I got at a 7/11 when visiting Candace.Anyway, I reached the gap and found Susan holding a huge umbrella over a cooler and plastic tote. She told me that her husband had left her there while he used their van to drive two hikers up to Clingman's Dome. She invited me to take whatever I wanted from her magic box of delicious things. I grabbed two apples, two Hershey bars, two packs of Chips Ahoy (which sounded great but were very disappointing in reality, especially since an AWESOME section hiker named Linda gave me an amazing homemade organic coconut chocolate chip cookie last night), peanut butter crackers, and a bag of Craisins from Susan, who was kindly waiting in the rain for passing thru-hikers. I thanked her profusely before heading to the public restrooms to use a REAL, FLUSHING toilet (SO EXCITING). A curious lady in the restroo askedme a bunch of questions. I felt bad talking to her, smelling like death.I climbed the 3 more miles to the shelter, which was already getting full (and is now packed like a can of sardines), and started on the afternoon chores: spreading out my Thermarest and sleeping bag, gathering water at the spring (which REALLY was as freaking cold as ice water), giving myself a wet-wipe shower, and changing into warm and dry clothes.One thing I hate is that it is impossible to stay organized. I have to stop a million times a day to take off clothes, put on clothes, dig out my stove, find my SteriPen, find my sunscreen, and so forth. It never ends! And packing in the morning is miserable, shoving everything in my bag, making it fit, trying to decide what I will need throughout the day and putting it on top. (Trail Mentor Alexa taught me, very smartly, to keep my lunch on top). My frustration has been compounded lately by my broken top pouch, the rain, and my pack cover making it extra hard to get at things.Batteries are getting low and I still have four days until I reach Hot Springs. I hope that it is warmer tomorrow.I am thankful for Susan's trail magic, my warm sleeping bag and wool socks, the prospect of clear skies, and for hitting the 200 mile mark. I am thankful that I had five seconds of phone service today so my parents know I am safe.