Date: 2004-05-21
From: Punchbowl Shelter 

To: Sheeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 24.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 81Start: Punchbowl Shelter Dest.: Sheeley-Woodworth ShelterMiles: 24.9Total: 806.0Today was a long day. I hardly slept at all last night with all the crickets chirping. I probably only slept a total of 3 hours all night. Somehow I still managed to get moving by 7:30am (probably because I knew the faster I get to waynesboro the sooner I can talk to Wolfcookie again.) So the hikng was going fine until about 3pm when I started hearing thunder. Since I was in an area with a lot of tree cover it was difficult to tell where the storm was and which direction it might be moving. For the next hour I hiked hearing thunder all around except the direction I was going. Finally the trail breaks out into some fields, which just happen to be the top of the mountain. From the open fields I can see I am pretty much surrounded by storm clouds. I hoofed it across several fields before finally going back into the woods. Once in the woods it began to rain. I found a spot and setup the hammock but I got soaked doing it. The hammock stayed dry but I really need to become more efficient with tying up the hammock. The cool rain felt good though, and I ended up spending over an hour waiting out the storm in the hammock. The hammock worked pretty good but I need to learn to pay attention to the wind direction because I had rain blowing under the rain fly just a little. So after about an hour the storm moves on, but not before a couple pretty close lightning strikes. I wonder what the chances of being electricuted are if you are tied to two trees that get struck? Hopefully I won't find out. Anyways, I pack everything back up and head out. It was a long haul to the shelter but I made it just before dark. The shelter was full so I set the hammock up again. This time I had an audience. I overheard a couple of guys talking about hammocks while I was setting mine up. The one guy asked how long it usually takes and I heard the other guy say, "Well his hammock says it takes 3 minutes to setup in the advertising but he's well past that." I really need to get better.I cooked dinner as it was getting dark and talked to the other hikers who were there. All of them are thru hiking. Sevy and Selma are the only ones I remember. There were about 6 others that I can't remember their names. As we talked the sky was lighting up with lightning again. We could hear some really big rumbles off in the distance. Soon they got closer, and then closer. I finished eating and got ready for bed just as the first big clap of thunder sounded off right over us. Selma had a tarp tent setup and decided to wait out the storm sitting on the edge of the shelter. I thought that sounded like a good, safe idea and joined him. Well, we sat for about 30 minutes just watching the sky light up and listening to the thunder, it was difficult to tell which direction the storm was moving. Finally I decided to get in my hammock since it appeared the storm was going around us. Selma was thinking of getting in his tent too. I layed in the hammock for about 15 minutes & Thats when the wind picked up. The storm was coming after all. Suddenly, I heard a large tree crack and fall to the ground in the direction of Selma's tent. I thought it sounded too close not to get up and check. I had visions of this big tree laying across his tent with him in it. Luckily as I rounded the corner of the shelter there was Selma still sitting on the edge watching the sky. It started to rain so I joined him again. This time the storm hit and hit hard. The lightning was all around, the thunder was shaking the ground, the rain was coming down in buckets and we even had some small hail. It was by far the worst thunderstorm out here yet. It lasted about 2 hours. It was a long two hours to be sitting all cramped on the edge of a tiny, full shelter. But finally the storm moved on and I was able to wade through the lake and get to my hammock. So off to sleep before another big day tomorrow. Hopefully I can get to within 15 miles of Waynesboro so the hike Sunday will be short.~Dances with Wolf Cookie