Date: 2015-11-08
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Stealth Camping Near Hazeltop
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The wind howled almost all night last night, and it was VERY cold. But I was warm and cozy, and I slept very well. The shelter and my tent protected me from the wind. The tent also helped to hold in some heat.It was tough getting out of the warm sleeping bag. It was even harder putting on cold wet clothes. With the cold morning air, I started to feel chilled almost immediately. The couple still had not found the water source. The guy was so cute, he told me (the experienced thru hiker) where the next water sources were along the AT, both northbound and southbound. I told him thanks, but I intended to get my water before I left the shelter.Then I discovered that the couple had left some of their cooking gear at the picnic table right in front of the shelter despite my explanation last night about what to put in the bear box and why. (Three nights in a row weekend hikers failed to properly store their stuff in the bear box and needlessly put me at risk for being visited by and possibly mauled by a bear in the middle of the night. I just wanted to scream!!)One of the men in the cabin below walked down the trail towards the spring with a water bladder. As I packed up I suggested that the couple watch him to see where he went for water. They lost track of him. But the guy thought he might just ask the men in the rustic primitive cabin if he could use the cabin spigot to get water. I assured them that the cabin had no spigot as I struggled to not laugh.The woman pointed to a small wooden building and asked if that was the "bathroom." I told her that was the privy, similar to an outhouse, and to be sure to take toilet paper.   The horrified look on her face was great. I do not think either of them went anywhere near the privy.I needed water before I hit the trail, so I headed for the spring. On the way I stopped by the cabin and had a nice chat with the 3 men. They let me peek inside. They also assured me there was no spigot (or sink, shower, flush toilet, or dishwasher). Obviously we had a good laugh.The PATC has several cabins available for rent, some open to the general public and some available only to PATC members. I think it may be fun to rent a cabin with my husband sometime. (My husband agrees and I have already joined PATC.)I heated up some water for tea and oatmeal to try to warm up before heading out. Usually I do not fire up my stove in the morning, but I was really getting chilled.More cold rain was coming Monday and Tuesday. LOTS of cold blowing rain.   I decided I would try to get a room at Big Meadows Lodge, just a few miles further south on the trail, and wait out the weather.I knew the Big Meadows campground was open until 11/15. The AT went right past the campground and it looked pretty busy. I thought the Lodge was open until 11/15 too. Unfortunately when I took the side trail to the lodge I discovered that the lodge closed for the season 11/8. (But I did see several deer grazing right behind the Lodge, and they barely moved as I hiked by.)I considered trying to get into a town to get a room, but I thought it would just be too much trouble to get out of and then back into the park. I did decide to go to the Big Meadows wayside and have a good meal before facing 2 more days of cold blowing rain. The wayside was supposed to be open until 11/29, and it is located next to a park visitors center.My AT guide said the side trail to the wayside was .4 miles, part of which was a road walk. But the posted park sign said the side trail, including the road walk, was .8 miles, or round trip potentially 1.6 non-AT miles just for a good meal.As I headed down the side trail I ran into a very nice couple who, after they learned I am a thru hiker, asked if I needed anything. Their daughter hiked at least a portion of the PCT and several people helped her. They wanted to return the favor by helping me. Since I was not sure just how far I was from the wayside I asked them for a ride.Boy was I embarrassed. The ride to the wayside was less than .1 miles. I barely got the seat belt fastened before the ride was over. (Obviously the park sign was wrong.) The gentleman then repeatedly asked if I was OK, asked if I had enough money to buy a meal, and offered me some money.I know I have been on the trail a long time, and I have lost a lot of weight, but he made me wonder just how bad I look. Do I look like I am destitute???I told him how much I appreciated his kindness and generosity, but I was fine and had money for a burger. I dropped my pack outside the wayside and headed for the restaurant. (Most businesses along the AT do not permit hikers to bring their packs inside. Hikers just have to hope and pray the pack is still there when they come out.)I started with a bowl of vegetable beef soup. Then I had the fried chicken platter, followed by blackberry cobbler with blackberry ice cream. I was able to charge my phone as I ate. The food tasted SO good I was actually eatting with both hands - until I realized what I was doing and remembered where I was - then I slowed down and ate with just one hand. Maybe I have been in the woods a little too long.I walked through the gift shop before heading for the visitors center. I arrived just in time to watch a short film about the farming families who lived on the land before it became Shenandoah N.P. Some of the families had apple orchards. Unfortunately, when the national park came in, the families had to leave the land. The apple trees were left and continue to produce apples, which are apparently eatten by bears. The film was both interesting and sad.It was mid afternoon and time to hit the trail. I hiked back to the AT on the side trail and then headed south. I had hoped to make it to the next hut/shelter, but I knew it was unlikely that I would reach it before dark. So I started to look for a place to stealth camp. I wanted to have my tent up and my food safely hung in my bear bag well before dark.In addition to a flat spot, I was looking to a suitable tree to hang my bear bag. Eventually I found a stand of trees, just off the trail, which had limbs that would work for hanging my bear bag.I quickly set up my tent, had a snack (I was still pretty full from my wayside meal), hung my bear bag, and went to bed. I wanted to get up early and have my tent packed before the rain hits tomorrow. The AT is calling. I hope the weather forecast is wrong.