Date: 2006-04-21
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Elk River Campsite
Miles today: 15.0

They say,"No rain, no pain, no Maine". Well today it started raining about 7:00am, shortly after I got up. I decided to hike in the rain which had started out fairly gentle, but which appeared to be an all day type of rain. I took a shot of the high balds I'd be traversing and stowed the camera in the pack to keep it relatively dry. Decided to use the gaiters to keep the rain from running down my legs and soaking my boots from inside. Also I wore my rain jacket, a Marmot Precip, with the pit zips full open. I was second out of the shelter about 7:45. I was glad of both the jacket and gaiters as they helped me keep warm in the damp wind on the high balds. I soon got in the hiking zone and passed the four of the local hikers who'd started down about a half hour before me. I made the 8 miles to Apple House shelter by noon. Although it was raining and chilly, the views from the balds were still expansive. About 11am I found a dry spot under an overhanging ledge and sat down in a pile of dry leaves to dry my shorts a bit and eat some gorp. Shortly Moe & Ponch reached me and we snacked together. They were on their way to meet a friend for a zero or two in Ashville where US19E crosses the trail. We were all surprised at what good time we had made and made the additional 1.9 mi. to the shelter by noon. Moe & Ponch went on and I stayed at the shelter to dry out a bit and to have lunch. Before I got my food bag out, in comes Grinds who I'd last seen way back, followed shortly by some of the overnight local hikers who I'd passed just after starting my hike. Grinds and I ate lunch while debating the merits of continuing our hike to he campsite at Elk River. Should we stay or should we go. By the time I'd finished lunch StillAdam and Plunger came in. They had stayed there over night and had hitched to Roan Mountain for a mail drop and some supplies. Mr. Breeze, who'd also hitched to town and True Grit and Irish also came in. Everyone was dripping wet and wondering whether to stay or go and risk having to set up camp in the rain. I decided to go on and was back hiking about 1:30pm. Again I made good time through the afternoon. By 2:30 the rain was letting up and I would occasionally see my shadow as the sun tried to break through the overcast. I met a large group of dayhikers, the Friday hiking club, and got some pointers about the campsite and strong encouragement to take the .1 mi side trip to see Jones Falls. The trip was certainly worthwhile and I got the camera out of the pack to snap picks. With all the rain the falls were truly impressive. As I was returning from the side trip, TrueGrit was doffing his pack to see the falls. The trip down to Elk River from the falls went quickly as more and more it looked like the sun would break through. I arrived about 5pm. There were two other hikers already camping, D-Rock and a sectioner from California, Hot Shot, who is doing the AT on the five-year plan. They had been to Roan Mtn for breakfast and D-rock had gotten food poisoning. I found a good tent site and got the tent up and a line out to dry things off in the sunshine. Got most everything dried off and made supper. As light faded, I had a chance to talk a bit with True Grit. Turns out he's a Miami of Ohio grad from Middletown OH. He needs to get to Partnership Shelter in VA to meet his parents two days before I need to be there for my Konnarock trail crew week, so he'll move on ahead while I overnight at Kincora Hostel. I was just startled by a salamander who'd somehow got into the tent. Reminded me of seeing one of the orange ones on the trail. Have everything in the tent or vestibule in case it decides to rain tonight--couldn't get a forecast on the 2 radio stations here. Very late, so over and out. Maine Ho!