Date: 2018-05-13
From: James Fry (Tag Run) Shelter

To: Boiling Springs ATC
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't sleep well, no surprise. It wasn't because of the storms, it actually was calm most of the night but still raining. It might be the awareness of so many strangers, the lack of privacy and noisy sleeping pads. I turn a lot at night and my sleeping pad is not rated quiet. It's known for comfort and r-value. I have to pee in the night. Why don't all these other people need to? Then I wouldn't feel badly if I wake people up. So I lay there just wanting dawn to come and it's 3am. Finally I can't stand it anymore and I have to get up and get relief. I grab my headlamp from beside me and I can't get the red light only the white so I dim it. I slide to the end of my bunk and carefully place my foot next to the head poking out from under my bunk. At 3am this is a very strategic maneuver. I slip out and over to the side and behind the shelter. What a relief!!!!I was able to doze off for a little while longer after returning to my bunk. As the song birds started just before dawn so did the "shhhhhh" sound....the deflating of the sleeping pads. It's a distinct sound. Hiker habit is to cue yourself to get up by opening the air valve while still laying on the pad. Once it's deflated you can't help but want to get up. The nobos from GA were the first and I followed suit. I packed up, grabbed my food bag from the bear box, brushed and skipped a hot breakfast for a Luna bar. After filtering water to fill my 1 liter bottle I stuffed it in the side pocket of my backpack knowing I already had 1.5 liters in my bladder. I left camp just before 8am. More showers and T-storms today, mostly after 2pm. I was going to do 8 miles to Alec Kennedy shelter and take a break. If I felt up to it after that I would go 4 more to Boiling Springs. I'd figure out where to stay when I get there. There's a 17 mile stretch with no shelter and no camping except at the hiker campground by the RR tracks in Boiling Springs. It's free....but with T-storms I really don't like being in a tent. I hit the highest point of the day at 11am and 6 miles out at the"Rock Maze". Amply named. Giant Boulder scramble at the top of the ridge. As soon as I was up there I heard it. It has been raining all morning but lightly and despite the fact I was wearing my rain coat not on me but tucked in between myself and my pack I couldn't get it on me in time. The thunderstorm came without warning and I had been watching what I could see of the sky for a while now. No dark clouds that I could spot. I was up on top and the maze requires climbing which is tough on a dry day. The rocks are huge and slippery. I couldn't make it up and over one section with my pack on and couldn't crawl under with it on either. I whipped it off and threw it and my poles on top and scrambled up. I was 100% focused on getting thru the maze so I could get off this ridge before the storm was on top of me, but that wasn't going to happen. I picked up my pack to put it back on and the attached chest/belly pack that I use for my snacks, phone and other immediates fell off and landed in a puddle. Nothing damaged because I keep things in a Ziploc bag when it's raining. But now I had to take time to reconnect it and get my pack on. It's pouring and the lightning is flashing. I take a few steps forward but the storm's on top of me now and I'm scared. Scared but not frozen. There's no place to shelter so I run back towards where I just was and take as much shelter as possible under a slanted boulder, which isn't much. I threw my poles to the side and pull my rain jacket which I managed to wiggle into when I put my pack back on but not zip up over my head. I crouched down to make myself small and my left foot slid down the muddy slope so I'm loosing footing. I eventually have to stand up and reposition in between bolts of lightning. I'm asking God out loud to please help me and keep me safe. When the thunder fades enough and the downpour lessens I stand up. I take a few steps north and I stop as I see Field Trip crawl out from a void under some boulders. We looked at each other, stunned that we were each not alone and blinked a few times. I broke the silence with "Shit! That totally sucked!" And I asked him if he was well sheltered, he looked pretty dry except his hair and he said he was as soon as he heard the first thunder but there was only enough room for 1. We made our way thru the rest of the maze which is easy to get lost in and based on his experience in front of me he aided in some helpful navigation for me. Then he pulled ahead of me down the trail. I took my time, soaked and shaken down the steep decent of slippery rocks, mud and leaves. I arrived at Alec Kennedy shelter to find Field Trip there in his dry fleece having lunch. I joined him. Before I sat I went behind him in the shelter and stealthy took off my wet top and put my dry fleece on and removed my wet skirt, leaving my wet leggings and sat down beside him at the edge of the shelter draping my legs with my rain coat for warmth. It's 55° today and hypothermia is a very present concern. It can happen quickly in this situation if I let my body cool off and I don't get dry. I ate a hasty PB and j on my last tortilla and some rice crisps. I need to fuel to stay warm also. I can't stay here tonight, I need to get to Boiling Springs and get dry and warm. Field Trip is counting his food and making his moves based on his supply. I offer him 2 PB packets and 6 jelly and he's grateful. I thanked him for the navigation assistance in the maze. I had quick conversation with Brian about work and that I was hiking into Boiling Springs but I don't share why. As I'm getting up to head to the privy Tom ( now T-Bird) arrives. I met him last night as he stayed in the bunk above me. When I return from the privy I must put my wet clothes back on, so I step to the rear of the shelter and change, keeping my fleece dry. I put my rain jacket on over my wet shirt. It will hold in my body heat. I say my goodbye and take leave. I've got 4 miles to town. The rain never stopped but it did lessen to drizzle. I stayed moving quickly but as carefully as possible down the rest of the decent and the last 2 miles of relatively flat trail. I called Brian and asked him to help me with a room in Boiling Springs I just needed to keep moving and the 2 places in the book didn't answer the phone . He texted me a couple of options with numbers As I walked thru the park and crossed into town a silver pickup truck crossed the road and pulled up behind me. The driver rolled down the window and asked if I knew where I was going. I told him to the ATC office just ahead and then I'd figure it out. He gave me some information about Lisa who runs a hostel and a few places close where I can be warm and eat. Lisa's name and number are on the wall on the porch of the ATC. I can hardly mutter thank you. His genuine care for me, a total stranger choked me up. I feel so blessed by the genuine respect and love of hikers in this small town. I turned and walked towards the ATC, past the fishermen on the riverside with my head looking down, hoping the emotion streaming down my cheeks would be mistaken for the rain. I couldn't hold it back and it felt good to release it but I just couldn't speak. I reached the porch at the ATC and met 3 hikers there trying to figure out their plans. I sat at the picnic table and called the BNB Brian gave me. No answer. I tried to book online but it wouldn't allow me to choose today as check in. I checked Guthooks app and saw that in Carlisle there's a days inn and called. The clerk told me just come over, he's got a room for me at a hiker rate of $60. Next call, Mike's shuttle. He said $20 and he'll come get me in 15. He's right on time, super nice. My check in was slow but once in my room I was delighted. I turned the heat up to 78° (Brian would shoot me if he were in the room!) And I take a long hot shower and put on dry clothes. I'm glad I have an extra hiking skirt and top in my pack so I don't have to put my pajamas on to go for dinner. There's a 24 hour diner next door. The Middlesex diner. I'm feeling so much better now. I walk over and Cristy is my waitress. She brings me exactly what I needed. 2 root beer, a steak dinner with baked potato, broccoli and salad. Yum. I'm warm dry and full, I get my laundry done and I slip into my king size bed, rub my feet and it's lights out after I plan a 12 mile slack pack for tomorrow with an 8:15 am pickup from Mike, a shuttle I'll share with River. She and Thumper are here at the hotel too! Hopefully I can miss any rain!