Date: 2018-04-23
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: light rain

When I woke this morning the lower 1/4 of my sleeping bag was drenched. We had a tarp up, but the winds were so strong it blew the tarp letting rain come in. There I was on the floor starting my day already wet and cold. I really wanted to hike all the way to Clingmans Dome today so I could get off the trail and out of this weather. Instead I set my sites on 13 miles to the last shelter before Clingmans Dome.  With that in mind I went ahead and built a fire to try and dry out my sleeping bag before heading out. I didn¢t get on the trail until 10am. That¢s pretty late for a 13 mile day. And you know I move at two speeds, SLOTH & SLOTHIER! Once I got out there and experienced the weather I knew my 13 mile day was a pipe dream. The winds and rain were relentless. When I reached the top of Thunderhead Mountain at 5520ft elevation the wind gusts were so strong that I was nearly blown over twice. The rain now had little ice pellets in it. I felt like I was being pelted with BB¢s. My hands were numb. I couldn¢t get my fingers to work. I was barely able to turn loose of my trekking poles and adjust my worthless rain poncho. Saying I was miserable is an understatement. There I was struggling to stay on my feet, nearly in tears but far too exhausted to shed them. I was physically and mentally drained. Somehow, eventually I inched my way down the mountain a little and around to the other side. It was much less windy there, but still raining buckets of water. The trail had become a muddy river and before I knew it, I was all the way down in the mud. For a brief moment I thought, I physically just cannot get up. I¢m going to stay down here and just pray that I wake up tomorrow. But I¢m not a quitter. I had a moment of self pity , then my second wind came along. I told myself I¢m stronger than this. I made myself get up and I trudged on until I reached Derrick Knob Shelter. I had hiked only 6.1 miles! As usual, the shelter was full. Even the floor was taken. I sat there for a minute collecting my thoughts before I took off my wet clothes and changed into my sleeping clothes. 18 pairs of boots and shoes were around the fire. Mine made 19.  I did not have a hot meal yesterday because I hiked so late, and I had eaten a cold breakfast this morning. Soon I decided to get out my Jet Boil and heat water for a mountain house meal. It was beef chili-Mac. One of the guys on the top platform gave me some Parmesan cheese to put on it. Food helped!  I was now mentally prepared to go out there and set up my tent. There was a lull in the rain so it was now or never. Then suddenly G-Sharp said ¢Blue Raccoon, you take my spot¢. Just like that he grabbed his gear and set up his tent. He was my trail angel today!  I don¢t know if he felt sorry for me or not. He said there were too many people in the shelter and he thought he would sleep better in his tent.  It was only 5pm, but I climbed up in my sleeping bag and got warm. The shelter had double decker platforms. I was on the bottom. Being in my sleeping bag also kept me out of everybody¢s way so they could cook and eat. I dozed off briefly. Eventually every belly was full, all wet clothes were hung by the fire, backpacks were strewn everywhere, and we were no longer miserable.  One of the hikers brought a Ukulele. I can¢t imagine choosing to carry a ukulele! Im so glad he did though because soon the whole shelter was singing! Another hiker was drumming on his abs and we were happy!  I enjoyed the party from my sleeping bag, but I sang along.  Because of the wind and rain we crammed far more hikers into the shelter than it was intended for. Hikers were sleeping on the ledges at the end of the platform, and of course on the floor. Literally my shoulders are touching the person on each side of me. We were in our bags early because we are the old people section, cheering on the youngsters from the bleachers!  Anyway, the guy to my right whose name I¢ve forgotten says ¢ how could we ever explain this in the real world?¢  I said explain what? He goes on in so many words to say here we are wet, cold, and sleeping so tightly that we touch the shoulders of the people next us, and yet we¢re currently having one of the happiest times of our lives. It was true!  I¢ll never forget this day...I am stronger than I think, and Wake Up Flanagan is now my favorite campfire song!  Wet boots will go back on tomorrow Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)