Date: 2005-07-21
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Another fabulous day on the trail, except for the awful heat and humidity! I had two destination options for todays hike: an 18.2 mile hike to Cornelius Creek shelter, or, 13.3 to Bryant Ridge. My first choice, of course, was the longer milage, but I sort of knew that wasn't going to happen. The difference wasn't the additional 5 miles but the fact that it was all uphill - a gain of about 2,500 ft. Coming in the hottest part of the afternon. After already facing a 2,000 ft climb to the first shelter!All week it's been hot right from the time the sun rises over the horizon, but at least it is relatively cooler in the AM. By noon, even staying extra well-hydrated, which is critical when hiking in this kind of weather, I have to guard carefully against becoming over-heated. That's not easy to do in 90+ degrees, with super high humidity, hiking up a steep hill with a heavy pack on your back. The body's cooling system just can't work very efficiently under those conditions. As a result, I have to stop after every so many steps and work to cool myself down. I use my large bandana, which quickly becomes saturated with sweat, fan it in the air to cool it off, and use it to reduce the level of heat coming off my head - which is a lot. At the bottom of the hill, depending on how steep the grade is, I may be able to go a couple of hundred steps. Once I reach the over-heating stage, however, it may only be 25-50 steps. And I don't go on until I'm satisfied I've cooled down enough. I have too much respect for the dangers of heat stroke not to hike smart in this kind of weather. Hence the 13 mile day. I'm averaging 17 miles over the first 3 days, but that will come down, I'm sure. Tomorrow and the next day together will total 25, due to my planned resupply stop, so that will drop my average to about 15, my target number for the 153 miles from Catawba to Waynesboro. My original plan allowed 11 days, and if the weather doesn't cool off that's going to be the likely outcome.When I arrived at the shelter, I found it occupied by two teenagers from my home state of Ohio- Jared and Adam. They are finishing up a south-bound section hike while their dads are doing the same section north-bound. They've been doing it for five years now. They'll meet up with their dads tomorrow night in Waynesboro. Really nice kids. Eagle Scouts. Figures. Their dads are Eagle scouts as well.This is a really nice, two-story shelter, on of the largest on the trail. I've set up my tent on the covered deck, which is a good thing it turns out, as it just started raining really hard!I like rain at night, especially if my tent can stay dry, as it helps to ensure that water sources don't dry up. With this heat, running out of water would not be a good idea. Tonight's rain has taken some of the heat out of the air, but will probably increase the humidity tomorrow - if that's possible!Other than the weather, all is good out here in AT land. Stay tuned!Today's hike is dedicated to all of the young men, like Jared and Adam, who have had the opportunity to make it through Scouting to the exhaulted level of Eagle, and have taken advantage of that opportunity. They are a very special bunch of kids, and my hat is off to them.Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com